The 2024 European Football Championship promises to be one of the most exciting sporting events of the year. It brings together the best national teams in Europe; over the years, it has been the stage for unforgettable matches and historic moments. This year, Germany will host the championship, and fans worldwide are eager to see who will become the continent’s new champion.
Euro 2024 is an excellent opportunity for players to prove themselves on the most prestigious stage of European football. Legends are formed here, and each tournament gives us new names that are forever etched in the history of football. The players competing at the Euros know their achievements will be discussed and remembered for decades. Every goal scored, every successful pass, and every goalkeeper’s save can be decisive moments that fans will remember with admiration.
By delving into this article, you’ll immerse yourself in the world of the European Championships’ top scorers. We’ll regale you with the defining moments of their careers, the matches that catapulted them to legendary status. And that’s not all! As a token of our appreciation, you’ll receive an exclusive gift at the end of the article: a promo code from Melbet, reserved just for you. Take advantage of this chance to access unique offers and kickstart your journey to victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo (14 goals, 25 matches)
Cristiano Ronaldo is the undisputed leading scorer in the history of the European Championships. His record of 14 goals in 25 matches was set thanks to his performances in five tournaments: Euro 2004, Euro 2008, Euro 2012, Euro 2016 and Euro 2020. He is preparing to compete in his sixth European Championship in 2024, which is an achievement.
Euro 2016 was a particularly memorable one for the Portuguese and his team. Then the Portuguese national team won the European Championship for the first time in history, beating France in the final. However, for Ronaldo this match was overshadowed by an injury, received as early as the 25th minute. Despite his enforced absence, the team managed to win thanks to a goal in extra time.
Cristiano has scored at every European Championship in which he participated, but he scored the most goals at Euro 2020 – five. This result allowed him to surpass Michel Platini’s achievement and take the top spot in the list of top scorers in the history of the tournament. His unique playing style and ability to find his way to the opponent’s goal make him a player with awe-inspiring skills on the international stage.
Michel Platini (9 goals, 5 matches)
Michel Platini, an outstanding French football player, left an indelible mark in the history of the European Championships despite participating in only one tournament. His football career lasted from 1972 to 1987, and during this time, the French national team only once managed to make it to the final part of the European Championship, thanks to the status of the hosts at Euro 1984.
At that tournament, Platini showcased his unparalleled skill and exceptional ability, propelling France to the final and a 2-0 victory over Spain. This historic win marked the first time the French national team claimed the European Championship title, with Platini playing a pivotal role. His 9 goals in 5 matches set a record for a single European Championship, a feat unmatched before or since by any player, cementing his place in football history.
His nine goals included hat-tricks against Belgium and Denmark and decisive goals in the semi-final and final. It was an incredible achievement that set the benchmark for performance at European championships. Although Michel Platini lost the top spot in the list of top scorers of European championships to Cristiano Ronaldo, his achievements remain legendary. His performance at Euro 1984 will be remembered as one of the most excellent individual performances in the tournament’s history.
Alan Shearer (7 goals, 9 matches)
Alan Shearer is one of the most recognizable strikers in the history of English football. In his career for the England national team, he played 63 matches, scoring 30 goals. Shearer scored a quarter of these goals at the European Championships in which he participated – Euro-1996 and Euro-2000. He also took to the pitch at Euro 1992 but then failed to add to his goal tally.
At Euro-1992 and Euro-2000, England’s failure to advance beyond the group stage was a disappointment. However, Euro-1996, held in England, was a triumph for Shearer. His skills were on full display, and his goals were instrumental in England’s journey to the semi-finals, where they lost to Germany in a dramatic penalty shootout.
At Euro 2000, Shearer again showed his high performance, adding two more goals to his achievements. However, despite his efforts, the England national team still needs to progress beyond the group stage.
Antoine Griezmann (7 goals, 11 matches)
French striker Antoine Griezmann is one of the few record-breaking players who continues to have an active football career, and his history at the European Championships is still ongoing. The Atletico Madrid player has twice participated in continental championships — Euro 2016 and Euro 2020. Although his goal tally currently stands at seven goals, Griezmann still has plenty of opportunities to improve on that statistic.
Euro 2016 was a landmark tournament for Griezmann. Held in France, the championship ended with the hosts reaching the final, where they were defeated by Portugal in extra time (0:1). Despite this unfortunate outcome, Griezmann had an outstanding game, becoming the top scorer of the tournament with six goals and earning the title of the best player of the tournament.
Ruud van Nistelrooij (6 goals, 8 matches)
When Patrick Kluivert lost his place on the attacking spearhead of the Dutch national team, his place was taken by an equally outstanding forward – Ruud van Nistelrooij. This brilliant striker, who left a bright mark in clubs like PSV, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, also demonstrated outstanding results on the international stage. For the Dutch national team, van Nistelrooij scored 35 goals in 70 matches, and six came in the European Championships finals.
Euro 2004 was a clear demonstration of his talent. Ruud van Nistelrooij scored four times, becoming one of the leading goal-scorers of the tournament. In Euro 2008, he showed his importance again, scoring two crucial goals for his team.
Patrick Kluivert (6 goals, 9 matches)
Patrick Kluivert left a bright mark in the history of the Dutch national team, playing 79 matches and scoring 40 goals. An outstanding striker, he participated in three European Championships but took the field in only two of them — at Euro-1996 and Euro-2000. At Euro 2004, Kluivert was included in the application form but never got a chance to play, spending the entire tournament on the bench.
The highest achievement of the Dutch national team with Patrick Kluivert was reaching the semifinals at home at Euro 2000. This tournament was the most successful for Patrick from an individual point of view. He scored five goals for the Oranje and, along with Savo Milosevic, became the competition’s top scorer. Nevertheless, this achievement did not bring Kluivert much joy, as the national team was expected to triumph, not defeat, in the semifinal against Italy in a penalty shootout after many unrealized chances.
Romelu Lukaku (6 goals, 10 matches)
Romelu Lukaku, a Belgian forward with a powerful physique and sharp goalkeeping skills, continues to delight fans with his performances today. Included in the Euro 2024 bid, he has already proven himself at the previous two European Championships — in 2016 and 2021.
Euro 2016 was Lukaku’s debut continental tournament. The Belgian national team showed bright and attacking football, but their journey ended at the quarterfinal stage after a 1-3 defeat to Wales. Romelu scored two goals, confirming his status as one of Europe’s leading strikers.
Five years later, at Euro 2020, Lukaku again showed his best qualities. He scored four goals this time, becoming a key figure in the Belgian attack. Belgium looked solid and ambitious, but their path was again cut short in the quarterfinals, where they lost to Italy (1-2). This tournament confirmed that Lukaku could decide the outcome of matches at the highest level, despite the disappointment of the team’s result.
Alvaro Morata (6 goals, 10 matches)
Alvaro Morata, the current Atletico Madrid forward, continues his journey at the European Championships, approaching new heights with each tournament. He has made his mark at two European Championships so far, in 2016 and 2020, and is ready for the challenges of Euro 2024.
Euro 2016 was the beginning of his history at continental tournaments for Morata. Muscular and ambitious, Spain was stopped at the 1/8 finals stage despite three goals from Morata.
Euro 2020 brought new challenges and opportunities. The Spanish national team reached the semifinals, where they played Italy in a tense match that ended in a 1-1 draw and was decided on penalties. Alvaro Morata was one of the key players in this match, and his miss was decisive for the final score of 2:4 in favor of the opponents.
Wayne Rooney (6 goals, 10 matches)
Wayne Rooney, a renowned forward and England legend, left his mark in three European Championships and significantly contributed to the history of English football on the international stage.
His debut at the Euros came in 2004 when the young Rooney made a name for himself by scoring four critical goals. This tournament remained one of the highlights of his career despite a disappointing ending in the quarterfinals, where England lost to Portugal on penalties.
In 2012, Wayne made another appearance on the European stage, leading England to the quarterfinals. However, fate decided to laugh at the English again, and they missed a trip to the semifinals, losing to Italy on penalties.
Euro 2016 proved to be no less disappointing for Rooney and his team. Although they made it through the group stage, they suffered a surprise defeat to Iceland in the next round. This tournament was Rooney’s last European Championships, where he scored another goal, cementing his reputation as a big forward.
Thierry Henry (6 goals, 11 matches)
Thierry Henry, an icon of French football, left an unforgettable mark in the history of the ” tricolor ” national team, participating in three European Championships and demonstrating unique skills on the field.
In total, Thierry played 123 matches in the national team, scoring an impressive 51 goals. At the European Championships, he played 11 games and scored six goals, emphasizing his importance to the team in crucial moments.
Euro 2000 proved to be the most triumphant for Henry and his compatriots when they emerged from the tournament victorious, playing at home. Henry contributed significantly to that success, scoring three goals, including a crucial one in the semi-final against Portugal. His ability to put goals in the opponent’s goal at the highest level was undeniable.
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Conclusion
When we think of the Euros, the first names that come to mind are those who managed to go beyond the ordinary and reach the heights of their game. Top scorers become symbols of their national teams, inspiring millions of European fans. Each goal of the top scorers becomes a part of Euro history, remembered by fans and analysts as crucial moments that determine the course of matches and the fate of teams.
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