Renato Sanches named Young Player of the Tournament

Portugal midfielder Renato Sanches has been named as SOCAR Young Player of the Tournament at UEFA EURO 2016.

The award winner – open to all players born on or after 1 January 1994 – was chosen by the UEFA technical observers, led by UEFA chief technical officer Ioan Lupescu and including Sir Alex Ferguson and Alain Giresse.

The accolade caps a sensational breakthrough season for the teenager, whose performances as a substitute in three of Fernando Santos' side's first four matches in France earned him his maiden international start for the quarter-final against Poland.

Sanches scored his first goal for his country that night in Marseille, making him the third-youngest player to register in a EURO finals fixture. He went on to both star in the last-four victory over Wales and, against France in Saint-Denis on Sunday, become the competition's youngest-ever finalist at 18 years and 328 days and its youngest winner – Portugal prevailing 1-0 to claim their first major title.

The Lisbon-born tyro, who joined Bayern München from Benfica in May for an initial €35m, began the 2015/16 campaign in the Eagles' B team and appeared in the UEFA Youth League, UEFA European under-19 Championship qualifying and the UEFA Champions League before making his Portugal debut on 25 March.

• Learn more about the SOCAR Young Player of the Tournament
• Renato Sanches, Portugal's 18-year-old wonderkid

For the award, Sanches edged out France winger Kingsley Coman, whom he will play alongside at Bayern next term, and Portugal team-mate Raphael Guerreiro. Left-sided defender Guerreiro was born a short distance from the Stade de France, and will face Coman and Sanches in the 2016/17 Bundesliga after moving from Lorient to Borussia Dortmund.