EURO 2024: Turkey's Arda Guler Breaks Cristiano Ronaldo's Record, Creates History With Goal vs Georgia

The Turkish Messi has taken his biggest step ahead in his career so far, as Arda Guler surpassed the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo to create history with his goal against Georgia in Turkey’s 3-1 win in their EURO 2024 opener.

Guler, along with dark horses Turkey, took it to Georgia in their tournament opener, stunning the world as a whole.

Following Mert Muldur’s stunner in the second half that opened the scoring for Turkey, it was Guler’s turn to shine, as the youngster produced a moment of magic, curling the ball into the top corner of the net from outside the box with a sweet left-footed strike, similar to his goal against Wales last year, to beat Georgian keeper Mamardashvili.

With his worldie, Guler, at 19 years and 114 days of age, became the youngest player in the history of the UEFA European Championships to score on their first appearance, surpassing the record set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004, at 19 years and 128 days.

Guler also became just the third teenager to achieve the feat, behind Ronaldo and Ferenc Bene of Hungary in 1964.

The Turkish youngster, dubbed as the Turkish Messi by fans and onlookers alike, has been in the limelight since 2019, when at just about 14 years of age, he made a move to Fenerbahce, with whom he clinched the Turkish Cup in 2023.

Then, as is inevitable with shining superstar talent, the Turk was involved in a move to Los Blancos, Real Madrid last summer and has now scored 6 goals in his 12 appearances for the club, snatching a La Liga title and a UEFA Champions League trophy along the way.

For Turkey on the other hand, the youngster has helped them set the tone for the tournament to come as the side has established themselves as a potential dark horse in the race.

Mert Mulder opened the scoring for his side before their lead was cancelled out by a Georges Mikautadze leveller for debutants Georgia. However, Arda Guler’s screamer helped his side edge forward before Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu’s injury-time strike gave Turkey all three points at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund.

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