Lamine Yamal and Kobbie Mainoo break record before Euro 2024 final even kicks off

Lamine Yamal and Kobbie Mainoo have proven the old adage that if you’re good enough , you’re old enough - and they’ve made history at the Euro 2024 final.

Yamal has been Spain’s stand-out player with his dribbling ability on the right wing causing havoc in the tournament. The Barcelona winger scored a stunning curling effort in Spain’s 2-1 win over France in the semifinal and has contributed three assists for Luis de la Fuente’s side.

Mainoo, meanwhile, has nailed down a starting place alongside Declan Rice in England’s midfield, despite starting the soccer tournament on the bench. Gareth Southgate experimented with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher in the group stages before landing on Mainoo in the first knockout match against Slovakia.

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Yamal only turned 17 on Saturday, while Mainoo is two years older at 19, yet is still at a similar level of experience in international soccer. The confidence their respective managers have in them is shown by the fact that the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England is the first time that two teenagers have started in a European Championship or World Cup final.

Speaking after Ollie Watkins’ dramatic winner sent England past the Netherlands in the semifinal, Mainoo said of his own journey: “It’s an indescribable feeling. It’s happened quickly, but I’ve just been taking it day by day, game by game, and yes now we’re in the European Championship final.

“We’re all buzzing, it’s been such a journey to get here. I feel like we’ve built on our performances that we’ve had leading to this point and I feel like the only way is up, time to put ourselves into history.”

Yamal is so young that his performances at Euro 2024 have made headlines for breaking German employment law, which states that those under the age of 18 aren't allowed to work past 8pm. However, Yamal has not actually been affected because the law includes exemptions for athletes, with footballers allowed to play until 11pm.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand gave England a clear plan on how to deal with Yamal in the final. "You need two of you at some times, but send him down on his weaker side, his right foot,” he said on the BBC.

“Don’t let him come back onto his dangerous left foot. Make him face his own goal, get right up against him and be aggressive. He’s a young kid who’s not there yet physically. Don’t give him space and time to run at you. Make him work and think about the other side. Or smash him! Kick him out of the game, simple as that.”