The legends of the game have etched their names into Euros history (Picture: Getty)
It’s officially the year of Euro 2024 – and the best goalscorers on the continent will be looking to fire their countries to glory when the tournament rolls around this summer.
The likes of Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe will be expected to compete for the Golden Boot, joining an illustrious list of former players who find their names amongst the highest scorers in the history of the Euros.
England in particular will be hoping Kane can recreate his goalscoring form in Germany during the tournament, with the striker having found the back of the net plenty of times in the country following his move to Bayern Munich last year.
Let’s take a look at the top goalscorers of all-time in the European Championship.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The Al-Nassr star is the highest goalscorer in the history of the Euros with 14 goals in 25 appearances for Portugal.
Ronaldo claimed the top prize at Euro 2016 (Picture: Getty)
Ronaldo claimed the first international trophy of his career at Euro 2016 in France, with his 3 goals helping Portugal claim their very first piece of silverware.
The former Manchester United player was withdrawn from the final at the Stade de France after just 24 minutes, with Ronaldo then infamously shouting instructions at his teammates from the touchline during the tense Parisian night.
Despite now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo will almost certainly be included in Roberto Martinez’s final squad – in what would be his record breaking sixth Euros.
Ronaldo, who won the Golden Boot at Euro 2020 with five goals, also holds the record for the most goals scored in Euro qualifiers with 41.
Michel Platini
The iconic Frenchman slots in behind Ronaldo in second place on the all-time list with nine goals in just five appearances.
Platini shone the brightest for France at Euro 84 (Picture: Getty)
Platini, now 68, can boast the best goals-per-game ratio of any player to have made at least 5 appearances in the competition with 1.8.
All five of those goals came during the only Euros in which Platini competed in – Euro 84 – which remains the highest number of goals ever scored by a player during a single European Championship.
Platini’s heroics include a last minute winner against Portugal in the semi-finals and the opening goal of the final against Spain.
Platini, who captained France on home soil in 1984, became the president of UEFA in 2007 but was banned from all football related activities for 8 years in 2015 over ethics violations.
Antoine Griezmann
The Atletico Madrid star has scored seven goals in 11 matches across the previous two Euros.
Griezmann could not fire France to glory at Euro 2016 (Picture: Getty)
Griezmann scored an impressive six goals at Euro 2016 before suffering heartbreak in the final to Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Whilst he may not have got his hands on the main prize, Griezmann didn’t go home completely empty-handed – his goalscoring exploits on home soil saw him named Player of the Tournament.
Griezmann was unable to repeat his goalscoring form at Euro 2020, managing just a solitary goal as France crashed out in the Round of 16 to Switzerland.
Griezmann did make up for the Euro 2016 final defeat, however, playing a starring role as France won the World Cup two years later.
Alan Shearer
The legendary England striker netted seven goals in nine Euro appearances during his illustrious playing career.
Shearer enjoyed a summer to remember in 1996
Having gone goalless during his one game at Euro 92, Shearer won the Golden Boot with five goals at Euro 96 as England made it all the way to the semi-finals.
Shearer scored England’s only goal after just three minutes of the infamous semi-final defeat to Germany, who eventually edged out the hosts 6-5 on penalties despite the Newcastle icon slotting away his spot-kick.
Shearer would add to his tally with two goals at Euro 2000 as England crashed out in the group stage.
The footballer-turned-pundit, who is the top goalscorer in Premier League history, will likely be part of the BBC team which covers Euro 2024 later this year.
European Championship all-time top goalscorers
Michel Platini – 9
Antoine Griezmann – 7
Alan Shearer – 7
Alvaro Morata – 6
Thierry Henry – 6
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 6
Patrick Kluivert – 6
Romelu Lukaku – 6
Nuno Gomes – 6
Wayne Rooney – 6
Ruud van Nistelrooy – 6
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