Euro 2024 kicks off this week with Germany welcoming the best of European international soccer to the country for the next month.
There will be no shortage of drama and excitement over the coming weeks with some of the best players on the continent given a platform to demonstrate their brilliance. Here are five superstars who could light up the tournament.
Jude Bellingham – England
At club level, the 2023/24 season was a dream for Jude Bellingham, who finished his debut season at Real Madrid by winning a Champions League and La Liga double. The 20-year-old is widely considered the best central midfielder in world soccer right now and is expected to be a driving force for England at Euro 2024.
There is, however, a question over the exact position Bellingham will play for the Three Lions. For Real Madrid this season, he was given the freedom to get forward and act as a de facto number nine at certain points. England, however, also have Phil Foden and Cole Palmer to accommodate, not to mention Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka. Bellingham might have to sit deeper.
Bruno Fernandes – Portugal
Only a handful of players scored more goals than Bruno Fernandes in Euro 2024 qualifying. The 29-year-old is a key figure for Manchester United, but it could be argued that he is even more important for Portugal. Indeed, Roberto Martinez has built his team around Fernandes since taking over following the 2022 World Cup.
Martinez has released the handbrake on Portugal’s attack after years of being restricted by the conservative tactics of Fernando Santos. Fernandes is one of the players who could benefit from this at Euro 2024. The Manchester United midfielder could be set for the best tournament campaign of his international career.
Kylian Mbappe – France
Kylian Mbappe could cap a landmark summer in his career by winning Euro 2024. The forward has already completed a ground-breaking transfer to Real Madrid after years of speculation and will now spearhead France’s challenge in Germany this summer with Les Bleus aiming to become European champions for the first time since 2000.
Mbappe scored nine goals in eight qualifying games and will be France’s greatest attacking threat at Euro 2024. His partnership with Oliver Giroud has been one of the most fruitful at international level in recent times and this tournament will be the pair’s final chance to win a European Championships before Giroud’s international retirement.
Rodri – Spain
In Rodri, Spain boast the best number six in world soccer right now. The 27-year-old has established himself as one of Manchester City’s most important players over a number of seasons, anchoring the team to a treble last season and four consecutive Premier League trophies. He is similarly integral to Spain, who need to show progress after a disappointing showing at the 2022 World Cup.
Indeed, the emergence of teenage superstar Lamine Yamal and the fitness of Pedri could make a big difference for Spain, who have lacked creativity and attacking firepower in recent major tournaments. Nonetheless, Rodri is still the player who ties everything together for them in the centre of the pitch.
Florian Wirtz – Germany
Julian Nagelsmann has remoulded Germany ahead of Euro 2024 on home soil and has placed a lot of trust in Florian Wirtz to be a difference-maker for his team in the attacking third. Wirtz was exceptional for Bayer Leverkusen this season as they won the Bundesliga title for the first time and the 21-year-old could be set for a big summer at international level too.
Nagelsmann’s system is set up to create space and opportunities for his two attacking midfielders in the half-spaces. Jamal Musiala is one of those attacking midfielders and Wirtz is the other. If Germany are to go the distance at Euro 2024, Wirtz will need to deliver both as an assists maker and a goalscorer in his own right.
