Who is Arda Güler? The Turkish Messi who lit up Euro 2024 with wonder strike

Türkiye started their Euro 2024 campaign with a dramatic 3-1 win over Georgia in what fans described as the most thrilling match of the tournament so far. Despite several ballers showing their class on the biggest stage, it was 19-year-old Arda Güler who stole the limelight with his gameplay and a wonderful outside-of-the-box goal that secured three points for theTurkish side.

Güler, often referred to as the Turkish Messi has seen his stocks rise rapidly in recent months. The boy from the capital city of Ankara started playing football early but joined the localclub Gençlerbirliği at the tender age of nine.

At the age of 14 in 2019,Türkiyeish sideFenerbahçe came calling for Güler and brought him to the club. The youngster's capability of dribbling in tight spaces coupled with his tendency to cut inside from the right wing onto his left foot naturally drew comparisons to Messi.

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The teenager quickly delighted the first-team manager at the club while still being with the U19. Impressed with his performances,Güler was given hisFenerbahçe senior debut when just 16 years and 174 days old in a Europa League qualification match.

Güler moves to the Galacticos

AtFenerbahçe,Güler also got to learn the ropes from legendary German midfielder Mesut Ozil who arrived at the club in the final essay of a storiedfootballing career. Notably, after Ozil leftFenerbahçe, it wasGüler who received the No.10 jersey worn by the German.

After a productive stint with one of the biggest clubs inTürkiye, Real Madrid came calling forGüler who recognised that the youngster had the potential to become a Galactico.

Subsequently, Güler joined the Spanish giants in July 2023 for $21.5 millionplus $11 million in incentives.The transition though was not as smooth as Güler would have hoped. Injuries and a stacked bench meant thatGüler struggled to get minutes in the Los Blancos jersey andonly played 31 La Liga minutes by the end of April.

However, it changed in the final weeks of the season asmanager Carlo Ancelotti gave the opportunity to the youngster who returned the favour by scoring five goals in five top-flight games and becoming the first player fromTürkiye to win the Champions League.

The first match of Euro 2024 has shown thatGüler has what it takes to be successful on the biggest stage. IfTürkiye are to go deep into the continental championship,Güler's form will be critical.

(With inputs from agencies)