Held once every four years since 1960 (with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19), the UEFA European Championship, or “EURO” for short is a quadrennial football tournament played by various countries across (and beyond) the continent. This year’s competition will be the 17^th edition, with Italy reigning as the defending champion.

Image: UEFA EURO 2024™

Kylian Mbappe (France)
 

As far as famous football players go, this French pro needs no introduction. Having recently announced his departure from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after seven years for Real Madrid, 25-year-old Kylian Mbappe is a stellar forward and the current captain of the French national team.

On the pitch, Mbappe is famed for his speed as well as his amazing skill in dribbling and finishing. Among numerous other achievements (which is still quite the understatement), he is also the current record holder for the most goals scored in a World Cup finals match, having pulled off a tidy hat-trick against Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

But accolades aside, he is understandably concerned about France’s potential performance after their surprising 2-0 loss to Germany in a recent March friendly.

(Thanks,Reuters.)

Florian Wirtz (Germany)
 

Widely regarded as the brightest up-and-coming star in the Bundesliga, 21-year-old Florian Wirtz is a midfielder and left-winger for the German national team as well as Bayer Leverkusen.

On the pitch, he excels in offensive gameplay – being able to identify, set up, and execute complex passes with ease. This potent combination has led Wirtz to become the youngest ever goalscorer in the Bundesliga (17 years and 34 days), netting the ball in his very first appearance with Leverkusen against Bayern Munich in June 2020.

Additionally, he also holds the record for the second-fastest goal ever scored in international football history at just 7 seconds against France. Impressive? Certainly – but it’s also extremely amusing when you realise this is the very same match that has a certain French striker worried!
 

Jude Bellingham (England)
 

Speaking of bright young talents, at just 20 years of age, Jude Bellington is another of EURO 2024’s top players to catch, and for good reason.

The midfielder, who currently plays for Real Madrid and the English national team has been making some serious waves in the world of international football. Plus, this isn’t his first rodeo, having previously represented England at EURO 2020 as well as the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Lauded for his impressive technical abilities and finishing skills, Bellingham became Borussia Dortmund’s youngest goalscorer in his first-ever appearance with them in 2020, an achievement that he still holds today. Beyond that, the Englishman also won both of the major awards for male footballers under the age of 21 in 2023: specifically, the Golden Boy and the Kopa Trophy.