# Spain national under-21 football team

The Spain national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita (The Little Red), competes in the biennial UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Spain under-21 team was formed. Spain has a strong record (competition winners five times and runners-up twice); having consecutively won the 2011 and 2013 Championships. They hold the joint record with Italy for the most wins of the competition.
Since the under-21 competition rules insist that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two-year competition, technically it is an U-23 competition. For this reason, Spain's brief record in the preceding U-23 competitions is also shown, though in actuality, Spain played only three competitive U-23 matches. The first was in the "under-23 Challenge", which they lost, while the next two were in a two-team qualification "group" for the 1972 competition (facing the Soviet Union team, they lost 2–1 at home then drew 1–1 away and failed to qualify. Spain did not enter a team in the other two U-23 competitions, but have been ever present in under-21 competitions).
Spain's youth development programs has been challenging the South American dominance in the FIFA U-17 World Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup. In fact, 20 of the Spanish 23-man squad that won the Euro 2008 came through the ranks of the youth teams; most of them had won titles at the youth level as well.

## Competitive record
### UEFA European Under-21 Championship record

| Year | Round | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
| 1978 | Qualifying Stage | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 1980 | Qualifying Stage | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 1982 | Quarter-Finals | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 5 |
| 1984 | Runners-up | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 11 |
| 1986 | Champions | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 9 |
| 1988 | Quarter-Finals | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 4 |
| 1990 | Quarter-Finals | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| 1992 | Qualifying Stage | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
| 1994 | Third Place | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 9 |
| 1996 | Runners-up | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 14 |
| 1998 | Champions | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 6 |
| 2000 | Third Place | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 7 |
| 2002 | Qualification Playoffs | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 9 |
| 2004 | Qualification Playoffs | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 5 |
| 2006 | Qualifying Stage | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 8 |
| 2007 | Qualification Playoffs | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
| 2009 | Group Stage | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 7 |
| 2011 | Champions | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 8 |
| 2013 | Champions | 15 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 5 |
| 2015 | Qualification Playoffs | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 8 |
| 2017 | Runners-up | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 43 | 12 |
| 2019 | Champions | 15 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 16 |
| 2021 | Semifinals | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 3 |
| 2023 | Runners-up | 13 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 50 | 10 |
| 2025 | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| Total | 15/23 | 238 | 170 | 34 | 34 | 502 | 169 |
*Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
* Gold background color indicates first-place finish. Silver background color indicates second-place finish. Bronze background color indicates third-place finish.
* Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

## Individual awards

Spanish players have won individual awards at UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.
| Year | Golden Player | Golden Boot |
| 1986 | Manolo Sanchís | |
| 1998 | Francesc Arnau | |
| 2011 | Juan Mata | Adrián |
| 2013 | Thiago | Álvaro Morata |
| 2017 | Dani Ceballos | Saúl |
| 2019 | Fabián Ruiz | |

## Player records
### Top appearances

| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Year(s) | U-21 Caps |
| 1 | Gerard Deulofeu | Barcelona, Everton, Sevilla, Milan | 2012–2017 | 36 |
| 2 | Borja Mayoral | Real Madrid, VfL Wolfsburg, Levante | 2015–2019 | 31 |
| | Jorge Meré | Sporting Gijón, FC Köln | 2015–2019 | 31 |
| | Iker Muniain | Athletic Bilbao | 2011–2014 | 31 |
| 5 | Dani Ceballos | Betis, Real Madrid | 2015–2019 | 29 |
| 6 | Santi Denia | Albacete, Atlético Madrid | 1992–1996 | 27 |
| | David de Gea | Atlético Madrid, Manchester United | 2009–2013 | 27 |
| 8 | Diego Capel | Sevilla | 2007–2011 | 25 |
| | Mikel Oyarzabal | Real Sociedad | 2017–2019 | 25 |
| | Saúl | Atlético Madrid, Rayo Vallecano | 2013–2017 | 25 |
| | Xavi | Barcelona | 1998–2001 | 25 |
Note: Club(s) represents all the clubs that players played in at the time they did it too in the Under-21s.

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Year(s) | U-21 Goals |
| 1 | Gerard Deulofeu | Barcelona, Everton, Sevilla, Milan | 2012–2017 | 17 |
| 2 | Borja Mayoral | Real Madrid, VfL Wolfsburg, Levante | 2015–2019 | 16 |
| 3 | Rodrigo | Benfica | 2011–2013 | 15 |
| 4 | Isco | Málaga, Real Madrid | 2011–2014 | 14 |
| 5 | Álvaro Morata | Real Madrid, Juventus | 2013–2014 | 13 |
| 6 | Óscar | Barcelona, Albacete | 1992–1996 | 12 |
| 7 | Munir | Barcelona | 2014–2016 | 10 |
| 8 | Pablo Couñago | Celta, Recreativo, Ipswich Town | 1999–2001 | 9 |
| | Adrián | Deportivo, Alavés, Málaga, Atlético Madrid | 2007–2011 | 9 |
| | Saúl | Atlético Madrid, Rayo Vallecano | 2013–2017 | 9 |
Note: Club(s) represents all the clubs that players played in at the time they did it too in the Under-21s.
* Caps and goals correct as of 3 September 2020.

## Recent results

| Date | Competition | Location | Opponent | Result | Scorers |
| 3 September 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Almendralejo, Spain | Russia | 4–1 | Fer Niño 13', 54', Pino 47', 86' |
| 7 September 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Vilnius, Lithuania | Lithuania | 2–0 | Francés 32', Pino 78' |
| 8 October 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Seville, Spain | Slovakia | 3–2 | Guillamón 58', Sergio Gómez 80' (pen.), Miranda 88' (pen.) |
| 12 October 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Seville, Spain | Northern Ireland | 3–0 | Sergio Gómez 26' (pen.), 32', Abel Ruiz 56' |
| 12 November 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Ta' Qali, Malta | Malta | 5–0 | Sergio Gómez 23', Abel Ruiz 24', 88', Guillamón 40', Lobete 50' |
| 16 November 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Khimki, Russia | Russia | 0–1 | |
| 25 March 2022 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Huelva, Spain | Lithuania | 8–0 | Rodri 16', 37', Sergio Gómez 35', Bryan Gil 40', Abel Ruiz 43', Manu Sánchez 61', Baena 65', Turrientes 70' |
| 29 March 2022 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Žilina, Slovakia | Slovakia | 3–2 | Bryan Gil 4', Sergio Gómez 66', Navarro 81' |
| 3 June 2022 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Larne, Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland | 6–0 | Abel Ruiz 22', Gil 50', 61', Miranda 64', Riquelme 76', V. Gómez 87' |
| 7 June 2022 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Melilla, Spain | Malta | 7–1 | Navarro 8', 69', Abel Ruiz 8 47', 64', Manu Sánchez 55', Lobete 73', 78' |
| 23 September 2022 | Friendly | Cluj-Napoca, Romania | Romania | 4–1 | Abel Ruiz 8', 18', Riquelme 80', 89' |
| 27 September 2022 | Friendly | Huesca, Spain | Norway | 3–0 | Gragera 40', Abel Ruiz 51', Novoa 90' |
| 18 November 2022 | Friendly | Seville, Spain | Japan | 2–0 | Turrientes 47', Manu Sánchez 69' |
| 21 June 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Bucharest, Romania | Romania | 3–0 | Baena 55', Miranda 62', Sergio Gómez 90+5' |
| 24 June 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Giulești, Romania | Croatia | 1–0 | Abel Ruiz 1' |
| 27 June 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Giulești, Romania | Ukraine | 2–2 | Ivan Zhelizko 49' (o.g.), Abel Ruiz 90' |
| 1 July 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Giulești, Romania | Switzerland | 2–1 | Sergio Gómez 68', Miranda 103' |
| 5 July 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Bucharest, Romania | Ukraine | 5–1 | Ruiz 17', Sancet 24', Blanco 54', Aimar Oroz 68', Sergio Gómez 78' |
| 8 July 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Batumi, Georgia | England | 0–1 | |
| 8 September 2023 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Paola, Malta | Malta | 6–0 | Diego López 5', Gabri Veiga 14', 18', Ilias 49', Pablo Torre 70', Turrientes 88' |
| 11 September 2023 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Jaén, Spain | Scotland | 1–0 | Turrientes 83' |
| 13 October 2023 | Friendly | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan | 0–0 | |
| 17 October 2023 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Astana, Kazakhstan | Kazakhstan | 4–0 | Fermín López 11', Diego López 54', Fran Pérez 56', Omorodion 90' |
| 17 November 2023 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Huelva, Spain | Hungary | 2–0 | Carlos Martín 36', Pablo Torre 67' |
| 21 November 2023 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Leuven, Belgium | Belgium | 1–1 | Omorodion 66' |
| 21 March 2024 | Friendly | Jerez, Spain | Slovakia | 0–2 | |
| 26 March 2024 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Almería, Spain | Belgium | 1–0 | Joseph 88' |
| 6 September 2024 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Edinburgh, Scotland | Scotland | 2–1 | Huijsen 59', Joseph 69' |
| 10 September 2024 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Szeged, Hungary | Hungary | 1–0 | Navarro 20' |
| 10 October 2024 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | La Línea, Spain | Kazakhstan | 4–3 | Joseph 15', 23', 44', Turrientes 20' |
| 15 October 2024 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Algeciras, Spain | Malta | 6–0 | Omorodion 5', 37', 39', 45+1', Peque 56', Fernández 76' |
| 15 November 2024 | Friendly | La Línea, Spain | England | 0–0 | |
| 19 November 2024 | Friendly | Albacete, Spain | Denmark | 2–1 | Javi Guerra 13', Joseph 26' |

## Forthcoming fixtures

| Date | Competition | Location | Opponent |
| 21 March 2025 | Friendly | Lorca, Spain | Czech Republic |
| 25 March 2025 | Friendly | Darmstadt, Germany | Germany |

## 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
### Group phase

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | | | |
| 1 | Spain | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 5 | +23 | 28 | Final tournament | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 6–0 |
| 2 | Belgium | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 19 | Play-offs | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 |
| 3 | Scotland | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 11 | +8 | 16 | | 1–2 | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 |
| 4 | Hungary | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 16 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| 5 | Kazakhstan | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 24 | −11 | 9 | | 0–4 | 0–3 | 3–2 | 0–3 | — | 4–1 |
| 6 | Malta | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 35 | −31 | 0 | | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–3 | 0–2 | — |
* 1 2 Head-to-head points: Scotland 4, Hungary 1.

## Players
### Current squad

The following players were called up for friendly matches against Czech Republic and Germany.
Caps and goals as of 19 November 2024, after the match against Denmark.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1GK | Alejandro Iturbe | (2003-09-02) 2 September 2003 (age 21) | 6 | 0 | Atlético Madrid |
| 1GK | Pablo Cuñat | (2002-04-28) 28 April 2002 (age 22) | 6 | 0 | Cartagena |
| 1GK | Mario de Luis | (2002-06-05) 5 June 2002 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | Real Madrid Castilla |
| 2DF | Cristhian Mosquera | (2004-06-27) 27 June 2004 (age 20) | 6 | 0 | Valencia |
| 2DF | Kike Salas | (2002-04-23) 23 April 2002 (age 22) | 2 | 0 | Sevilla |
| 2DF | Gerard Martín | (2002-02-26) 26 February 2002 (age 23) | 0 | 0 | Barcelona |
| 2DF | César Tárrega | (2002-02-26) 26 February 2002 (age 23) | 0 | 0 | Valencia |
| 2DF | Juanlu Sánchez | (2003-08-15) 15 August 2003 (age 21) | 6 | 0 | Sevilla |
| 2DF | Andrés García | (2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | Aston Villa |
| 2DF | José Ángel Carmona | (2002-01-29) 29 January 2002 (age 23) | 2 | 0 | Sevilla |
| 2DF | Juanma Herzog | (2004-05-13) 13 May 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Las Palmas |
| 3MF | Beñat Turrientes (captain) | (2002-01-31) 31 January 2002 (age 23) | 23 | 5 | Real Sociedad |
| 3MF | Fermín López | (2003-05-11) 11 May 2003 (age 21) | 6 | 1 | Barcelona |
| 3MF | Javi Guerra | (2003-05-13) 13 May 2003 (age 21) | 14 | 1 | Valencia |
| 3MF | Pablo Torre | (2003-04-03) 3 April 2003 (age 21) | 15 | 2 | Barcelona |
| 3MF | Mikel Jauregizar | (2003-11-13) 13 November 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Athletic Bilbao |
| 3MF | Gabri Veiga | (2002-05-27) 27 May 2002 (age 22) | 17 | 2 | Al-Ahli |
| 3MF | Stefan Bajčetić | (2004-10-22) 22 October 2004 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Las Palmas |
| 4FW | Diego López | (2002-05-13) 13 May 2002 (age 22) | 12 | 2 | Valencia |
| 4FW | Mateo Joseph | (2003-10-19) 19 October 2003 (age 21) | 7 | 6 | Leeds United |
| 4FW | Alberto Moleiro | (2003-09-30) 30 September 2003 (age 21) | 7 | 0 | Las Palmas |
| 4FW | Álex Valle | (2004-04-25) 25 April 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Como |
| 4FW | Eliezer Mayenda | (2005-05-05) 5 May 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Sunderland |
| 4FW | Jesús Rodríguez | (2005-11-21) 21 November 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Real Betis |

### Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last twelve months are still eligible for selection.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
| GK | Aitor Fraga | (2003-07-26) 26 July 2003 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Real Sociedad | v. Denmark, 19 November 2024 |
| GK | Fran González | (2005-06-24) 24 June 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Real Madrid Castilla | v. Denmark, 19 November 2024 |
| DF | Dean Huijsen | (2005-04-14) 14 April 2005 (age 19) | 7 | 1 | Bournemouth | v. Czech Republic, 21 March 2025 |
| DF | Hugo Bueno | (2002-09-18) 18 September 2002 (age 22) | 4 | 0 | Feyenoord | v. Czech Republic, 21 March 2025 |
| DF | Marc Pubill | (2003-06-20) 20 June 2003 (age 21) | 4 | 0 | Almería | v. Denmark, 19 November 2024 |
| DF | Rafa Marín | (2002-05-19) 19 May 2002 (age 22) | 10 | 0 | Napoli | v. Denmark, 19 November 2024 |
| DF | Javi López | (2002-03-25) 25 March 2002 (age 22) | 5 | 0 | Real Sociedad | v. Denmark, 19 November 2024 |
| DF | Pau Cubarsí | (2007-01-22) 22 January 2007 (age 18) | 2 | 0 | Barcelona | v. England, 15 November 2024 |
| DF | Alejandro Francés | (2002-08-01) 1 August 2002 (age 22) | 20 | 1 | Girona | v. Malta, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Hugo Novoa | (2003-01-24) 24 January 2003 (age 22) | 13 | 1 | Alavés | v. Hungary, 10 September 2024$^{INJ}$ |
| DF | Álvaro Carreras | (2003-03-23) 23 March 2003 (age 21) | 9 | 0 | Benfica | v. Hungary, 10 September 2024 |
| MF | Robert Navarro | (2002-04-12) 12 April 2002 (age 22) | 10 | 4 | Mallorca | v. Denmark, 19 November 2024 |
| MF | Hugo Sotelo | (2003-12-19) 19 December 2003 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Celta Vigo | v. Denmark, 19 November 2024 |
| MF | Pablo Barrios | (2003-06-15) 15 June 2003 (age 21) | 9 | 0 | Atlético Madrid | v. England, 15 November 2024 |
| MF | Peque Fernández | (2002-10-04) 4 October 2002 (age 22) | 2 | 1 | Sevilla | v. Malta, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Marc Casadó | (2003-09-14) 14 September 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Barcelona | v. Malta, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Nico González | (2002-01-03) 3 January 2002 (age 23) | 11 | 0 | Manchester City | v. Hungary, 10 September 2024 |
| MF | Damián Rodríguez | (2003-03-17) 17 March 2003 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | Celta Vigo | v. Hungary, 10 September 2024 |
| FW | Matias Fernandez-Pardo | (2005-02-03) 3 February 2005 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Lille | v. Czech Republic, 21 March 2025 |
| FW | Raúl Moro | (2002-12-05) 5 December 2002 (age 22) | 6 | 0 | Valladolid | v. Denmark, 19 November 2024 |
| FW | Iker Bravo | (2005-01-13) 13 January 2005 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Udinese | v. Denmark, 19 November 2024 |
| FW | Yeremay Hernández | (2002-12-10) 10 December 2002 (age 22) | 2 | 0 | Deportivo La Coruña | v. Denmark, 19 November 2024$^{INJ}$ |
| FW | Samu Aghehowa | (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 (age 20) | 11 | 6 | Porto | v. Malta, 15 October 2024 |
| FW | Hugo Álvarez | (2003-07-02) 2 July 2003 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Celta Vigo | v. Malta, 15 October 2024 |
| FW | Roberto Fernández | (2002-07-03) 3 July 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 1 | Braga | v. Malta, 15 October 2024 |

## Honours
### Titles

* UEFA European Under-21 Championship
** Champions (5): 1986, 1998, 2011, 2013, 2019. (Shared Record)
** Runners-up (4): 1984, 1996, 2017, 2023.
** Third place (3): 1994, 2000, 2021

## Former squads

* 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
* 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
* 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
* 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
* 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
* 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
* 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
* 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
* 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
* 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
* 1994 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain