The UEFA European Championship has long been the platform for greatness and the birthplace of legends. Several names have graced the Euros but some have made their mark felt more than others.
This piece will evaluate the top Euros goal-scorers of all time, and in case your Euro 2020 bets for which you should compare the odds in advance on overlyzer.com are yet to be placed, a stake on this summer’s top scorer is perhaps a good choice.
Indeed, this list is subject to change once the tournament is in full swing and a few more names could soon be added.
Nuno Gomes (6 goals)
If you were up against Gomes then your defenders better get ready for trouble. Sporting the number 21 jersey, Nuno Gomes was a predator in his prime. Blessed with great linkup play, he could bring players like Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo into the game. He had incredible aerial ability and constantly made himself a nuisance for defenders; he is quite pacey on the turn too.
Gomes accumulated 79 caps for his nation and was important in Portugal finishing third in 2000 and second in 2004 when they hosted the tournament, losing that final to Greece in one of the greatest underdog stories in modern football. He spent the best part of his career in Portugal with Benfica, amassing goals and trophies.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy (6 goals)
One of the deadliest finishers in the history of the game, primarily a fox-in-the-box striker but he was blessed with the Dutch technical skills, pace, and power to execute any type of finish in the final third. Despite his penchant for simulation and perceived arrogance, RVN is one of the finest strikers to ever grace the game.
He scored three goals on his international debut in Euro 2004, and despite fallouts with coach Marco Van Basten and even retiring at one point, he scored another couple at Euro 2008 and added the last at Euro 2012. He spelled danger for any defense and he was a menace across Europe.
Wayne Rooney (6 goals)
From his emergence in 2002, the hopes of a nation desperate for glory gradually shifted from David Beckham’s shoulders unto his. At his first international tournament, Rooney showed just why people were right to believe. This 18-year-old was a fearless and forceful barrage of attacking intent.
Two goals against Switzerland and another two against Croatia. The first goal against Croatia was particularly symbolic. After Rooney smashed a shot beyond the hapless hands of the goalkeeper, Beckham ran to meet him in the corner and raised him towards the celebrating supporters. Briefly, Rooney became the top scorer in European Championship history and was named in the team of the tournament despite quarter-final elimination. He added one goal at Euro 2012 despite being banned for the first two matches and another at Euro 2016 to take his tally to six goals.
Thierry Henry (6 goals)
There are not enough words to describe the greatness of this legendary footballer. From his emergence at the 1997 FIFA Youth Championship to the 1998 World Cup which the French won to Euro 2000 where he scored three goals as the French won again.
Henry has seen it all as he would score another two goals at Euro 2004 as France exited at the quarter-final to eventual winners Greece. He scored France’s only goal at Euro 2008 in a 4-1 loss to the Netherlands. Henry’s signature blend of pace, immaculate technique, and accurate ball-striking served him well. He was an odd striker who preferred to score from outside the box. When he did enter the box, his ability to finish from the left side by bending the ball into the right beyond the keeper was unmatched. Long live the king!
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (6 goals)
For a small country like Sweden, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a gift and all hopes were on him and at least in terms of goals, he delivered for Sweden. In Sweden’s opening group match of Euro 2004, he scored from a penalty in a 5–0 win over Bulgaria and in the following match against Italy, he scored THAT goal; an 85th-minute equalizer with a back-heel lob to seal a 1–1 draw. He was named Man of the Match with the goal named the best goal of the tournament.
He finished Euro 2008 with two goals despite accruing a two-year goal in qualifying matches. Zlatan would add another two goals at Euro 2012 even though they did not make it beyond the group stage.
His Euro 2016 campaign was a disaster but the whole team played badly. Zlatan remains one of the great names in the game, waxing strong at 39 years. He is Sweden’s top scorer with 62 international goals.
Antoine Griezmann (6 goals)
This diminutive forward has carved out an amazing career for himself in a short period with Les Bleus. He has only played one European Championship with France but he finished as top-scorer and finalist.
Griezmann scored six goals and assisted another two in seven games. His record in the competition is only bettered by the number 1 on this list who scored nine goals in a single tournament edition. Griezmann currently sits in the upper echelons of goal-scorers in what is a very talented list of French players. He will be key to France’s hopes of Euro 2020.
Patrick Kluivert (6 goals)
The 6ft2 yet incredibly deft and nimble number nine scored goals from Ajax to Barcelona to major European tournaments. The complete and dangerous striker provided the end-product for his star-studded Oranje generation. At one point he was even the country’s all-time top-scorer until a certain Robin Van Persie came along.
He stood out at Euro 2000, scoring four goals at the tournament, including a famous hat trick against Yugoslavia.
Alan Shearer (7 goals)
Arguably one of the greatest strikers of the world, his animalistic drive for a singular purpose – ripping the back of the net – was incredible to watch. His finest moments in an England shirt came at Euro 1996.
Shearer had a mediocre record with the English national team and the burden was on his other teammates to produce despite his phenomenal goal-scoring records. Shearer would score five goals that spearheaded them to the semi-finals where they lost to Germany on penalties with now England coach Gareth Southgate missing the game-defining penalty. Shearer was the top scorer and named in the team of the tournament. He would score two more at Euro 2000 as England failed to escape their group. It was his last tournament with the three lions.
Cristiano Ronaldo (9 goals)
What more is there to say about Cristiano Ronaldo? The all-time leading European international goal scorer. The ultimate European player. CR7 is also the joint-leading scorer at the European Championship and can steal ahead into first place after Euro 2020.
Euro 2004 was his breakout period when you come to think of it. His two goals and two assists meant he was named in the team of the tournament. His mesmerizing footwork dazzled and dazed full-backs. He scored his first international goal against Greece in the first group game (they would later meet in the final). Ronaldo also scored the opener in a 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the semi-final.
He scored only once at Euro 2008 and it was against the Czech Republic. At Euro 2012, he scored three to take his side to the semi-final where they lost against eventual winners Spain in the penalty shootout. He would score three more at Portugal’s Euro 2016 triumph and indeed could have added more to his tally with the chances he was getting.
Cristiano Ronaldo has also made the most appearances at European Championships. He holds the record for most semi-final appearances and the only person to have scored at three different Euro tournaments. What a player!
Michel Platini (France, 9 goals)
This maverick was one of the best players of the 80s and his 3 Ballon d’Or trophies attest to that statement. A gifted midfielder with an eye for goal, Platini turned heads and defenders with dribbling and playmaking skills.
At Euro ‘84, he showed just why he was the best around as he scored the only goal in the game against Denmark, finishing a curled shot with his right foot. After a free-kick crashed against the bar, he picked it up and scored with his left foot against Belgium. He then scored a right-footed penalty, and scored a header in the same game. A perfect hat trick it was.
Now against Yugoslavia, he scored another perfect hat trick. A left-footed near-post finish, a right-footed free-kick, and a header into the bottom corner. In the semi-final, he struck an extra-time dying minute winner against Portugal. In the final, he scored a free-kick that squirmed past Luis Arconada. France lifted Euro 84 and Michel Platini, their talisman, had played a great part.
Platini had scored nine of the team’s 14 goals and was named the best player at the tournament. It is arguably the greatest one-man show ever put up in a senior international tournament.