Record Alert! Teen Sensation Guler Makes Euro Debut & Breaks Cristiano Ronaldo's Record

The Turkish forward has made the greatest advancement of his career so far, as Arda Guler's goal against Georgia in Turkey's 3-1 victory in their EURO 2024 opening gave him the opportunity to overtake the great Cristiano Ronaldo and write history.

Guler and Turkey, the dark horses, stunned the entire world by winning their opening round match in Georgia.

After Turkey's goal against Wales the previous year, Mert Muldur's spectacular second-half strike put the team ahead 1-0. Now it was Guler's turn to shine. The young player performed a magical move, curling the ball into the top corner of the net from outside the box with a lovely left-footed strike to beat Georgian keeper Mamardashvili.

Guler beat Cristiano Ronaldo's 2004 record of 19 years and 128 days to become the youngest player in UEFA European Championship history to score on their debut with his worldie. Guler is currently 19 years and 114 days old.

In 1964, Guler became the third adolescent to accomplish the same feat, following Ronaldo and Ferenc Bene of Hungary.

The 14-year-old Turkish player, who gained attention in 2019 after joining Fenerbahce, where he won the Turkish Cup in 2023, is known to supporters and bystanders alike as the Turkish Messi.

As is always the case with bright star potential, the Turk moved to Real Madrid's Los Blancos last summer. In his 12 games with the team, he has scored 6 goals and taken home a La Liga championship as well as a UEFA Champions League triumph.

But for Turkey, which has emerged as a possible dark horse in the race, the youthful player has helped them set the tone for the next competition.

Before Georgia's debutant Georges Mikautadze leveled the score, Mert Mulder scored the first goal for his team. But before Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu's injury-time goal earned Turkey all three points at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Arda Guler's screamer helped his team push forward.