The stat that highlights Mainoo's amazing Euros
Before England's thrilling win over the Netherlands in Wednesday's Euro 2024 semi-final, Opta revealed that Kobbie Mainoo had recorded the highest pass accuracy for a midfielder in the tournament's entire recorded history.
The teenager was arguably England's best performer in Dortmund, where goals from Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins thrust the Three Lions into a second consecutive European Championship final.
Mainoo had made history just by taking to the field at the Westfalenstadion, becoming the youngest-ever England player to represent the country in a major semi-final.
But even before that game against the Dutch, some notable data emerged, when Opta confirmed that Kobbie's overall pass completion rate (96 per cent) was the highest ever recorded at a European Championship by a midfielder (minimum 100 passes).
Mainoo had made history just by taking to the field at the Westfalenstadion, becoming the youngest-ever England player to represent the country in a major semi-final.
But even before that game against the Dutch, some notable data emerged, when Opta confirmed that Kobbie's overall pass completion rate (96 per cent) was the highest ever recorded at a European Championship by a midfielder (minimum 100 passes).
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Prior to the Netherlands tie, Kobbie had completed 133 of his 138 passes, which put him ahead of figures like Rodri (Spain), Joshua Kimmich (Germany) and Luka Modric (Croatia).
Mainoo played just a handful of minutes in England's opening two games (Serbia, Denmark) but was brought on at half-time of the third group-stage game, against Slovenia, for his first meaningful contribution.
From the first match of the knockouts (Slovakia) onwards, Mainoo has been chosen as a starter in each of Gareth Southgate's first XIs.
Mainoo played just a handful of minutes in England's opening two games (Serbia, Denmark) but was brought on at half-time of the third group-stage game, against Slovenia, for his first meaningful contribution.
From the first match of the knockouts (Slovakia) onwards, Mainoo has been chosen as a starter in each of Gareth Southgate's first XIs.
After the Netherlands game, the youngster's pass completion rate dropped down very slightly to 94.4 per cent (175 passes completed from 188), which puts him just behind Serbia's Sasa Lukic (95.7%, 142/149 completed passes).
But with one match still to go, the United midfielder has the opportunity to deliver on the big stage once more, as England strive for the national men's team's first major trophy since 1966.
Based on the evidence so far, Kobbie won't be fazed at all at the heart of the battle.
But with one match still to go, the United midfielder has the opportunity to deliver on the big stage once more, as England strive for the national men's team's first major trophy since 1966.
Based on the evidence so far, Kobbie won't be fazed at all at the heart of the battle.