A certain place where football legends will be created and have been so in the past, are the major tournaments such as the Euros. In the summer of 2024 Germany will be hosting the European tournament where another champion will be crowned. Among the bigger favourites, we see England, France and Germany but also Spain, Portugal and Italy.
Past
Michel Platini (France)
It’s easy to forget what a fantastic player Platini was. His Uefa presidency casts a shadow over his playing career, but we will never forget his 9 goals at Euro 1984 leading his France to victory. Platini’s 9 goals is a record that holds up to this day.
Patrick Kluivert (Netherlands)
Perhaps it’s hard to think that Netherlands was such a force to be reckoned with around the millennium. Patrick Kluivert was one of the most dangerous attackers, scoring 5 goals in the Euro tournament of the year 2000. Kluiverts 40 goals in the Dutch national team was a record before Robin van Persie eventually surpassed it.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Perhaps the now 39 year old should be in the present category, as no.7. is still playing and will lead Portugal in Germany this summer. His move to Saudi Arabia has made him less relevant, but CR7 is still making headlines. One of the biggest names in the tournament, and despite what you think of him, no one can deny what he has achieved as a player, winning the league in England, Spain, Italy with multiple Champions League titles as well as being a leading player when Portugal secured their first ever Euro win in 2016.
Toni Kroos (Germany)
The German has already announced that he is retiring after the Euros this summer, he ended his ten year tenure with Real Madrid with another league and Champions League title and enters the Euro tournament on home turf with hopes of another title. Kroos was essential in the German team that won the World Cup in Brazil 2014, will history repeat itself this summer? Many would argue that he’s too good to quit football at 34 years, but one must respect a player of this caliber to end the career before declining.
But for that matter, the legends can come from any country really, and through the competition, Euro Odds will be available for all games.
Present
Antoine Griezmann (France)
Despite a fantastic career behind him, one cannot help think he could’ve achieved even more if he did not move to Barcelona in 2019. His stint at Barcelona was unsuccessful and was eventually loaned back to Atletico Madrid where he is to this day. Griezmann’s been a big part of the successful French team and secured a World Cup win in 2018 and were close to another one in 2022 where they fell to Leo Messi’s Argentina in a penalty shootout.
Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands)
One of the best defenders ever, the Dutchman was instrumental in bringing success back at Anfield, winning both the Premier League and Champions League for Liverpool after a long title drought. After his serious knee injury, it was clear he had reached his peak, but the tall Dutchman is still one of the best in the world. While celebrated at Liverpool, he has been on the receiving end for the Netherlands, taking the heat for the dark years for the orange national team.
Harry Kane (England)
One of the best England strikers of all time, however his name has almost been associated with not winning, apart from the Golden Boot of course. The England talisman is now leading the Bayern Munich attack as well as the England team and the hopes are high that England will win the final this time, losing painfully against Italy in the final three years ago.
Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium)
One of the best midfielders of his generation, the Belgian player has won it all while wearing the sky blue shirt at Man City. But his Belgian side has been a disappointment. The golden generation of Belgium had high expectations and were big contenders to win Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018. Now that selection of players is a thing of the past where they did not manage to win anything, despite a fantastic squad with world-class players on almost every position. De Bruyne turns 33 this summer and Belgium are not among the favourites to go far in the 2024 Euro
Upcoming
Kylian Mbappé (France)
A highly established name at this point, one cannot help to still think there’s more to come from this now 25 year old who already has a World Cup and multiple league titles to his name. With a move to the Spanish champions, chances are high of Mbappé also adding a Champions League title to his honours.
Jude Bellingham (England)
What a season this youngster has had. The Englishman made a name for himself in Dortmund (not the first one to do so and certainly not the last). Bellingham’s first season at Real Madrid was unbelievable and one wonders how far Bellingham can go. The scoring midfielder is turning 21 this year and expectations are high on this England team. One wonders if he actually can become better than this. The Real Madrid team next season sure is a scary one with Bellingham, Vini Jr and Mbappé.
Bukayo Saka (England)
A big part for Arsenal’s success, the 22 year old keeps getting better and better. Arguably some of the lime light is taken by the likes of Bellingham (above). But Saka has proven himself to be one of the best players in the Premier League lately. How far can he go, and will he be able to finally bring success to Arsenal, after finishing 2nd place two years in a row.
Jamal Musiala (Germany)
The 21 year old Musiala is a big part of Bayern Munich, while the team had a disappointing season, Jamal Musiala did not.
If Germany goes far this summer, the right winger will surely be a big contributor to that matter. Germany are one of the favourites to win the Euros this summer, but at the same time it’s been somewhat quiet around the hosts, which is understood, considering they were already qualified for the tournament this summer as they are the hosting country.
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