Euro 2024 kicked off in Germany on June 14 when the host nation defeated Scotland in Munich.
Italy are the defending champions, with their triumph at the delayed Euro 2020 something of an oddity as it fell in between two humiliating failures to qualify for the World Cup.
England were the beaten finalists (on penalties) last time around and Gareth Southgate's team will aim to go one better, hoping an unconvincing defence does not undermine an array of stellar attacking talent.
Portugal, Belgium and Spain are among the other teams hoping to put themselves in contention for glory. The Netherlands and Poland may also be aiming for the latter stages, although the losses of Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski to injury could well damage their respective hopes beyond repair.
Here, The Sporting News runs through nine of the biggest star names who will hope to make the tournament their own.
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Kylian Mbappe (France)
Fervour around Mbappe will only ramp up now his long-anticipated move to Real Madrid is official. Now 25 and entering what should be his prime years, Mbappe became the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pele when Les Bleus lifted the trophy in Russia in 2018, while his hat-trick in the 2022 final almost denied Lionel Messi his defining triumph in Qatar. It was a different story at Euro 2020 as the ex-PSG man went without a goal in four matches and missed the crucial penalty as Switzerland stunned Didier Deschamps' men in a quarterfinal shoot-out.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Even accounting for his incredible longevity, this is surely Ronaldo's final outing at a tournament where he thrilled as a tear-stained teenager in 2004 and inspired a first major honour for his nation in 2016. Now 39, the Al Nassr figurehead is clearly on his career downslope, but those impeccable goal scoring instincts remain and a Portugal team boasting the creative talents of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva might just hoist him to the top of the podium one last time.
Jude Bellingham (England)
Since Ronaldo, no new signing has had an impact at Real Madrid comparable to Bellingham. The midfielder, who turns 21 during the Euros, scored 23 goals and supplied 13 assists across all competitions as Carlo Ancelotti's side stormed to La Liga and UEFA Champions League glory. Can he replicate those talismanic performances alongside the likes of Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Harry Kane for England? It should be fun finding out.
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
De Bruyne endured five months on the sidelines after hamstring surgery in August, missing the first half of Manchester City's Premier League-winning season. The masterful playmaker struggled to consistently produce his best form after his return but still racked up six goals and a remarkable 16 assists in just 25 appearances. That amounted to 0.84 assists per 90 minutes and Belgium can look forward to having a far fresher version of De Bruyne than has been customary at summer tournaments.
Rodri (Spain)
From Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso, back to his club boss Pep Guardiola, Rodri is the latest in an esteemed line of Spanish midfielders who have turned the pivot position into an art form. A master of all the subtleties of his craft, the Manchester City man has become an increasingly imposing attacking threat over recent seasons. Defeat in the FA Cup final to Manchester United ended an astonishing run of 74 matches unbeaten for Rodri. So long as he's playing, a largely underestimated Spain team should have every chance of adding to their 1964, 2008 and 2012 European titles.
Harry Kane (England)
For all the interminable japes about the Harry Kane curse, the England captain stepped into Lewandowski's shoes at Bayern Munich and produced a masterpiece of an individual season in 2023/24. In 45 games for Die Roten, he scored 44 times and laid on 12 assists, finishing top of the European Golden Shoe standings as the best marksman across the continent in league football. No one was less culpable for Bayern's trophyless season and Kane will be determined to end his search for a major trophy with the Three Lions on his chest.
Antoine Griezmann (France)
While most eyes will be drawn to Mbappe, another strong tournament from Griezmann would serve to burnish his claims of being one of France's greatest-ever players. The Golden Boot winner at Euro 2016, when Portugal broke French hearts in the Paris final, Griezmann scored in the 2018 World Cup final win and switched masterfully to a midfield creator role to take Les Bleus to within a whisker of back-to-back successes in Qatar. There should be no doubt he belongs in the pantheon alongside Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane.
Jamal Musiala (Germany)
Germany's preparations for their home tournament have been fairly chaotic and Die Mannschaft are in the historically unusual position of having dismal major competition form coming into Euro 2024. Group-stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were interspersed by a scarcely more credible last-16 failure at Euro 2020. If anyone in the squad knows about cutting through as a heavyweight team struggles with high expectations, it's Bayern hotshot Musiala. The 21-year-old versatile attacker is the star attraction for the hosts and his versatility could be key for shape-shifting coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Lamine Yamal (Spain)
If anyone is likely to match Mbappe's previous exploits as a teen sensation on the international stage, it's Spain winger Lamine Yamal. The 16-year-old Barcelona winger enjoyed a dazzling breakout season in La Liga and secured the notable feat of receiving a standing ovation from the Santiago Bernabeu faithful when Spain shared a 3-3 draw with Brazil in March.
