Our list of ten of the greatest football strikers who ever played in UEFA Euro since the tournament was founded

The UEFA European Championship is the second most popular soccer tournament in the world after the World Cup, and it used to feature the senior men's teams of 16 European countries that qualified to play in the tournament. Next year, at Euro 2016, the field will expand to 24 teams, which should make the tournament even more interesting.

The UEFA European Championship has had some of the greatest goal scorers in football participate in the tournament since it began in 1960, and to celebrate these men, we are giving you a list of the top 10 goal scorers in tournament history.

1. Michel Platini

Goals: 9 goals in 5 matches
Country: France
Years active: 1972-1987

Platini is one of the greatest midfielders ever, and the one man that stands over others in terms of the top goal scorer in UEFA European Championship history. Platini participated in Euro 1984, which was his only appearance at the tournament, and not only led his country to victory, he did it in impressive fashion. Platini scored in every game he played for France, and had two hat tricks in the tournament, giving him nine goals in five games. No other player in the history of the tournament has even come close to matching his performance in 1984, and it will be very hard to top what he did.

2. Alan Shearer

Goals: 7 goals in 9 matches
Country: England
Years active: 1988-2006

It is almost impossible to find a better striker than Shearer at his peak, he made his UEFA European Championship debut in 1992, but was seldom used and failed to score at the tournament. By 1996, he was one of the biggest names in the sport, and scored five goals in five games, winning the Golden Boot award. In Euro 2000, England failed to make it out of the group stage, but Shearer added two more goals to his tally, giving him seven goals in nine appearances.

3. Ruud van Nistelrooy

Goals: 6 goals in 8 matches
Country: Netherland
Years active: 1993-2012

Van Nistelrooy was another talented goal scorer from the Netherlands, he ended up having a better career than Kluivert did, but he also suffered with injuries throughout his career. He had a great debut at Euro 2004, scoring a goal in each of his first three games, and finishing the tournament with four. In 2008, he added two more goals to his total, finishing with six goals in the tournament.

4. Patrick Kluivert

Goals: 6 goals in 9 matches
Country: Netherlands
Years active: 1994-2008

Kluivert was one of the best football strikers of his generation, but didn't have the longevity he had hoped for, due to a rash of injuries. He made two appearances in the UEFA European Championships, in his debut, the 19 year old striker missed the first two games of the group stage, but managed to score one goal in the final group game, which allowed the Dutch to advance to the knockout stage. He established himself as one of the best strikers in the world at Euro 2000, scoring five goals in five games, leading his team to the semifinals.

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Goals: 6 goals in 10 matches
Country: Sweden
Years active: 1999-present

Ibrahimovic is one of the top strikers in the world, and he has a knack for scoring spectacular goals. He has made three appearances for Sweden at the UEFA European Championships, and has scored two goals in each of his three campaigns. He is one of the three active players that still have a chance to add more goals to their career totals at the tournament, but he will need to help his team get through the qualifying stage.

6. Thierry Henry

Goals: 6 goals in 11 matches
Country: France
Years active: 1994-2014

Henry is widely considered to be one of the greatest strikers in history, and finished his career as the leading goal scorer in Arsenal history. He also helped the French national team win the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In his first appearance at the UEFA European tournament in 2000, he scored three goals in the tournament, and helped France win the tournament. In his second appearance, he scored two goals for the national team, but they lost in the quarterfinals, and in his final appearance, he scored France's only goal at the 2008 tournament.

7. Cristiano Ronaldo

Goals: 6 goals in 14 matches
Country: Portugal
Years active: 2002-present

Ronaldo is one of the most famous players right now, and has had a lot of success in his career. Unlike some of the other players on this list, who had a big year in the tournament, Ronaldo's highest goal tally came in 2008, when he scored three goals, which put him in a six player tie foe most goals scored in the tournament. In 2004, he scored two goals, and added one more in 2012, bringing his total amount of goals to six in 14 games played.

8. Nuno Gomes

Goals: 6 goals in 14 matches
Country: Portugal
Years active: 1994-2013

Nuno Miguel Soares Pereira Ribeiro famously known as Nuno Gomes always had a knack for scoring goals, both for his club and his country, but he made his international goal scoring debut in spectacular fashion. In his fourth international start, which came at the UEFA Euro 200 tournament in Netherlands, he scored his first international goal, and added two more in their second game in the tournament. He finished the tournament with four goals in three games, then added a goal apiece in his next two tournament appearances in 2004 and 2008.

9. Savo Milosevic

Goals: 5 goals in 4 matches
Country: Serbia
Years active: 1992-2008

Milosevic had a very good career that spanned 16 years, and played a majority of his career in Spain and England. He also made 102 appearances for the Serbian national team, but none of them were as memorable as the four games that he played in Euro 2000. Milosevic was able to lead the team to the quarterfinals, which was their best performance in an international tournament, by scoring five goals in four games, which tied him with Dutch international Patrick Kluivert, who had five goals in five games. Milosevic would also go on to win the Golden Boot at the tournament.

10. Wayne Rooney

Goals: 5 goals in 6 matches
Country: England
Years active: 2002-present

Wayne Rooney has had one of the most successful careers at Manchester United, and on the English National team. His performance at the UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal is still considered one of the best debuts in tournament history. Rooney became the youngest player to ever score at the competition, scoring two goals against Switzerland on June 17, and ended up with four goals in the four games that he played in during the tournament. Earning him a spot in the UEFA Team of the Tournament. He would add one more goal to his total in 2012.

12 football legends who really should be household names

As dedicated football lovers, we were all fairly horrified at Eurosport Towers this morning when one of our team rocked up to work amid the howling winds and the rain with the news that his wife didn't know who Eusebio, pictured above holding a signed Brazil shirt with Pele, was. "Who is this random Eusebio chap in the news," said his missus, blissfully unaware of what the striker had contributed to the world game.

For the record, Eusebio was technically superior to most strikers of his or any generation. He helpedBenfica reach four European Cup finals, winning the tournament in 1962 and was involved in the classic final in 1968 when Benfica lost in extra time to Manchester United.

He was also key to Benfica's rise to 11 Primeira Liga titles between 1961 and 1975, scoring 633 goals in 614 matches. With Portugal, he found the net 41 time in 64 outings.

While our Portuguese flag remains at half mast today to mourn the death of a true sporting great, we decided to pick out some more players from the past who you - or your other half - may know nothing about.

We've all heard about the exploits in European football and World Cups of Pele and Diego Maradona, but what of other talents who have perhaps slipped into folklore without such recognition? We've chosen some truly special players for our list. Of course, feel free to leave your personal favourites from yesteryear in the comments section below.

Ferenc Puskas (Hugary)

One of the greatest forwards in history, Puskas netted 156 times in 180 matches for Real Madridand captained Hungary's legendary side of 1954 who lost 3-2 to West Germany in the World Cup final. Scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for the Mighty Magyars. Like Eusebio, one of European football's greatest players.

Alfredo Di Stefano (Spain)

Described by Pele as the most complete player in history, Di Stefano is pictured here alongside Puskas after a 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup final before a 127,000 crowd at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Born in Argentina but regarded as a Spanish great, the forward helped himself to three that day. Puskas grabbed the other four.

Garrincha (Brazil)

A superb winger blessed with sublime ball skills, the Brazilian nicknamed 'little bird' helped his country win the World Cup in 1958 and 1962. Was named in the World Cup all-time side in 1994.

Luigi Riva (Italy)

Riva is the all-time top scorer for Italy losing to Pele's great Brazil side in the 1970 World Cup final in Mexico. Scored 35 times in 42 matches for his country, and helped Cagliari win their only Serie A title in 1969/70.

John Charles (Wales)

The greatest Welsh player in history, Charles could play at centre-half and centre-forward. Was never sent off in a career that saw him turn out for Leeds United and Juventus. Charles represented Wales at the 1958 World Cup finals, but was unfortunately injured before his country lost to a Pele goal in their quarter-final with Brazil.

Just Fontaine (France)

A prolific goalscorer for France, Fontaine holds the record for most goals at a World Cup finals netting 13 times at the 1958 tournament.

Zico (Brazil)

Widely regarded as the finest Brazilian player since Pele, the attacking midfielder Zico came to the fore at three World Cup finals in 1978, 1982 and 1986, but somehow failed to play in the final of the tournament.

Sir Stanley Matthews (England)

Matthews was ahead of his time in being a teetotaller. Was knighted during his playing days, and was lauded for his dribbling skills. Astonishingly, played at the top level until he was 50 with 19 years spent at Stoke and 14 with Blackpool. Won 54 caps with England turning out at the World Cup finals in 1950 and 1954.

Daniel Passarella (Argentina)

Like Maradona in 1986, the attacking central defender captained Argentina to World Cup glory. But he managed a country's expectations level to achieve the feat in Argentina in 1978. Scored 22 times in 70 matches for his country. A real threat in the air and from free-kicks, Passarella is considered South American football's greatest defender.

Lev Yashin (Soviet Union)

Regarded by many commentators as the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the game Yashin turned out for the old Soviet Union side at three World Cup finals and won the 1960 European Championship. Saved 150 penalties and kept over 270 clean sheets representing Dynamo Moscow and the Soviet Union.

Johan Neeskens (Netherlands)

The technically gifted central midfielder helped his country finish finalists at the 1974 and 1978 World Cups. After the retirement of Johan Cruyff a year earlier, was a key component of the Dutch side's run to the 1978 World Cup final where they lost 3-1 to Argentina after extra-time.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany)

Pictured with the Bayern Munich honorary president Franz Beckenbauer above, the club's chief executive is regarded as the greatest German player since Beckenbauer. The explosive forward helped his country win the 1980 European Championship, and scored 45 goals in 95 appearances for West Germany. Twice named European footballer of the year, he is the only captain to lose two World Cup finals in 1982 to Italy and 1986 to Argentina.

Blog do Flávio Ramalho

quinta-feira, 28 de maio de 2015

UEFA European Championship top 10 goal scorers