Turkish football stars Hakan Calhanoglu, Enes Unal, Kenan Yildiz dominate Europe
Remarkable performances by Turkish stars Hakan Calhanoglu, Enes Unal, and Kenan Yildiz impress in Europe, December 18, 2024. (Created with Canva)
Turkish football stars continue to impress fans across Europe with remarkable performances.
Over the weekend, national team stars Hakan Calhanoglu, Enes Unal and Kenan Yildiz made headlines with their contributions to their respective teams. Here is a closer look at their recent achievements.
Turkish football star Hakan Calhanoglu scores, assists for Inter
Calhanoglu played a key role in Inter’s 6-0 win against Lazio in Serie A’s 16th week. The 30-year-old midfielder scored the opening goal from the penalty spot and assisted Nicolo Barella for another.
“It was a great team performance,” Calhanoglu said after the match. This season, he has appeared in 17 official matches for Inter, contributing 5 goals and 2 assists. As captain of the Turkish national team, Calhanoglu continues to inspire his club and country.
Unal’s brilliant free-kick earns crucial point for Bournemouth
In the English Premier League, Turkish football star Unal delivered another clutch performance. Coming off the bench in Bournemouth’s match against West Ham United, the experienced forward scored a stunning free kick in the 90th minute to secure a 1-1 draw.
“I always try to be ready when my team needs me,” Unal said. This goal marked his second of the season. Despite playing only 213 minutes across 13 matches, Unal has consistently delivered in critical moments, including one earlier assist.
Kenan Yildiz wins 2024 Golden Boy Web Award, shines for Juventus
Juventus’ rising star Kenan Yildiz continues to excel in Italy. The 19-year-old attacker received the 2024 Golden Boy Web Award, an honor determined by fan votes for the most promising player under 21.
Expressing his excitement, Turkish football star Yildiz said: “I am very happy. I want to win many trophies with Juventus.”
This season, he has played 23 matches, contributing 4 goals and 5 assists. Recently, Yildiz provided an assist in Juventus’ 4-0 victory over Cagliari in the Coppa Italia, helping his team advance to the quarterfinals.
Turkish football stars make waves in Europe
Aside from these standouts, other Turkish footballers have also been making significant contributions in Europe. Kerem Akturkoglu and Orkun Kokcu, both key players for Benfica in the Portuguese Premier League, have demonstrated their impact this season.
Akturkoglu has played 23 matches, scoring 12 goals and providing 8 assists, while Kokcu has made 20 appearances, contributing 4 goals and 4 assists.
Additionally, Arda Guler has continued to impress at Real Madrid, becoming the youngest player in the 21st century to record two assists in a single La Liga match.
Guler’s performance in the Madrid derby against Rayo Vallecano further highlighted his potential as one of Türkiye’s brightest football talents.
