Euro 2024: All the records under threat as European Championships kick off

By Tom Beckerlegge
Published
split image of italy with trophy and lamine yamal

Across Europe, football fans are gearing up for the 17th edition of the UEFA European Football Championship, which will be held in Germany between 14 June and 14 July. 

A total of 24 teams will battle it out for glory, with Georgia making their finals debut and defending champions Italy looking to retain their crown. 

With just days to go until the action kicks off, when hosts Germany take on Scotland, we take a look at the tournament records that are under threat…

Most wins of the UEFA European Championship by a team

Two countries have lifted the trophy on three occasions: Germany, in 1972, 1980 and 1996 (the first two times as West Germany); and Spain, in 1964, 2008 and 2012. 

Both nations will be hoping to claim the outright record at Euro 24 – will playing on home soil give the Germans an advantage? 

Behind them, Italy and France could claim a share of the record by logging a third tournament win.

Italy lift the Euro 2020 trophy after defeating England on penalties at Wembley Stadium

Youngest player in a UEFA European Championship

Midfielder Kacper Kozłowski (b. 16 October 2003) was aged 17 years 246 days when he came off the bench for Poland during their 1–1 draw against Spain on 19 June 2021. 

This record could well fall to FC Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal (b. 13 July 2007) at Euro 24. The talented teenager will be just 16 years 338 days old when Spain kick off their tournament against Croatia. 

Spain's Lamine Yamal could be one of the stars of Euro 2024

Yamal also has a shot at becoming the youngest player in the knockout stages of the UEFA European Championship – currently England’s Jude Bellingham (b. 29 June 2003), who was aged 18 years 4 days when he played for England against Ukraine in their EURO 2020 quarter-final. 

Youngest goalscorer in a UEFA European Championship

At Euro 2004, Johan Vonlanthen (b. Colombia, 1 February 1986) found the net for Switzerland aged 18 years 141 days during their 3–1 group-stage loss to France. This is another record that could be in Yamal’s sights – he is already the youngest goalscorer in the Spanish top division, having struck for FC Barcelona against Granada in 2023 aged 16 years 87 days. 

Oldest player in a UEFA European Championships

Portugal’s veteran centre back Pepe (b. 26 February 1983) could well become the tournament’s oldest-ever player in Germany, having already celebrated his 41st birthday. 

The previous record holder was goalkeeper Gábor Király (b. 1 April 1976), who was 40 years 86 days during Hungary’s Euro 2016 Round of 16 tie against Belgium. 

The oldest outfield player is currently Lothar Matthäus (Germany, b. 21 March 1961), who was aged 39 years 91 days when he lined up against Portugal at Euro 2000. 

Most goals at a single UEFA European Championship

At the 1984 tournament, midfield maestro Michel Platini struck nine times in five games – including two hat-tricks – as France swept to the title. 

England captain Harry Kane and French talisman Kylian Mbappé will be among the favourites to finish as top goalscorer at Euro 24, but one name to watch might be Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku. 

The powerful striker has 83 international goals to his name and hit 14 in just eight games during qualifying – the most goals in a single UEFA European Championship qualifying tournament.

Most appearances in the UEFA European Championship by a player

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) has played 25 games in the tournament to date. 20 years on from his finals debut at Euro 2004, Ronaldo will be expecting to add to his tally. And that won’t be the only record he could either extend or claim for himself. 

He has scored the most UEFA European Championship goals – 14 – across five separate tournaments, which is also the most UEFA European Championship tournaments scored in by a player. 

Ronaldo (b. 5 February 1985) will be 39 years 134 days when Portugal’s tournament gets underway. Should he add to his record goal tally, he will also become the oldest goalscorer at the UEFA European Championship – replacing Ivica Vastić (b. 29 September 1969), who scored for Austria against Poland at EURO 2008 aged 38 years 257 days.

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