Three days since Italy U17s historic win in Cyprus when they beat Portugal 3-0 in Limassol (in front of 7120 spectators) to be crowned Champions of Europe for the first time in our history, UEFA have announced the Team of the Tournament. Of the Best XI, there are five of Massimiliano Favo’s Italy players”: goalkeeper Massimo Pessina (Bologna), defenders Emanuel 'Manu' Benjamin de Sant'ana Balbinot (Real Madrid) and Cristian Cama (Roma), midfielder Mattia Liberali (Milan) and forward Francesco Camarda (Milan). The latter, as well as being one of the two younger players (born in 2008) alongside Serbian midfielder Vasilije Kostov (Crvena zvezda), was also voted as player of the tournament.

Massimo PESSINA (Bologna). Born on 25 December 2007 in Alzano Lombardo, province of Bergamo, he began to play football at 9 years old at Albinoleffe before moving to Bologna in January 2022. This season, he picked up 16 appearances for the Rossoblù (9 in the Primavera and 7 in the U18s) and 11 appearances for the Italy U17s as well as making his U19s debut under Bernardo Corradi in the friendly against Austria against Lignano Sabbiadoro (UD) won 3-0 on 14 February.

Qualifiers: 3 appearances (270 minutes played) and 2 goals conceded.
Elite round: 1 appearance (90 minutes played) and 2 goals saved.
Final phase: 3 appearances (270 minutes played) and 1 goal conceded.

EMANUEL 'Manu' Benjamin de Sant'ana Balbinot (Real Madrid). Born on 14 July in Blumenau, Brazil, he began to play futsal before moving to football in 2018, the same year he moved to Spain. After a season at Complutense Alcalá, he spent two years with Rayo Vallecano (from 2019 to 2021) before moving to Getafe in 2021 and then Real Madrid in 2022. This season, he has put in 24 appearances and 4 goals with the Blancos’ Juvenil A and 11 appearances with the Azzurri.

Elite round: 3 appearances (208 minutes played).
Final phase: 5 appearances (405 minutes played).

Cristian CAMA (Roma). Born on 5 June 2007 in Rome, he kicked his first football at the age of 5 with ASD Romaria in Capranica, before joining the Roma youth sector in 2018. This season, as well as making his debut with the Giallorossi U18s under Turkish coach Tuğberk Tanrıvermiş (Torino 0-0 Roma on 6 March), he has picked up 22 appearances, 1 goal and 4 assists with Gianluca Falsini’s U17s, the same coach with whom he won the Italian U16 title last season. This year, he has picked up 16 appearances, 1 goal and 3 assists with the Italy U17s.

Qualifiers: 3 appearances (213 minutes played).
Elite round: 2 appearances (180 minutes played).
Final phase: 6 appearances (449 minutes played), 1 goal and 3 assists.

Mattia LIBERALI (AC Milan). Born on 6 April 2007 in Carate Brianza (MB), he began to play football at 6 with Muggiò, an amateur side in Lombardy, and after a few months moved to La Dominante in October 2013. The next season (2014/15) he joined the AC Milan youth sector and two years ago won the Under-15 league. This season he has picked up 39 appearances, 13 goals and 6 assists across the U17s, U18s, and Primavera sides. With the latter, on 22 April, he reached the Youth League final in Nyon against Olympiakos. He has picked up 21 appearances, 5 goals and 3 assists with the Azzurrini this season.

Qualifiers: 3 appearances (246 minutes played).
Elite round: 3 appearances (162 minutes played), 2 goals and 1 assist.
Final phase: 6 appearances (403 minutes played) and 2 goals.

Francesco CAMARDA (AC Milan). Born on 10 March 2008 in Milan, he began to play football at 5 with Afforese, an amateur side in Lombardy, before joining the AC Milan youth sector in the summer of 2015. In a Rossoneri shirt, he scored over 500 goals over his youth career and won his first, and only so far, trophy at club level: the Under-15 Serie A and B 2021/22 (alongside international teammates Liberali and Sala). This season he has picked up 41 appearances, 13 goals and 5 assists for the Rossoneri Primavera, falling just short of a historic Youth League win (Olympiakos 3-0 AC Milan, 22 April) and made his Serie A debut at San Siro to become the youngest debutant of all time: 15 years, 8 months and 15 days (AC Milan 1-0 Fiorentina, 25 November). With Massimiliano Favo’s U17s, he has made 17 appearances, 11 goals and 4 assists.

Qualifiers: 3 appearances (168 minutes played) and 1 goal.
Elite round: 3 appearances (262 minutes played), 3 goals and 2 assists.
Final phase: 5 appearances (445 minutes played), 4 goals and 1 assists.

2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament (4-3-3): Pessina (Italy, Bologna); Emanuel (Italy, Real Madrid), Potulski (Poland, Magonza), Markmann (Denmark, Nordsjælland), Cama (Italy, Roma); Rodrigo Mora (Portugal, Porto), Kostov (Serbia, Stella Rossa), Liberali (Italia, Milan); Quenda (Portugal, Sporting CP), Camarda (Italy, Milan), Obi (Denmark, Arsenal).