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Real Madrid attacker Arda Guler has surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo by becoming the youngest player to score on his debut at a European Championship tournament. The Turkish gem scored a stunner for Turkiye in their Euro 2024 3-1 opening win against Georgia tonight (June 18).
The former Fenerbahce starlet weaved onto his left foot and fired into the top corner from outside the box to make it 2-1 in the 65th minute. It was a sensational strike, perhaps the goal of the tournament thus far in Germany.
Guler (19 years and 114 days) is now the youngest player to score on his debut at the Euros. Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo previously held the record when he bagged in Portugal's 2-1 loss to Greece at Euro 2004. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was 19 years and 128 days at the time.
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The Turkish attacker's goal capped off a fine display for Guler on his first appearance at a major international tournament. He's nicknamed the 'Turkish Messi,' and lived up to that name with an unbelievable goal.
Guler will face Ronaldo, 39, whom he surpassed as the youngest debutant goalscorer at a European Championship finals. Portugal are in Turkiye's Euro 2024 Group F and will face Czechia later tonight.
Turkiye started their campaign with a fine win courtesy of goals from Mert Muldur (25'), Guler (65'), and Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglou (90+7'). Georgia hit back through Georges Mikautadze (32').
"A Real Madrid legend like them" - Arda Guler wants to follow in Cristiano Ronaldo's footsteps
Arda Guler joined Real Madrid from Fenerbahce last summer in a €20 million deal. He made a promising start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu last season with six goals in 12 games across competitions amid fitness issues.
The eight-cap Turkiye international named Cristiano Ronaldo as one of four Los Blancos greats he admires most. He said in January (via Essentially Sports):
"My idols are Cristiano Ronaldo, (Mesut) Ozil, (Zinedine) Zidane, and Guti. I want to be a Real Madrid legend like them."
Ronaldo is arguably the greatest player in Madrid's history, their all-time top scorer with 450 goals and 131 assists in 438 games. He set and broke several records at the Bernabeu, including becoming the first-ever five-time UEFA Champions League winner.
Four of his five European titles came with the La Liga giants, alongside 12 other major trophies. He dominated Spanish football for a decade amid a historic rivalry with Barcelona icon Lionel Messi.
