He is 20 years old.
Billy Gilmour is 20 years old.
And he's already unreal.
On what was his first international start, Gilmour absolutely tore it up for Scotland. He passed his way through England's midfield with so much class and composure, as if the occasion didn't bother him whatsoever.
You could tell early on just how up for this Gilmour was. He was matched up alongside Chelsea team-mate Mason Mount and looked like he wanted to eat the Englishman alive, getting right into a physical battle and not being afraid to rough up his team's Player of the Season.
Not only was Gilmour not afraid, but he was actively loving it. Everything he did was done with a deserved arrogance and swagger, but above all, it was done with so much quality.
Almost every pass he made was perfect. He could sniff out danger and play his way out of it like a player ten years his senior. He controlled the game, dictated the tempo and put in the kind of performance England wanted to see from Mount.
Gilmour was deservedly named the man of the match, even though he was taken off with 15 minutes to go. He had made such an impact on the game that nobody could eclipse him with some extra time.
He now has man-of-the-match trophies from his first Scotland start, his first Premier League start and his first FA Cup start. Whatever challenge you throw in front of Gilmour, he absolutely smashes out of the park.
??????? Congrats, Billy Gilmour! Star of the Match on his first Scotland start ???#EUROSOTM | @Heineken | #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/jNTdIah8iN
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 18, 2021
This was the start of what will be a lengthy international career for Gilmour, and it may even prove to be the catalyst for an extended run in the Chelsea team. There's no way a master tactician like Thomas Tuchel will have watched this and not been impressed with Gilmour.
It's almost scary how bright the future is for Gilmour. He's so young but already so composed and talented, and his style of play is one which could see him stay at the top of the football mountain for many, many years to come.
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Source: 90min
