Arda Güler: From Ball Boy to Turkey's Main Man

In 2018, Arda Güler was a 13-year-old academy player at Gençlerbirliği, standing on the touchline as a ball boy during a Turkish Süper Lig match.

Today, he is one of the most important young players in Turkish football.

The transformation is remarkable.

Güler was a ball boy for Gençlerbirliği's match against Trabzonspor on February 10, 2018. He later recalled how excited he was that day, even shouting instructions to Gençlerbirliği goalkeeper Johannes Hopf when Trabzonspor won a penalty.

Less than a decade later, Güler is wearing the No. 10 shirt for Türkiye and playing for Real Madrid.

And his importance to the national team is no longer based simply on potential.

Güler has become a major creative force for Türkiye

Before the current Nations League campaign, Güler had already established himself as one of Türkiye's most productive young attackers.

Opta's international data lists him with 33 appearances, seven goals and eight assists for Türkiye before the latest Nations League campaign. He also played more minutes for the national team than almost anyone else in 2026, with 532 minutes heading into the September fixtures.

His creativity has been particularly important.

During the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, UEFA recorded Güler with four assists in seven matches, alongside a passing accuracy of 86.72%.

At club level, his development has accelerated too.

Güler has already become a regular contributor for Real Madrid, producing four goals and nine assists in LaLiga last season. This season, he has started five of Madrid's first seven league matches and has already registered one goal and two assists.

That is why the expectations around him in Turkey are enormous.

The Nations League could become another major chapter

Türkiye's 2026/27 Nations League campaign has started in the toughest possible way.

They opened League A Group 1 with a 1–0 defeat to France in Kocaeli, with Güler starting and playing the entire match. Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal.

Türkiye now face Italy on September 28 before meetings with Belgium and the remaining group fixtures.

And this is where Güler has an opportunity to add another layer to his rapidly growing international record.

What could Güler achieve in this tournament?

These are projections, not guaranteed outcomes, but several milestones are within realistic reach if he remains fit and continues starting.

🏟️ 40 international appearances

Güler entered this campaign with 33 caps and played against France, taking him to 34. With five group matches remaining, he could reach 39 appearances by the end of the group stage — and potentially 40 if Türkiye advance to the quarter-finals and he plays.

⚽ Reach double figures for Türkiye

Güler currently has seven international goals. Three goals during the Nations League campaign would take him to 10 goals for Türkiye at just 21.

🎯 Add another handful of assists

Given his creative numbers, another three or four assists during the campaign would take him comfortably into double figures for international assists.

🔥 Become Türkiye's decisive player against Europe's elite

This could ultimately be more significant than a particular statistical milestone.

Türkiye are now competing in League A, alongside France, Italy and Belgium. If Güler begins consistently deciding matches against opponents of that level — through goals, assists or chances created — his status will move beyond “wonderkid” and towards genuine international star.

And there is an intriguing possibility if Türkiye progress.

A strong Nations League run could give Güler knockout-stage matches against Europe's best teams while he is still only 21.

The boy who once stood beside the pitch collecting footballs is now standing in the middle of the biggest matches.

In 2018, he was watching the action from the sidelines.

In 2026, Türkiye are increasingly looking to him to create it.