5 breakout stars of Euro 2020

Euro 2020 saw many young players break out with stellar performances.
Euro 2020 saw many young players break out with stellar performances.

#3 Mikkel Damsgaard (Denmark)

Mikkel Damsgaard is wanted by many top clubs this summer.
Mikkel Damsgaard is wanted by many top clubs this summer.

Of all the players likely to move to a bigger club this summer, Mikkel Damsgaard is at the front of the line, thanks to his exploits at Euro 2020.

The 21-year-old was outstanding for Denmark at the tournament, making an assist and scoring twice. That included an outrageous 25-yard free-kick against England in the semi-final, the only player to score a direct free-kick goal at Euro 2020.

A winger by trade, he's now valued at £34 million by Sampdoria, his parent club. Damsgaard has already been linked with Real Madrid, while there have also been reports of interest from Liverpool.

Damsgaard is a versatile player, possessing the ability to play in midfield or upfront. He has also racked up the numbers in the clearances and interceptions columns.


#2 Pedri (Spain)

Pedri was Euro 2020's best Young Player award winner.
Pedri was Euro 2020's best Young Player award winner.

Before the start of Euro 2020, Pedri's chances of starting for Spain were in doubt. But manager Luis Enrique gave him a chance in the opening game against Sweden, and the Barcelona teenager didn't disappoint. And he didn't look back from there.

By the end of Spain's campaign at Euro 2020, the 18-year-old had created 11 chances for his team, the most by any Spanish player. Pedri also laid the most passes in the opposition box than any player, with 317.

His tactical awareness was supreme, and his ball-control was second to none as Pedri took Euro 2020 by storm, leaving everyone in awe of him. Comparisons with Andres Iniesta no longer look premature.


#1 Patrik Schick (Czech Republic)

Patrick Schick finished as the joint top-scorer of Euro 2020, along with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Patrick Schick finished as the joint top-scorer of Euro 2020, along with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Considering that Patrik Schick is 25 and somewhat of a household name in the German Bundesliga, his inclusion in this list may seem like an odd choice. But the striker truly came into his own at Euro 2020, netting five goals to help the Czech Republic reach the quarter-finals, against all odds.

Schick didn't even hit double-digit figures in terms of goals with Bayer Leverkusen last season. So that makes his accomplishments at Euro 2020 even more admirable.

His long-range strike against Scotland was one of the goals of the competition. It won him the 'Goal of the Tournament' award and might as well bag him a nomination for the Puskas Award this year too.

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