By

Eniola Olatunji

Spain dominated the awards at the European Championship 2024 with Manchester City Defender, Rodri Hernandez surprisingly winning the PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT AWARD. 

Spanish wonder boy won the Young Player of the Tournament for U21 Players. 16 year old Barca teenager, Lamine Yamal dazzled with leg work before scoring the equalizer in the 21st minute off a Morata assist in the semifinal against France. At that age (16 yeaars and 362 days), Yamal became the youngest goal scorer at a major tournament world cup or Euros, a record previously held by the late soccer legend, Edson Narento De Nascimento known as Pele (then 17 years 239 days) against Wales at the 1958 world cup. Yamal became 17 years old on the eve of the Euro Cup Final, July 13. He scored a goal and had 4 assists.

Six players shared the Golden Boot award. They are Georges Mikautadze of Georgia; Jamal Musiala of Germany, Cody Gako of Netherlands, Ivan Schranz of Slovakia, Danni Olmo of Spain and now Harry Kane of England all having three goals each. 
The greatest top scorer in a single tournament has been Michel Platini of France who scored 9 goals when France hosted in 1984. Next was also a French man, Antoine Griezmann with 6 goals when France also won and hosted in 2016.

Also decorated was 35 year old French Ref Francois Letexier who had been international Ref from 2017 and has handled 65 EUFA matches will be in charge. He was in charge of the Round of 16 games between Spain and debutante Georgia; two group stage matches of Denmark versus Serbia and Croatia versus Albania and was 4th Match Official at the opening match between Germany and Scotland in Munich.

Letexier was decorated along with his lines men Cyril Mujnier and Mahdi Rahmouni both of France as well as Jerome Brisard also of France who led the VAR team.

Participation fee for each team at Euro 24 is 9.25 Euros; winner of the tournament takes 8m Euros; Runners up will pocket 5m Euros; winner of Semifinal carts home 4m Euros; Quarterfinal winners take 2.5m Euros each; Round of 16 winners bags 1.5m Euros each; win three matches at the group stage and go home with 1m Euro (3m for a total of each group game won) and draw each group game you take home 0.5m Euros). Spain carts home a total  28.5m Euros for winning the tournament.