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We're just days away from Euro 2020 and given the quality of talent involved, the tournament promises to be an absolute cracker. 24 European nations will battle for continental supremacy and bragging rights over the course of 30 days. By the end of it, we will have a new European champion and a fresh set of heroes.
It's hard to predict the winners of this tournament. There are so many sides that have incredible depth and are brimming with talent. Europe is home to some of the greatest players in football and it will be interesting to see who steps up when their team needs them most.
Euro 2020 will feature some of the best players of the 2020-21 season
Antoine Griezmann of France won the Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2016. He was also the recipient of the Golden Boot. With so many top players going into Euro 2020 in great form, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Here, we predict the top five contenders for the Euro 2020 Player of the Tournament award.
#5 Harry Kane (England)
England have a very young squad but that doesn't mean they are not serious contenders at Euro 2020. Led by one of the most well-rounded strikers in the world in Harry Kane, England are expected to enjoy a long run at the tournament.
Kane is coming off one of his best seasons at an individual level. He topped both the goals and assists charts in the Premier League in the 2020-21 season. However, Tottenham Hotspur struggled after an early onslaught and ended the season without making much of an impression.
When he plays for the Three Lions, Kane will have much better support all around him. The supporting cast will be chosen from an elite group of players like Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden.
He will also have a solid midfield operating behind him. Kane was the top scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He has a great mentality and could lead Southgate's men to something big at Euro 2020.
#4 Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Kevin De Bruyne has just won his second successive PFA Player of the Year Award. The Belgian midfielder played a key role in Manchester City's Premier League and Carabao Cup triumphs in the 2020-21 season.
De Bruyne continues to make his teams tick with his progressive style of play that's aided by his pinpoint passing and ball-carrying skills. Although Belgium will hope that Eden Hazard springs back into form, they ought to be well wary of the fact that De Bruyne is their most important player heading into Euro 2020.
Romelu Lukaku was in great form in the 2020-21 season as well. If De Bruyne is ably supported in midfield, Belgium could be the most devastating team on the counter at Euro 2020.
The 29-year-old is easily one of the best midfielders who will play in the tournament. The Red Devils will be hoping that the facial fracture he suffered in the Champions League final won't deter him from whipping out his best.
#3 N'Golo Kante (France)
It's difficult to find a player who has as much momentum going into Euro 2020 as N'Golo Kante. He produced four back-to-back man-of-the-match displays in Chelsea's Champions League triumph, including an absolute masterclass of a performance in the final against Manchester City.
Kante will be one of the first names on Didier Deschamps's teamsheet at Euro 2020. He is likely to play in a double pivot alongside Paul Pogba. As we've seen in the recent past, Kante's awareness and tactical intelligence tied to his supreme work rate make him a threat like no other in midfield.
With the Frenchman on the field, opposition players struggle to play their natural game as they are relentlessly hounded. Kante was one of the chief architects behind France's World Cup triumph. He will undoubtedly be one of their main weapons at Euro 2020.
#2 Kylian Mbappe (France)
With blistering pace and a mesmerizing set of tricks, Kylian Mbappe is a nightmare for defenders. He has had an excellent season with Paris Saint-Germain and was one of the players of this season's UEFA Champions League up until their elimination in the semi-finals.
Mbappe has time and again proven that he is undaunted by the pressure that comes with big games. He scored a hat-trick against Barcelona at the Camp Nou and bagged a brace against Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena.
The 22-year-old will be a regular feature in France's starting XI throughout the tournament and he has all the tools needed to become the best player at Euro 2020. In 47 matches across all competitions last season for Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe scored 42 goals and provided 11 assists.
If he can bring that kind of form to the tournament, it will be impossible for anyone to stop him.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
This could very well be Cristiano Ronaldo's last European championship. At 36, he continues to be one of the most prolific goalscorers on the planet. He is determined to help Portugal retain the Euro title and will be raring to stamp his authority once again.
Ronaldo finished the 2020-21 season as the top scorer in Serie A despite Juventus having a rather forgetful season. The Portuguese side is much stronger this year than they were when they won the European championship in 2016.
Ronaldo will be supported by players like Bruno Fernandes, Andre Silva, Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix and Diogo Jota to name a few. There will be no shortage of quality service for the 36-year-old this time.
Portugal have been drawn alongside France, Germany and Hungary in Group F at Euro 2020. Ronaldo has made a career out of thriving in high-pressure situations and this one is as good as any from the get-go in that regard.
