Top 10 highest scorers in the UEFA Euros of all time

These stars are considered among the best the game has ever produced.

The UEFA Euro 2020 is right around the corner. The tournament will commence from 11 June 2021, after it was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Euros, as they are commonly called, see some of the best players in Europe represent their national teams in order to win the crown. Expectedly, this makes it one of the toughest continental tournaments in the world. However, despite the difficulty, the highest scorers of the UEFA Euros are mostly household names in the world.

The history of the competition has seen some of the best attackers display their talents. One look at the list of highest scorers in the UEFA Euros gives an idea of the standard of competition. Therefore, here are the top 10 highest scorers of all time in the history of the UEFA Euros.

10. Alvaro Morata (Spain) - 6 goals

The Spanish striker has scored six goals over two editions of the Euros in his career. He is became the highest scorer of Spain in the European Championships with six goals, when he equalized against Italy in the semifinal of Euro 2020. He surpassed Fernando Torres (5) to be crowned the highest scorer of Spain in the Euros.

Morata is also the only Spanish player in history to have scored at least three goals in consecutive Euro editions (2016, 2020).

9. Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden) - 6 goals

Zlatan Ibrahimović has scored six goals in the UEFA Euros in 13 matches. He has already represented Sweden in four different editions of the tournament (2004, 2008, 2021, 2016) and chances are he will play in the Euros 2020 as well. 

8. Thierry Henry (France) - 6 goals

France’s legendary striker Thierry Henry has scored six goals in the tournament in 11 appearances. The former Arsenal striker was considered among the best attackers during his career and featured in three European Championships. He was part of the squad that lifted the trophy in 2000.

7. Wayne Rooney (England) - 6 goals

Manchester United’s all time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney has also scored six goals in the Euros and took 10 games to reach the target. Rooney is also the leading goalscorer for the Three Lions with 53 goals in 119 appearances.

6. Patrick Kluivert (Netherlands) - 6 goals

Patrick Kluivert, father of Justin Kluivert, was a striker who played for teams like FC Barcelona, AFC Ajax and represented the Netherlands on the international stage. The striker was known for immaculate finishing skills. He scored six goals as well but took nine games to do so. He featured in two editions of the Euros (1996 and 2000). 

5. Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands) - 6 goals

Another Dutch royalty in the figure of Ruud van Nistelrooy features next on the list. The striker played for clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid among others and featured for the Dutch in two European Championships. 

4. Antoine Griezmann (France) - 6 goals

Antoine Griezmann was the highest goalscorer in the 2016 edition of the tournament. The French forward scored six goals in seven games, but failed to guide the team to the title. One should expect the FC Barcelona player to rise above and add to the tally, considering he will play again in the coming editions.

3. Alan Shearer (England) - 7 goals

Alan Shearer scored seven goals in nine Euro appearances for England. The highest scorer in the Premier League’s history featured for England in three editions (1992, 1996 and 2000). He is the third highest scorer in the history of the competition.

2. Michel Platini (France) - 9 goals

French legend, Michel Platini is the second highest goalscorer in the history of the European Championships. The forward scored nine goals in merely five appearances for the national team. Interestingly, all the nine goals came in a single edition of the competition, the 1984 championships, which France eventually won as well.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 14 goals

The highest goalscorer is Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. He overtook France legend Michel Platini in Euro 2020 group stage game against Hungary with a brace. The Juventus star scored five goals in the 2020 edition to take his tally to 14 goals, which might be his last as well. Ronaldo scored three goals in the previous edition, which Portugal went on to win. Former Manchester United star is also top scorer of UEFA Champions League.

**The article was updated on July 7, 2020 at 2:40 AM IST. 

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