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With UEFA Euro 2020 kicking off in less than a week, we can expect all European heavyweights to battle it out for the continent's top trophy.
Several teams at Euro 2020 are blessed with a plethora of world class attacking talent. On that note, let's take a look at the top five attackers to watch out for during the tournament.
#5. Karim Benzema - France
Karim Benzema was the talk of the town recently when France announced their squad for Euro 2020. Benzema was first called up to represent Les Bleus almost 14 years ago, and has made 82 appearances since then. However, due to an off-pitch controversy, Benzema saw himself be dropped from the French national team in 2015. After six long years, he has finally earned the chance to play for his country once again at Euro 2020.
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Benzema has been picked after a prolific club season with Real Madrid. The Frenchman was one of Los Blancos' most influential players. He scored a mammoth 30 goals and also racked up nine assists over the course of the season. His contributions enabled Real Madrid to compete in the Champions League, until they were beaten by eventual winners Chelsea. Real Madrid also finished second in La Liga, with Benzema finishing as the second-highest goalscorer behind Lionel Messi.
Didier Deschamps' decision to recall Benzema has been met with wide appreciation, with fans sharing the thought that the striker has been at his very best of late. All eyes will be on Benzema at Euro 2020 as France prepare to lock horns with Europe's elite.
#4. Romelu Lukaku - Belgium
Romelu Lukaku has been a regular face for the Belgium national team. The 28-year-old was called up in 2010, and has been a consistent part of the Red Devils' team since then. He has made 92 appearances so far, scoring 59 goals in total. He also tops the list for most goals by any player in Belgian history.
Starting off this career initially in Belgium, Lukaku moved to Chelsea in 2011. Since then, he has seen his career progress across different clubs in the Premier League. Lukaku had a loan spell at West Brom, followed by a move to Everton and then Manchester United. His goalscoring prowess sparked the interest of Inter Milan, who signed Lukaku in 2019 for a club record €74 million. Lukaku's career has only hit new highs since his move to the Nerazzurri, with the striker recently winning the Scudetto.
Lukaku was a central figure in Antonio Conte's setup, scoring a total of 30 goals across all competitions. He was named Serie A MVP of the year and finished second in the goalscoring charts, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
He was part of Belgium's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which saw them finish in third place. Roberto Martinez has never been shy in expressing his admiration for the former Everton man, and is expected to bank on him as Belgium's main goalscoring outlet at Euro 2020.
#3. Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably one of the best players to ever play the game. Boasting an accolade-filled career, his successes for club and country have been well documented.
His club career has taken him across Portugal, England, Spain and most recently Italy, with the 36-year-old breaking records at all his clubs. His goalscoring numbers are seriously impressive as well, and he seems to be in electric form in the buildup to Euro 2020.
Ronaldo's displays over the course of the club season have been commendable, with the striker scoring a massive 36 goals all season. Although Juventus ended up with a fourth-placed finish in Serie A, Ronaldo still topped the charts for goals and took home the Capocannoniere.
Ronaldo has scored 103 goals for his country, only six behind Iran's Ali Daei in the list of top goalscorers at international level. Undoubtedly a crucial member during their Euro 2016 success, the Portugal captain will be looking to retain their trophy at Euro 2020. With Portugal drawn in the Group of Death, Ronaldo and coach Fernando Santos will hope to come out on top against the likes of France and Germany, both of whom are part of the same group at Euro 2020.
#2. Harry Kane - England
Harry Kane is one of the most prolific strikers in world football. His dominance in the Premier League over the past six years has seen him win the Premier League Golden Boot three times.
The 27 year old is coming to Euro 2020 after a breathtaking club season. Despite Tottenham Hotspur finishing only seventh, Kane racked up 33 goals and 17 assists across all competitions this season. He has been widely applauded for changing his game to bring his teammates into action more often. Kane deservedly received both the Premier League Golden Boot as well as the Premier League Playmaker of the Year (most assists) awards.
A regular for the Three Lions since 2015, Kane has made 54 appearances, scoring 34 goals. He was named captain in 2018 and led England to the semifinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Kane won the Golden Boot at the tournament.
Yet to win any major silverware at club level, Kane has often hinted that the national team has his best chance at winning a trophy. With the striker's club career in the balance, Euro 2020 would be the perfect opportunity for Kane to tempt any potential suitors to sign him. Euro 2020 would be a great platform for Kane to further cement his place as one of the world's best strikers.
#1. Kylian Mbappe - France
Kylian Mbappe is one of the most exciting young footballers participating at Euro 2020. Still only 22, the Frenchman has had an illustrious career with four league titles and a World Cup to his name.
Born in Paris, the striker started his career with Monaco in France. He won the league title with them and his stunning displays sparked interest from numerous clubs across Europe. Loaned out initially to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the French outfit made his move permanent after paying a reported €145 million. That made him the most expensive teenager in history and also the second-most expensive transfer ever, only behind his teammate Neymar.
The three years since have been nothing short of extraordinary. The 22-year-old has won three league titles and two Ligue 1 Player of the Year awards with Les Parisiens. While PSG failed to retain the Ligue 1 this year, Mbappe still managed to produce a massive 42 goals and 11 assists across 47 appearances this season.
The French youngster was an influential figure for France at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, contributing four goals in seven games including one in the final against Croatia.
Widely regarded as one of the world's best players, Mbappe will be looking to make his mark on the international stage once again. His attacking partnership with Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann could send shivers down the spines of their opponents. Drawn in the Group of Death, Didier Deschamps will rely heavily on Kylian Mbappe to bring his red-hot form to Euro 2020 and enable France to avenge their loss in the Euro 2016 final.
