Euro 2024: Some stars of the tournament
It's time to explore the stars of Euro 2024.
Who was your favourite player from the tournament?
We asked some of our contributors what they thought and examined how their careers might develop over the next few years.
Nico Williams - Spain
Athletic Bilbao's talented winger stood out in Spain's 1-0 victory over Italy. He scored a powerful goal in their 4-1 win over Georgia and netted a brilliant finish in the final against England. Throughout the summer, he has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, as they reportedly consider him their top target.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - Georgia
Georgia's 23-year-old striker Kvaratskhelia made a significant impact for Georgia during Euro 2024, and there are rumours that PSG is interested in signing him. Despite his side losing in the last 16, Kvaratskhelia has gained more admirers. His club Napoli have set a value of £85.2m for him, which might be too high for PSG. There are also reports linking Liverpool to the player. However, Napoli's manager, Antonio Conte, has dismissed rumours of Kvaratskhelia leaving the club this summer.
Kobbie Mainoo - England
With Mainoo starting for England and Lamine Yamal in Spain's line-up, it was the first time that two teenagers featured in the final of a World Cup or European Championship. He is the fifth youngest to play in a major final, behind Yamal, Pele, Italy's Giuseppe Bergomi (1982 World Cup) and Renato Sanches of Portugal (Euro 2016). Mainoo had a fantastic tournament and Manchester United fans will be excited to see how his career develops over the next few seasons.
Dani Olmo - Spain
Olmo was another Spanish star at Euro 2024, finishing with three goals and two assists. The 26-year-old from RB Leipzig didn't start in their first two matches but performed well in the knockout stages. Several Premier League clubs, including Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool, have shown interest in him.
Florian Wirtz - Germany
The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Wirtz started every group match as Germany reached the quarter-finals on home soil. He is one of the country's brightest young talents and has impressed for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. With a contract running until 2027, Leverkusen has no intentions to sell, but naturally, he has attracted interest from top clubs. Real Madrid and Barcelona are reportedly interested, but Wirtz's father and agent have played down rumors that he could be moving this summer.
Lamine Yemal - Spain
He scored an amazing equaliser goal against France that allowed Spain to advance to that final against England. That moment allowedhim to become the youngest person to ever score a goal in the European Championships. It's clear that Barcelona and the Spanish national side have a very special player in their squad.
