Euro 2024: Wirtz, Yamal, Mainoo, Sesko and the 10 potential breakout stars in Germany

There isn't much that can boost a young player's reputation more than having a breakout major tournament.

Think Enzo Fernandez, who earned a world-record transfer from Benfica to Chelsea after his stellar performances in Qatar in 2022, or Wayne Rooney, who dazzled at Euro 2004 as an 18-year-old and then joined Manchester United from Everton.

This summer, the centre of the footballing world will be Germany, where Europe's leading 24 national teams will compete for continental supremacy.

In the coming weeks rising stars will become household names thanks to their performances in this tournament. Below are 10 young players who could light up Euro 2024.

Club: Bayer Leverkusen; Position: Attacking midfield; Age: 21; Caps (goals): 16 (1)

The stylish Wirtz has long been earmarked as a future star in Germany, and the 2023/24 season saw him come good on all that promise as he led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten domestic season with a league and cup double. In league matches he reached double figures for both goals (11) and assists (12) to claim the Bundesliga player of the season prize.

That form was replicated in the cups with Wirtz, a dynamic dribbler with a lethal shot from distance, ending up with 18 goals and 20 assists in 49 games across all competitions. That tally of assists was the highest of any player in Europe's big five leagues.

His first international goal arrived in March – Wirtz scored from range after just eight seconds – when Germany upset France 2-0 in a friendly in Lyon. The tournament hosts are likely to field a youthful and fluid attacking front three with Wirtz on the left, another 21-year-old in Jamal Musiala on the right, and Kai Havertz through the middle.

Club: Barcelona; Position: Winger; Age: 16; Caps