Euro 2024: 5 Players to Watch

International tournaments are where footballers become household names.

At Euro 2016, 25-year-old Antonie Griezmann catapulted himself to stardom with six goals and finished as the tournament’s top scorer. In 2020, Manuel Locatelli assumed the mantle of Italy’s midfield maestro and was instrumental in the Azzurri’s European Championships success, earning a move to Juventus in the process.

It is also the place where legacies are secured: Zinedine Zidane followed up his 1998 World Cup-winning performance with a Player of the Tournament nod at Euro 2000, as did Andres Iniesta.

Who will be next to write their name in lights on the biggest stage in European football? Here, BetMGM takes you through five names to watch throughout Euro 2024 this summer.

Xavi Simons

Nation (caps): Netherlands (13)

Club: RB Leipzig (on loan from Paris Saint-Germain)

Position: Midfielder

Key stat: Most assists (11) in the Bundesliga for RB Leipzig this season

Netherlands midfield creativity took a huge hit when Barcelona’s Frenkie De Jong and Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners were ruled out of the tournament with injuries – yet 21-year-old Simons could be set to thrive in their absence.

The former Barcelona youth player first burst onto the scene in the 2022-23 season at PSV Eindhoven, leading the Dutch side to a domestic cup win and finishing the Eredivisie season as joint-top scorer with 19 goals.

At 20 years old and 37 days, he was the youngest player to end the campaign a leading scorer in the Dutch top flight since Ronaldo in 1994-95.

Simons continued his impressive form during the 2023-24 campaign while on loan at RB Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain. Playing as the German club’s primary number 10, the Dutch midfielder notched a team-leading 11 assists.

Notably, he also led Leipzig in yellow cards (11) and was the only player in Marco Rose’s side to be sent off in the Bundesliga. The generous 17/1 on Simons to be the most booked Dutch player at Euro 2024 could represent good value this summer.

Over and above his disciplinary record, Simons is a prospect of the highest calibre. After scoring his first international goal for the Netherlands during their final warm-up match against Iceland

Scoring his first international goal for the Netherlands in their final warm-up game against Iceland could be a sign of things to come for this talented youngster and, at 11/1 to be the Young Player of the Tournament, he’s a player to keep your eye on throughout Euro 2024.

Theo Hernandez

Nation (caps): France (26)

Club: AC Milan

Position: Defender

Key stat: Only French player to play every minute of Euro 2024 qualifying

France have a litany of star names at their disposal.

Kylian Mbappe might be the best individual player in world football and William Saliba has been making headlines ever since becoming a starting centre-back for Arsenal – but left-back Theo Hernandez could be the real x-factor for Didier Deschamps's men as they try to win the Euros for the first time since 2000.

While defending should be his main priority it’s going forward that Hernandez excels for his club. The Frenchman registered nine goal contributions for AC Milan in Serie A this season, the most outside of the team’s starting front three (Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud).

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The 26-year-old has an impressive offensive output at international level with two goals and eight assists across his 27 international appearances. Notably, he finished the 2022 World Cup with three goal contributions in six matches as France made it all the way to the final. He is an intriguing 22/1 to finish France’s top provider at Euro 2024.

Attacking attributes aside, Hernandez also masterfully contributed to the national side’s defensive solidity throughout the qualifying campaign. France surrendered just three goals across their eight qualifiers – second-fewest overall behind Portugal – and Hernandez was the only player to play every minute for Les Bleus.

Discipline, it must be said, remains a question mark for Hernandez with 11 yellow cards and a red in 32 Serie A games this season. As such, he is currently 8/1 to be the most-carded French player at Euro 2024.

Jude Bellingham

Nation (caps): England (29)

Club: Real Madrid

Position: Midfielder

Key stat: First English player to score 10 Champions League goals before turning 21

The 2023-24 campaign was Bellingham’s.

The 20-year-old enjoyed a remarkable maiden season in Spain after signing for Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund and will hope to continue his trophy-laden year when he returns to Germany with his England team-mates this summer.

Bellingham has fond memories of his time in Western Europe. Across his three seasons in the Bundesliga the former Birmingham midfielder amassed 12 goals and 15 assists while lifting the German Cup and being named the league’s player of the year.

He has only got better since. In his inaugural season at the Santiago Bernabeu under Carlo Ancelotti, Bellingham netted 19 goals in the league and 23 in all competitions as the Madridistas celebrated a 15th European Cup win.

That Midas touch in front of goal sees him installed as fifth-favourite to win the Euro 2024 Golden Boot at 20/1 despite the fact he is expected to play a deeper midfield role for England than for Real.

Simply put a good summer for Bellingham likely means a good summer for England, which explains why he is on the BetMGM Players to Watch shortlist and why we have him 7/4 second favourite to win Young Player of the Tournament as well as 8/1 second favourite for Player of the Tournament.

Toni Kroos

Nation (caps): Germany (109)

Club: Real Madrid

Position: Midfielder

Key stat: Euro 2024 marks Kroos’s final games as a professional

From Real Madrid’s newest midfield megastar to their outgoing one – the legendary Toni Kroos takes to the pitch for the final time as a professional at this summer’s tournament.

Despite his impending retirement Germany’s new number 44 – a shirt number chosen to honour his grandfather – still seems to be playing at the peak of his powers. In La Liga this season, Kroos registered the most progressive passes per 90 minutes (52.31) and the most successful passes per 90 overall (87.10) while contributing 10 assists across all competitions in Real’s double-winning campaign.

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann is markedly blessed with midfield talent – but it is likely this will help Kroos rather than hinder him in his bid for the perfect footballing send-off.

Alongside the 34-year-old will be Florian Wirtz (20) and Jamal Musiala (21). Both will likely play more advanced roles – allowing Kroos to sit deeper and dictate play – and are among the favourites to be named young player of the tournament.

Kroos isn’t quite in the age range for that award but he could be a dark horse for the overall Player of the Tournament trophy at 16/1.

The former Bayern Munich midfielder has been player of the match in his last three appearances for Die Mannschaft; if the Germans have an extended run at the Euros, Kroos will likely be the one orchestrating it.

For Kroos to write his own storybook ending Germany would probably need to with a record-setting fourth European Championship – they are 11/2 with BetMGM to do just that this summer.

Lamine Yamal

Nation (caps): Spain (6)

Club: Barcelona

Position: Winger

Key stat: Youngest player to reach 50 appearances for Barcelona

At 16 years old, most teenagers are finishing high school or looking ahead to college. Not Lamine Yamal.

Instead, Yamal was busy becoming the youngest player to make 50 appearances for Barcelona, the youngest to start a La Liga game, the youngest to assist a La Liga goal and the youngest to start in the Champions League.

The winger is not just breaking records domestically. He became the youngest player to represent Spain when he played against Georgia in a Euro 2024 qualifier, even scoring on his debut as La Roja destroyed their opponents 7-1. Naturally, that added ‘youngest player to score for Spain’ to his list of accolades too.

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Arguably his most mesmerising performance so far in his fledgling career came in the 3-3 draw against Brazil at the Santiago Bernabeu in March. Yamal had a part to play in all three of Spain’s goals that night, receiving a standing ovation and outperforming his young counterparts – and Real Madrid rivals – in Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr.

There is likely a lorryload of records ready to be broken by Yamal at this summer’s European Championships but unsurprisingly he is considered among the favourites to follow compatriot Pedri’s success and win the European Championships Young Player of the Tournament Award at 8/1.

Given his performances on both the domestic and international levels at such a tender age, the Euro 2024 stage looks tailor-made for Lamine Yamal.

Odds and player information correct at time of publication but subject to change