Strikers are usually known to be the leading stars in football and they will play a pivotal role in taking their teams closer to Euro glory. While the list is long, we narrow down six such forwards that can go all the way to lift the trophy and if not, definitely create an impression at the Euro 2020 season
(L-R) Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane. All Pictures/ AFP
The Euro 2020 season is finally here! The esteemed European Championship will kick off today with Turkey facing Italy. The Euro 2020 will see 24 teams battle it out for the title in a month-long season. There is a huge list of names that are eager to create an impact at this year's Euros with many records to be set and broken. Strikers are usually known to be the leading stars in football and they will play a pivotal role in taking their teams closer to Euro glory. While the list is long, we narrow down six such forwards that can go all the way to lift the trophy and if not, definitely create an impression at the Euro 2020 season.
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Considered by many as the best footballer in the world and nicknamed CR7, Ronaldo is the captain of the Portugal national team. The 36-year-old will be looking to lead the Euro 2016 title winners once again to retain the trophy. Ronaldo is tied as the all-time leading goalscorer at the Euros alongside Michel Platini (9). Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal back in 2003 and has played 175 games scoring 104 goals - the most by any active footballer in history. Ronaldo made his club debut with Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United in 2003. Ronaldo played 196 matches and scored 84 goals and also is a two-time EPL title, one-time UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and FA Cup winner. In 2009, Ronaldo moved to La Liga with Real Madrid where even more glory found him. CR7 played 292 games and scored 311 goals earning much praise and trophies including 4 UEFA Champions League title,s 2 La Liga and Copa del Rey titles and 4 FIFA Club World Cups, Ronaldo is a five-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner.
Harry Kane (England)
Kane is unarguably one of the most impactful strikers in the game over the past half-decade. The England captain is regarded amongst the best forwards and is known for his goalscoring abilities which have won him many awards. Kane made his debut for England in 2015 and has played 54 games with 34 goals. He won the Golden Boot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the most goals scored. Kane has played for many clubs on loans such as Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City but is a mainstay at Tottenham Hotspur playing 242 games with 166 goals to his name. The 27-year-old footballer has been EPL's highest goalscorer three times besides winning the Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year as well as the Premier League Playmaker of the Season this year.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
The 22-year-old French footballer is undoubtedly the biggest sensation going into Euro 2020 with hopes and expectations riding high on him from teammates and former footballers alike. Mbappe made his club debut in 2015 at age 16 and two years later, he debuted for France. Mbappe is famously known for his clinical finishes, pace, ball control and versatility of playing as a winger as well as a centre forward. He has played 44 international games and scored 17 goals. Mbappe was part of the France national team that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He won the FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award in 2018. On the club front, he made his debut for Monaco, playing 41 games and scoring 16 goals before moving to PSG on loan in 2017 where he scored 13 goals from 27 games. The following year, Mbappe was part of the PSG team and played 80 games with 78 goals to his name. He is a four-time Ligue 1 title winner - thrice with PSG and once with Monaco. iHe was the top goalscorer in Ligue 1 on three occasions. He will be an ideal treat to watch at the Euros and will be looking at matching expectations.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
The 32-year-old Polish striker is one of the most talented forwards with numerous achievements to his name becoming one of the most successful footballers in Bundesliga ever. Lewandowski is known for his accuracy in finishing and possesses great pace as well. The Poland captain made his debut for the national team back in 2008 and has played 119 matches scoring 66 goals. He has also played for many football clubs such as Delta Warsaw, Legia Warsaw II, Znicz Pruszkow, Lech Poznan before moving to Borussia Dortmund from 2010 to 2014, where during his time at the club, he scored 74 goals in 131 games and won 2 Bundesliga titles. He was in the limelight ever since his move to Bayern Munich in 2014 and has been their lead striker ever since, scoring 203 goals from 219 games. Lewandowski also won 7 Bundesliga titles, 1 UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup as well as individual awards like the UEFA Champions League top goalscorer, assist provider and forward during the 2019–20 season with Bayern.
Timo Werner (Germany)
Germany's young sensation Timo Werner will be looking to make an impact and create a name for himself at the Euro 2020 edition. Werner, 25, is known for his fast pace and his ability to retrieve the ball as well as collaborate well with midfielders for goalscoring opportunities. Nicknamed 'Turbo Timo', the striker made his debut for Germany in 2017 and has played 39 games scoring 16 goals. Werner won the FIFA Confederations Cup, Golden Boot, in 2017 - the year Germany won the title. He made his club debut for VfB Stuttgart in 2013 playing 95 games with 13 goals before moving to RB Leipzig in 2016. He appeared in 127 games and scored 78 goals for the German club. In 2020, Werner entered EPL when he joined Chelsea and has so far played 35 games and has found the net 6 times. He won the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League with Chelsea. Werner will look to play the role of a lead striker for Germany as they chase another Euro title.
Gareth Bale (Wales)
The Welsh footballer is like a one-man-army in his national team and is famously known for his ferocious pace and goalscoring abilities. Bale is a left-winger with stamina and great ball control who has become one of the most prolific strikers of the ball over the years. Bale made his debut for Wales in 2006 and has since scored 33 goals in 92 games becoming their all-time leading goalscorer. Bale has won the Welsh footballer of the year award a record six times. He made his club debut for Southampton in 2006 before moving to Tottenham in 2007, where he played 146 games with over 40 goals scored. In 2013, Bale joined La Liga giants Real Madrid and became one of their lead strikers playing in 171 games and scoring 80 goals. He is a four-time UEFA Champions League winner, two-time La Liga title winner and also won the Copa del Rey once.
Also Read: Euro 2020 analysis: Six groups, major contenders, one title
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