Euro 2024: Top 5 Early Young Player of the Tournament Contenders, Jamal Musiala Leads

• Jamal Musiala, Arda Guler, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal have stolen the show at the 2024 European Championship
• These footballers have performed exceptionally well for their respective countries in the early rounds of the tournament
• By scoring and assisting goals, these youngsters are in contention for the Young Player of the Tournament accolade

It's been a week of Euro 2024, and it has been full of drama and intrigue.

Young players have done brilliantly at the tournament so far with jaw-dropping displays and incredible goals.

Jamal Musiala, Arda Guler, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, and Francisco Conceicao have had some great moments in Germany.

Most of them will be contending for the Young Player of the Tournament award when Euro 2024 concludes next month.

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The award was only introduced in 2016, with Portugal's Renato Sanches winning the first award in France. His country also lifted the trophy that year.

Players up to the age of 22 and born on or after January 1, 2002, qualify to win the award, according to Planet Football.

After the first week of the competition, who are the leading contenders to win the award? Sports Brief has listed the top five.

Euro 2020 Young Player of the Tournament rankings

5. Nico Williams - Spain

Williams was superb for Spain in their second game against Italy on Thursday, June 20. The Athletic Bilbao winger tormented Giovanni Di Lorenzo all game, and it was his cross that led to Riccardo Calafiori’s own goal, resulting in La Roja's 1-0 win.

He did well against Croatia in the first game, but his teammate, another youngster, Lamine Yamal, stole the show. Williams has now earned a starting spot in the Spanish team and will be crucial later in the tournament.

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4. Florian Wirtz - Germany

The German star scored the first Euro 2024 goal last Friday, producing another accomplished performance against Hungary. The forward was coming off a career-best campaign with Bayer Leverkusen and was seen as Germany's Golden Child along with Jamal Musiala.

The 21-year-old was brilliant against Hungary and contributed to his team's second goal, which Ilkay Gundogan scored. Germany's success in the tournament will be partly due to Wirtz's performances.

3. Lamine Yamal - Spain

It is hard to believe that Yamal is still only 16 years old. The Barcelona wonderkid eviscerated Croatian defenders in the first game and was brilliant against Italy, per ESPN. Yamal destroyed Italian defenders and created many chances for his team. The Barcelona star's one-on-one ability is arguably the best at the tournament, and no team has been able to deal with it.

Yamal needs a goal and assists to top off his performances. Sterner tests await; if he can do it against the top teams, the Young Player of the Tournament award could be his.

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2. Arda Guler - Turkey

Guler had a tremendous first season at Real Madrid, but it wasn't easy initially. At Euro 2024, he was superb against Georgia, a match in which Turkey won 3-1. The youngster curled in a goal of the tournament contender to give the Crescent-Stars a 2-1 lead in a pulsating encounter.

The 19-year-old became the third teenager to score in his Euro debut, per BBC. Hungary's Ferenc Bene and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo did it before. Guler is also the youngest player to score in his Euro debut.

1. Jamal Musiala - Germany

Musiala has been on the block for a while, but he is still 21. He is Germany's and Bayern Munich's best player, and he has shown that so far. The youngster has scored twice at the tournament and is spearheading Germany's attack.

He received a standing ovation when he was substituted against Hungary after another incredible performance. His close control and elite dribbling ability have made Germany a force again.

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Jamal Musiala compared to Lionel Messi

Sports Brief also previously reported that Germany legend, Lothar Matthaus compared Musiala to Lionel Messi.

The 1990 World Cup winner believes the Bayern Munich winger has the potential to be the greatest of all time.