Euro 2020 preview: Kylian Mbappe, Christian Ronaldo and the 5 best players to watch

The Euros will feature some of the world’s best national teams. Here are five players to watch for over the next four weeks.

The Euros, the month-long soccer tournament for national teams second only to the World Cup, kicks off Friday. The competition will not only crown a continental champion but also serve as a showcase for some of the best players in the world.

Some of the teams favored to win the Euros, postponed from last summer because of the pandemic, feature superstars capable of leading their country to ultimate glory.

The favorites for the title include defending World Cup champion France and reigning Euro winners Portugal. Other teams favored to win it all are Belgium, ranked No. 1 in the world, Italy and England.

Many of Europe’s top players come into the tournament tired after nine long months of a club season that for top clubs included the highly competitive Champions League. The fitness levels of the various top players can be all over the place, although the best always find a way to rise to the top.

Here are 5 players to keep an eye on at the Euros.

1. Kylian Mbappe (France)

Considered one of the best players in the world, the France striker has both insane skill and great shooting accuracy.

Mbappe was considered the tournament’s best young player at the 2018 World Cup, helping France win a second title in the process. Les Bleus, a squad stacked with talent, can certainly add a Euro title to their trophy case. How the 22-year-old PSG star performs will matter as France embarks on this quest.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

What else can one say about a player long considered (along with Argentina’s Lionel Messi) as one of the best players of the last decade?

The Juventus star helped Portugal win the Euros in 2016, adding a national team title to his many club exploits. At age 36, Ronaldo is considered an old man, but he still has the athleticism and creativity to contribute to Portugal’s attack. He can score on set pieces and with headers, making him a complete player who still has plenty to give the game.

3. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)

After a great club season at Inter Milan that resulted in a Serie A title, the 28-year-old Lukaku has both finesse and the physical attributes that make him one of the world’s best goal poachers.

Belgium is also loaded with talented players and Lukaku is a player that can be relied on to bag goals. He did it at the World Cup two years ago, where the Red Devils finished third. The aim this summer is to win the Euros and finally give Belgium a major international trophy.

4. Nicolo Barella (Italy)

Italy is a nation where gifted midfielders are born. The 1990s gave us Roberto Donadoni and Carlo Ancelotti. The aughts were highlighted by Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso. These days, the Azzurri have Barella.

The 24-year-old midfielder (and Lukaku’s teammate at Inter Milan) does the sorts of stuff that doesn’t always make the stat sheet. His sublime passing is a reason why the Italians can win this thing and his work rate and ability to strip opponents makes him one of the best midfield maestros in the game.

5. Harry Kane (England)

A striker who at age 27 is entering his prime, Kane remains the biggest offensive weapon England has going into the Euros.

The veteran Tottenham star has a nose for goals. He ended as the 2018 World Cup’s top scorer with six goals and led England to a surprise fourth-place finish. But the Three Lions have a roster capable of winning the Euros. The only way they can do that is is Kane remains healthy and sharp over the next few weeks.