The rising stars from UEFA Under-19 EURO

With the 2026 UEFA Under-19 European Championship set to kick-off in north Wales later this month, we take a look back at some of the stars who have featured in the tournament in the past. 

Manuel Neuer

A standout talent to emerge at the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, Neuer progressed through Germany’s youth ranks before making his senior debut in 2009. He was Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and played a key role in their 2014 World Cup triumph, winning the tournament’s Golden Glove award.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential goalkeepers in history, Neuer represented Germany at four World Cups and four UEFA European Championships, captaining the national side from 2017 to 2023 before retiring from international football following EURO 2024. He is the fifth-most capped player in Germany’s history.

Since joining Bayern Munich from Schalke 04 in 2011, Neuer has won 32 trophies, including a record 13 Bundesliga titles and two UEFA Champions League titles. He became the only goalkeeper in history to complete the European treble twice, captaining Bayern during their 2020 success.

Individually, Neuer has won numerous honours, including a record five Best European Goalkeeper awards and five IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper titles. In 2014, he finished third in the FIFA Ballon d’Or voting behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He was also named the IFFHS Best Goalkeeper of the Decade for 2011–2020.

Giorgio Chiellini

Widely regarded as one of the finest defenders of his generation, Chiellini first made his mark on the international stage with Italy’s youth sides, helping his country win the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2003.

The commanding centre-back went on to enjoy one of the most successful careers in Italian football history. After joining Juventus in 2005, Chiellini became a cornerstone of the club’s dominance, making 425 appearances and winning nine consecutive Serie A titles between 2012 and 2020. He also lifted five Coppa Italia trophies and reached two UEFA Champions League finals during his time in Turin.

Known for his leadership and defensive intelligence, Chiellini earned multiple individual honours throughout his career, including five selections in the Serie A Team of the Year and three straight Serie A Defender of the Year awards.

Chiellini represented Italy for almost two decades, earning 117 caps and captaining the Azzurri to victory at UEFA Euro 2020. He also helped Italy reach the final of Euro 2012 and claimed a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games.

Andres Iniesta 

One of the most elegant midfielders ever to play the game, Iniesta rose through Spain’s youth ranks, helping win the UEFA European Under-16 Championship in 2001 and later the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2002.

He made his senior debut in 2006 and became a key figure in Spain’s golden generation, playing a major role in UEFA Euro 2008 success before scoring the winning goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, securing Spain’s first world title.

Iniesta also helped Spain win UEFA Euro 2012, where he was named Player of the Tournament. At club level, he became a legend with FC Barcelona, winning 35 major trophies including four UEFA Champions League titles and nine La Liga championships.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Iniesta finished runner-up in the 2010 Ballon d’Or and was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI nine times.

Kylian Mbappe 

Already making waves with Monaco’s first team, Mbappé arrived at the 2016 U19 EURO finals in Germany as one of Europe’s standout young talents. At just 17 years old, he stole the show, scoring five goals and registering another assist as France stormed to the title.

That tournament marked the beginning of a remarkable rise. During the following season, Mbappé helped Monaco win Ligue 1 and reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, quickly establishing himself as one of the most exciting young players in world football.

A move to Paris Saint-Germain followed, where he became one of the game’s biggest stars, winning multiple league titles and rewriting scoring records. On the international stage, he made history at the 2018 FIFA World Cup by becoming the youngest French player to score at the tournament and only the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final.

Now playing for Real Madrid, Mbappé continues to break milestones. He became the youngest player since Pelé in 1964 to reach 400 career goals, further underlining the extraordinary career trajectory that first captured Europe’s attention at the UEFA Under-19 European Championship.

Fernando Torres 

Torres came through the youth system at Atlético Madrid, making his senior debut in 2001 and scoring 75 goals in 174 La Liga appearances for the club.

At youth international level, Torres won the 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with Spain, finishing as top scorer and being named Player of the Tournament after scoring the winner in the final.

He made his senior debut for Spain in 2003 and earned 110 caps, scoring 38 goals. Torres represented Spain at six major tournaments, including UEFA Euro 2004, 2008, 2012 and the FIFA World Cups in 2006, 2010 and 2014. He scored in both the Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 finals and won the Golden Boot at Euro 2012.

Torres was part of Spain’s golden generation, winning UEFA Euro 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2012. At club level, he joined Liverpool in 2007, where he became the fastest player in club history to reach 50 league goals. Known for his pace and finishing, he was regarded in his prime as one of the world’s best strikers.

Erling Haaland

Haaland emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards during the 2018 UEFA Under-19 European Championship, having finished as top scorer in qualifying with nine goals. In the finals in Finland, he added one goal from the penalty spot in 270 minutes of action.

He further announced himself on the international stage at the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup, where he scored nine goals in a single match against Honduras, finishing the tournament as one of its standout players.

Since progressing into senior football, Haaland’s rise has been rapid. He made a huge impact at RB Salzburg with a first-half hat-trick on his UEFA Champions League debut before moving on to Manchester City, where he scored a record 36 Premier League goals in his debut season.

Haaland is now a two-time Premier League champion, as well as a UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup winner. Individually, he has won the Golden Boy award, Premier League Golden Boot, European Golden Shoe, and IFFHS World’s Best Player to date.