20 of the best European footballers ahead of the Euros: Who tops the list?

Between June 14 and July 14, 2024, twenty-four nations will battle for one of Europe's largest football competitions. The 51-match clash brings together some of the most talented stars. Discover which experienced and budding European footballers will grace the stage at the UEFA Euro 2024.

Who will be the best player in Euro 2024? Sports Brief has combed through player stats and documented squad lists from UEFA and individual associations to create this list of the best UEFA Euros players. Scroll down for details of top performers expected to shine during the Euros.

Who are the best European footballers playing in the UEFA Euros 2024?

Since 1960, top footballers, including Sir Bobby Charlton, Alan Shearer, Gheorghe Hagi, Zinédine Zidane, Robin van Persie and Zlatan Ibrahimović, have graced the tournament.

Who are the best players at Euro 2024?

Although heavyweights like Haaland and Odegaard will miss the tournament, several top European footballers will appear across Germany's stadiums. Here is a list of the greatest European footballers playing in the UEFA Euro 2024 by nation.

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24. Patrik Schick - Czechia

• Full name: Patrik Schick
• Date of birth: January 24, 1996
• Age: 28 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Praha, Czech Republic
• Club: Bayer Leverkusen

Since his first call-up in 2011, Leverkusen's number 14 forward, Patrik Schick, has represented his nation in three major European competitions, including the Euro 2020, where he became the tournament's top scorer with five goals. He has played in 38 call-ups, scoring 19 goals and 6 assists. Other top players on the Czechia team are Martin Vitík and Vitezslav Jaros.

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23. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - Georgia

• Full name: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
• Date of birth: February 12, 2001
• Age: 23 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Tiflis, Croatia
• Club: Napoli

Four-time Georgian Footballer of the Year Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a top player at Napoli. As of June 2024, he had made 69 international appearances and recorded 36 goals.

22. Hakan Çalhanoğlu - Türkiye

• Full name: Hakan Çalhanoğlu
• Date of birth: February 8, 1994 (30)
• Age: 30 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Mannheim, Germany
• Club: Inter Milan

Hakan Çalhanoğlu is the captain of the Türkiye national football team. His 129 appearances for the Crescent-Stars earned the team over forty goal contributions. Other Türkiye stars include Zeki Celik, Kaan Ayhan, and Yusuf Yazici.

21. Oleksandr Zinchenko - Ukraine

• Full name: Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Zinchenko
• Date of birth: December 15, 1996
• Age: 27 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Radomyshl, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine
• Club: Arsenal

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Zinchenko is one of the best Premier League players, with 130 appearances. In 2019, the Arsenal defender won the Ukrainian Footballer of the Year award.

20. Radu Drăgușin - Romania

• Full name: Radu Matei Drăgușin
• Date of birth: February 3, 2002
• Age: 22 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Bucharest, Romania
• Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Radu Drăgușin's contribution to the Romanian side as one of the best Eastern European footballers can be felt across Europe. He has over 50 caps since his debut in February 2017 at 15.

19. Martin Dúbravka - Slovakia

• Full name: Martin Dúbravka
• Date of birth: January 15, 1989
• Age: 35 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Žilina, Slovakia
• Club: Newcastle United

Martin Dúbravka is one of the best European goalkeepers to watch at Euro 2024. Although his own goal cost the Slovak team dearly during Euro 2020, Newcastle's number-one goalkeeper is expected to perform excellently.

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18. Aleksandar Mitrović - Serbia

• Full name: Aleksandar Mitrović
• Date of birth: September 16, 1994
• Age: 29 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Smederevo, Yugoslavia
• Club: Al Hilal

Al Hilal's number 9 will make his first appearance at a UEFA Euro Championship. With 110 call-ups and 72 goals, including three scored during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, his presence on the Serbian side will give the Eagles a winning chance. Other Serbian stars to watch include Dušan Tadić and Filip Đuričić.

17. Josip Iličić - Slovenia

• Full name: Josip Iličić
• Date of birth: January 29, 1988
• Age: 36 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Jugoslawien)
• Club: Maribor

The attacking midfielder will make his first Euros appearance during the Group C stage match against Denmark. Other stars expected to shine for Slovenia include Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

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16. Armando Broja - Albania

• Full name: Armando Broja
• Date of birth: September 10, 2001
• Age: 22 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Slough, England
• Club: Fulham

Despite being ruled out by knee problems and a Cruciate ligament tear during the Euro 2024 qualifiers, Armando Broja made a defining come-back by scoring against Liechtenstein during the pre-tournament friendly match. He was born in England but switched nationality to Albania.

15. Nicolas Seiwald - Austria

• Full name: Nicolas Seiwald
• Date of birth: May 4, 2001
• Age: 23 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Kuchl, Austria
• Club: RB Leipzig

Nicolas Seiwald is among the best European footballers on the Austrian national football team. The central midfielder played in eight Euro 2024 qualifying matches, recording an 82.75% passing accuracy and fifteen successful defence tackles.

14. Filip Jørgensen- Denmark

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• Full name: Filip Jørgensen
• Date of birth: April 16, 2002
• Age: 22 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Lomma, Sweden
• Club: Villarreal

Danish goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen is one of the best young European footballers of 2024. He has kept nine clean sheets in 18 appearances for Sweden. Jørgensen is expected to follow in Kasper Hjulmand's footsteps as one of the best European footballers of all time.

13. Yann Sommer - Switzerland

• Full name: Yann Sommer
• Date of birth: December 17, 1988
• Age: 35 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Morges, Switzerland
• Club: Inter Milan

Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer is integral to his team's Euro 2024 campaign. His save during a Euro 2020 R16 match denied Kylian Mbappé a penalty goal, guiding Switzerland to a 5-4 win against France.

12. Dominik Szoboszlai - Hungary

• Full name: Dominik Szoboszlai
• Date of birth: October 25, 2000
• Age: 23 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Székesfehérvár, Hungary
• Club: Liverpool

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Szoboszlai has played for top Bundesliga and Premier League clubs. As team captain, the central midfielder scored four goals for Hungary against Montenegro, Lithuania, and Bulgaria during Group G matches for Euro 2024. His performances during the pre-tournament friendlies against Kosovo and Türkiye give a glimpse into his potential.

11. Lawrence Shankland - Scotland

• Full name: Lawrence Shankland
• Date of birth: August 10, 1995
• Age: 28 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Glasgow, Scotland
• Club: Hearts

Shankland appeared in three qualifying matches, scoring one goal in six minutes. Alongside other outstanding players, such as Scott McTominay, Callum McGregor, and Billy Gilmour, the forward is expected to lead Scotland in their kickoff match against the hosts, Germany.

10. Virgil van Dijk - Netherlands

• Full name: Virgil van Dijk
• Date of birth: July 8, 1991
• Age: 32 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Breda, Netherlands
• Club: Liverpool

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Liverpool's captain and defender, Virgil van Dijk, is among the top 10 European footballers on the list. The Dutch have a pool of talents, from Virgil van Dijk to Matthijs de Ligt, Jeremie Frimpong, Xavi Simons, and Nathan Ake, heading into the tournament.

9. Romelu Lukaku - Belgium

• Full name: Romelu Menama Lukaku Bolingoli
• Date of birth: May 13, 1993
• Age: 31 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Antwerp, Belgium
• Club: Roma

Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne represent many of the most experienced and consistent Euro 2024 players. New talents expected to play alongside them include PSV Eindhoven's Johan Bakayoko and Royal Antwerp's Arthur Vermeeren.

8. Gianluigi Donnarumma - Italy

• Full name: Gianluigi Donnarumma
• Date of birth: February 25, 1999
• Age: 25 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Castellammare di Stabia, Italy
• Club: Paris Saint-Germain

Donnarumma is part of the star-studded team representing Italy, the reigning UEFA Euro champions. Speaking to UEFA TV, the team's captain expressed his expectations, saying,

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"Undoubtedly, the atmosphere was special three years ago. That is what we are trying to recreate now. There is no fear of not being able to replicate that."

7. Luka Modrić - Croatia

• Full name: Luka Modrić
• Date of birth: September 9, 1985
• Age: 38 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Zadar, Croatia
• Club: Real Madrid

As one of the best European footballers, Luka Modrić boasts an overflowing silver cabinet with six Champions League and four UEFA Supercup titles. Other top Croatian stars to watch out for include Mateo Kovačić, Joško Gvardiol, and Andrej Kramaric.

6. Florian Wirtz - Germany

• Full name: Florian Richard Wirtz
• Date of birth: May 3, 2003
• Age: 21 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Pulheim, Germany
• Club: Leverkusen

Fresh from guiding Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title, Florian Wirtz seems motivated to lead his country to its fourth European championship. Other German stars include Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rüdiger, Joshua Kimmich, and Toni Kroos.

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5. Jude Bellingham - England

• Full name: Jude Victor William Bellingham
• Date of birth: June 29, 2003
• Age: 20 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Stourbridge, England
• Club: Real Madrid

During the Euro 2024 qualifiers, Bellingham played 320 minutes in four matches, providing one assist and recording an 85.5% passing accuracy. The midfielder is expected to lead England to its first UEFA Euro Cup alongside Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Kyle Walker, and Harry Kane.

4. Rodri - Spain

• Full name: Rodrigo Hernández Cascante
• Date of birth: June 22, 1996
• Age: 27 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Madrid, Spain
• Club: Manchester City

Spain has three European Championship titles, two of which were won consecutively in 2008 and 2012. Rodri will team up with Lamine Yamal, Dani Carvajal, and Marc Cucurella to lead their nation to a fourth title.

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3. Kylian Mbappé - France

• Full name: Kylian Mbappé Lottin
• Date of birth: December 20, 1998
• Age: 25 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Paris, France
• Club: Real Madrid

France, one of the Euro 2024 favourites, boasts exceptionally skilled players such as Kylian Mbappé, Eduardo Camavinga, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé, Olivier Giroud, and Ferland Mendy. Mbappé played in eight Euro 2024 qualifying matches, scoring eight goals with six assists.

2. Robert Lewandowski - Poland

• Full name: Robert Lewandowski
• Date of birth: August 21, 1988
• Age: 35 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Warszawa, Poland
• Club: Barcelona

Lewandowski is one of the best football players of all time and appears on the European Footballer of the Year awardees list. In 2020, the twenty-time top goalscorer appeared in eight UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches, making five goal contributions.

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1. Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal

• Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
• Date of birth: February 5, 1985
• Age: 39 (as of June 2024)
• Place of birth: Funchal, Portugal
• Club: Al Nassr

In 2020, Cristiano, the best European footballer of all time, won the title of top scorer in the Euros, defeating Patrik Schick with an assist. His presence on the Portuguese team, alongside top European footballers such as Diogo Costa, Pepe, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and João Félix, spells doom for opponents.

Final word

The UEFA Euro 2024 brings together some of the best European footballers. Each team puts forward its best players, and fans wait in eager anticipation for their favourites to win the most coveted national trophy after the World Cup.

READ ALSO: How to watch the Euros 2024: A list of sites to watch the European showdown

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Sports Brief has published an article highlighting sites where people can watch the Euro 2024 showdown, bringing together 24 European nations.

Hosts Germany will battle to claim the tournament's trophy for the fourth time against reigning champions Italy and other worthy contenders such as France, England, and Portugal. Click on the link above to discover where you can watch the Euro 2024 matches across all devices.