EURO 2020: Player Power Rankings

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The rankings are based on performances of all players upto and including the Round Of 16

1. Paul Pogba

The French power house has reminded us why he was once the most expensive player on the planet. In an underperforming French side, Paul Pogba shone brightly and his influence from midfield cannot be understated. Pogba’s future in a Man United shirt is more uncertain than ever before. Whether he is staying or whether he is going, it cannot be emphasized enough how badly Pogba needed this.

Doubts had emerged recently about whether Pogba could still deliver on the highest stage and though a few flashes were being seen at the end of the last season after he returned from injury. With consistent performances for France in this tournament his stock has soared near to where it was in 2016. With performances against Portugal and Germany he has proved his worth and that goal against Switzerland was an absolute beauty.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

Arguably the greatest footballer to ever play the game, Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer at the Euros and has been a constant danger to opposition defenders. With the ball or without the ball you cannot give him a millimeter of space as that will be all he needs to punish you.

An athlete through and through, even at the age of 36 he has the capability of playing 90 minutes in all 4 games, that too at the highest level against the best teams. The 5-time Balon D’or may not be what he was in 2017 but he still is one of the best at what he does, and his best is a joy to watch. 

3. Romelu Lukaku

The Belgian Giant is knocking on the door of world class strikers and its about time someone lets him into the club. He is Belgium’s top goal scorer and by a good distance with Eden Hazard 31 goals behind the Inter man. Even in this competition he has shown up for his national team whenever they need him to.

Belgium had a relatively easy group and Lukaku shone in his role. They certainly aren’t getting any “easy” fixtures in the knockouts as they face Italy after beating Portugal and if they want to go further in the competition, the Lukaku will have to keep performing and keep making the difference.

4. Raheem Sterling

Once touted as one of the best wingers in the Premier League, Sterling had recently started to lose his right to be in that exclusive club of players. He was even dropped to the bench by City boss Pep Guardiola and since then his future at the club had become a bit uncertain as well.

But scoring 3 out of England’s 4 goals and essentially being their biggest match winner, he is currently their most important player. He has the freedom to cut inside the box and get more involved into the play thanks to the incredible work of Kyle Walker. Once he gets into the box he is always looking to make something happen and more times than not he has succeeded.

5. Memphis depay

Soon to be the 22^nd Dutch player to play for Barcelona, Memphis Depay has had a stellar season with Lyon finishing second in the golden boot race in Ligue 1. These excellent performances attracted attention from a few big clubs.

In the Euros he has continued his excellent form, dropping in deep and dictating play, providing and scoring goals and being a constant threat. His confidence is through the roof unlike the dejected Manchester United flop in 2017.

6. Emil forsberg

We are so used to watching a Swedish striker tear an opposition defence apart that we naturally thought that Alexander Isak will steal the show at the Euros. Although his performances have been good, he has not been quite effective. Emil Forsberg however, has been sensational scoring goals left right and center.

He would have been quite clearly the most surprising entry of this list had someone wrote it before the tournament began. Though they are out of the competition relatively early, Sweden will look at this tournament with rose-tinted glasses as they have plenty of things to be proud of and Emil Forsberg will be at the top of that list. 

7. Denzel dumfries

The PSV man has been perhaps the best player for Netherlands who went relatively under the radar until now. A constant threat on the right flank and a defensively resilient and strong player he knows how to dominate a game.

A fast but physically strong player is quite rare but Denzel Dumfries is just that and he took his attacking output to a whole new level, tripling his all time goals scored for his country. But it is not just his attacking game that is the reason he is on the team. Defensively as well he is a key figure in the Dutch team and is a force to be reckoned with.

8. Andriy Yarmolenko

The West Ham man played perhaps the least number of minutes for his club among all the players on this list. He lost his place this season to Jarrod Bowen but with stellar and consistent performances for his country he has put his best foot forward in front of David Moyes for the upcoming season. He has proven in this tournament that quality never dies, it’s the circumstances and form and belief that make the difference and right now 44 million Ukrainians are believing in him.

If he still can’t get enough minutes an exit might be on the cards for the man who has been at this club for the past 3 years. Without a question the best player for Ukraine, who would be pleasantly surprised to see their team reach the quarter finals, Yarmolenko has been consistently performing well and covering up for Ruslan Malinovskiy who has been a bit unlucky.   

9. Leonardo Spinazzola

The Italian National Team, until their previous game against Austria, had looked like the strongest side at the tournament. Spinazzola undoubtedly has been a key figure in that. He is arguably the best full back at the Euros but again he is arguably not even a full back. He is not know for his defensive contribution, but when he offensively he looks like an experienced winger with a few tricks up his sleeve to send the opposition defender trailing and create chances for his team.

His link up play with Insigne has been nothing short of sensational and have been wreaking havoc at the Euros. One man who will be keenly looking at Spinazzola will be the new Roma boss Jose Mourinho and tactical cogs in his brain will be turning, in an effort to recreate Spinazzola’s attacking output in Serie A.

10. Patrick schick

The Czech man has already made history in this tournament by scoring the inevitable goal of the season against Scotland and hasn’t stopped scoring since. He is also the highest scoring player out of the teams still left.

Funnily enough, he has the same amount of goals as England in this competition. Schick is going to be a key element in Czech’s clash against Denmark and all their fan’s eyes will be on their bright star who is in blazing form right now. 

11. John stones

John Stones has perhaps had the highest rise in the English top flight this season. When Ruben Dias entered the team, it was not even a question about who will be going to the bench between Laporte and Stones. However Stones, was not going to let it be that easy for Laporte and took that second spot at centre back alongside Dias.

Now in the Euros as well he is showcasing his talents on the ball as well as off it. Their most influential and consistent defender in the competition, he has been instrumental in allowing England to be the only country with 0 goals conceded in the competition. 

12. Haris Seferović

Seferovic joined the party of impressive Swiss attackers at the Euros a bit late but boy has he made an impression. It was Breel Embolo first who was the star of the show, then Xherdan Shaquiri and now Seferovic.

He gave not one, but two match winning performances against Turkey and then against France scoring thrice. In the game against France he did not let the French defenders breathe for a second and eventually inspired their epic comeback. 

13. Jorginho

The Italian side is a team brimming with talent and a case could be made for several players in the midfield itself like Locatelli and Berardi but we are giving the spot to their more defensive teammate. Several players int the Italian squad, can attack and score like Locatelli and Berardi but only a few can play as a pivot and dictate a game like Jorginho can.

His composure on the ball is like calming presence and his defensive workrate is not to be forgotten as well. With the wing backs bombing forward it falls upon Jorginho to fill up the gaping holes they leave behind and he does a great job at covering up for them. A Champions League winner with Chelsea, Jorginho will want to become the first Italian player to win the UCL and the Euros in the same year. 

14. Andreas Christensen

Like a diamond in a coal mine, Denmark have shown quality in adversity. The Danes suffered a big blow but they have responded in the best way possible. Since that game they have been a force to be reckoned with. And one player has stood out the most and that is Andreas Christensen.

He is not only a good defender in a traditional sense, but also because of his versatility and resourcefulness. He can switch into a defensive midfielder role and dictate play when his team needs to. His rocket against Russia could have a case for goal of the tournament but it looks highly unlikely after Schick launched a missile of his own against Scotland. 

15. Aymeric Laporte

At the beginning several fans were extremely surprised to learn that a defender of Laporte’s quality has not played a single game for the French National team. But it was due to that, that he was able to switch nationalities to Spain.

In his new team he has slotted right in and has not let the team feel the absence of their captain and veteran Sergio Ramos. He has been sensational whether he was playing alongside Pau Torres or Eric Garcia who could be his teammate on a club level as well next season since Aymeric has been linked to Barcelona.

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