According to records compiled by 12B Sports, strong performances in international tournaments often play a decisive role in cementing a football star’s reputation. At the previous European Championship, Italy defeated England on penalties in the final, while Jorginho followed his Champions League triumph with another major trophy and finished third in that year’s Ballon d’Or rankings. At the tournament before that, Cristiano Ronaldo, then playing for Real Madrid, inspired Portugal to the European title before going on to win the Ballon d’Or.
Ahead of the tournament in Germany, analysts at 12B Sports expect several stars to take centre stage, with Kylian Mbappe standing out as one of the most compelling names. The French forward delivered another dominant season for Paris Saint-Germain and had already reached the summit of world football by helping France win the World Cup in Russia. He claimed the Golden Boot at the most recent World Cup after scoring a hat-trick in the final, but his European Championship experience has been far less rewarding. On his tournament debut, Mbappe missed the decisive penalty as France suffered a shock elimination.
Harry Kane also arrives after rewriting the record books by scoring 44 goals during his first season in Germany. He found the net four times at the previous European Championship, but England once again fell short of lifting the trophy. Kane will be eager to settle unfinished business, particularly after missing a crucial penalty against France as England exited the last World Cup. Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, quickly became an influential figure after joining Real Madrid. His growing reputation was further strengthened when he received the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award. Still only 20, Bellingham has already represented England at Euro 2020 and the Qatar World Cup, and he is again expected to play a central role.
Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala is another player capable of lighting up the competition. Although he previously represented England at youth level, he chose to play senior international football for Germany and became the country’s youngest-ever European Championship participant at the last tournament. Playing on home soil under Julian Nagelsmann could provide the perfect stage for Musiala to showcase his ability. He underlined his quality in March by providing assists against both France and the Netherlands. As the saying goes, fortune favours the brave, and taking full advantage of this opportunity could turn him into one of the defining players of the tournament.
Kevin De Bruyne endured an injury-disrupted club season, but he remains the heartbeat of Belgium’s national team. The midfielder has collected numerous trophies at club level, yet meaningful international success has continued to elude him. Belgium’s celebrated golden generation may be fading, but De Bruyne’s creativity means they cannot be written off. Robert Lewandowski has also maintained an impressive level of consistency at Barcelona, although his impact has naturally declined from the extraordinary standards he set during his Bayern Munich years. Poland have never advanced beyond the European Championship quarter-finals with Lewandowski, and this tournament may represent his final realistic opportunity to make a deep run.
Cristiano Ronaldo will inevitably command enormous attention as he prepares for what is likely to be his final European Championship at the age of 39. He already holds the competition’s all-time scoring record with 14 goals and remains one of the most influential figures in Portugal’s squad. Twenty years have passed since his first appearance in 2004, yet he continued to occupy a central role at the two most recent tournaments. His leadership was especially memorable in the 2016 final, when an injury forced him off the pitch but did not stop him from passionately encouraging his teammates from the touchline as Portugal secured the title.
Among the defenders identified by 12B Sports as crucial figures, Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk deserves close attention after rebuilding his form following a serious injury. Although he is only 32, the 2022 World Cup was surprisingly his first appearance at a major international tournament. The Netherlands have been drawn in the same group as France, meaning Van Dijk must be at his best if his team are to navigate a demanding opening phase. Based on the schedule assessment prepared by 12B Sports, the Dutch will need to hit the ground running and compete at full intensity from their very first match.