"It can’t be anyone else" - Ian Wright names Lamine Yamal as his player of Euro 2024, compares him with retired England legend
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright believes Lamine Yamal was the best player at Euro 2024, comparing him with Wayne Rooney. The Barcelona youngster was phenomenal in La Roja's triumphant campaign in Germany.
Yamal, 17, became the youngest player to feature, assist, score and eventually win the Euros. The Barcelona starlet's contribution of one goal and four assists in seven games saw him claim the award for the best young player at the tournament.
However, Wright believes he should have been crowned the best player in the tournament, saying via Dazn :
“Lamine Yamal is my player of the tournament – it can’t be anyone else," Wright said. "A 16-year-old who has been so consistent throughout the whole tournament and scored one of the goals of the tournament. He’s been unbelievable.”
The striker-turned-pundit sees glimpses of a legend in the making in Yamal, much like Rooney emerged at Euro 2004:
“What (we) saw from Lamine Yamal in Euro 2024 reminds of how Wayne Rooney played at the Euros in 2004 in Portugal. Rooney was going on to be the player of the tournament until he did his ankle. He was unbelievable.”
Yamal can be proud of his performances at Euro 2024, where he emerged as one of the breakout stars, as he returns to club football.
Lamine Yamal included in the Euro 2024 team of the Tournament
UEFA considers the 17-year-old winger as one of the best players at the European Championships. Hence, Lamine Yamal features in the Euro 2024 team of the tournament following his exploits for Spain, who won all seven games.
Yamal is joined by five other Spanish teammates in the team of the tournament. They are his good friend Nico Williams, fellow La Masia graduate Dani Olmo, Manchester City star Rodri, Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella and PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz.
The other players to feature in the team of the tournament are Mike Maignan and William Saliba from France, Kyle Walker from England, Manuel Akanji from Switzerland, and Germany's Jamal Musiala.