This page goes into detail of what a Player of the Tournament betting market looks like, plus what we predicted before the start of 2024. This page will be fully updated before the start of 2028 in four years time.
Pros & Cons – Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds
Euros: Pros & Cons
- Exciting way to place bets
- Enhanced odds available for some bets
- Outsiders may make this type of bet more interesting
- Time and effort needed to research players
What is the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament award?
First introduced in 1996, the European Championship Player of the Tournament award goes to the player voted by UEFA experts as the best performer in the competition. The award is presented after the tournament final and has been won by four midfielders, one goalkeeper, one defender and one forward. French forward Antoine Griezmann (2016) is the only player from a non-title winning nation to have won the award.
Previous winners of the award
| 1996 | Matthias Sammer (Germany) |
| 2000 | Zinedine Zidane (France) |
| 2004 | Theodoros Zagorakis (Greece) |
| 2008 | Xavi (Spain) |
| 2012 | Andreas Iniesta (Spain) |
| 2016 | Antoine Griezmann (France) |
| 2020 | Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy) |
| 2024 | Rodri (Spain) |
1996: Matthias Sammer (Germany)
The German sweeper was instrumental in his nation’s success at Euro 96 and picked up two Man of the Match awards in the tournament. Not only did he marshall the backline superbly, but his creative passing and vision were often the starting point for German attacks.
2000: Zinedine Zidane (France)
With winning goals in both the quarter and semi finals, Zidane was in imperious form during the Euro 2000 knockouts. The midfielder picked up two Man of the Match awards during the competition and was probably the easiest ever choice for Player of the Tournament
2004: Theodoros Zagorakis (Greece)
Journeyman midfielder Zagorakis was little known outside of his homeland, but his energetic and creative performances during Euro 2004 led Greece to an unexpected triumph. He capped off the competition with a Man of the Match display in the final, as Greece upset hosts Portugal to win their first major title.
Xavi is the only Player of the Tournament winner not to receive a Player of the Match award. However, his consistent high class displays during the competition were pivotal to Spain’s success, and it was his pinpoint pass that set up Fernando Torres for the winner in the final.
2012: Andreas Iniesta (Spain)
This time it was another Spanish midfielder to scoop the Player of the Tournament award. Iniesta picked up three Man of the Match awards during Euro 2012, including in the final, as he helped Spain thrash Italy 4-0.
2016: Antoine Griezmann (France)
Despite being nullified in the final, Griezmann did enough during the knockout stages to fully deserve his Player of the Tournament award. He scored six goals in the competition to become the only ever striker to win the award.
2020: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
The first keeper to win the award, Donnarumma was in exceptional form throughout Euro 2020. He saved three penalties, as Italy overcame Spain and England in shootouts to lift the trophy.
The Manchester City midfielder started all but one of Spain’s matches at Euro 2024, and although he was forced off at half time in the final because of injury, he was still clearly the best player in Germany. He played a total of 521 minutes, scored one goal and had a passing accuracy of 92.84%.
Who are the leading contenders for the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament award?
The market for Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament was very open, but a few star players are standing out from the crowd. To help you assess the
Euro 2024 odds, here’s a look at five of the leading contenders:
1. Kylian Mbappe (France)
Pros & Cons
- Arguably the most complete striker in the world
- No goals from four games at Euro 2020
Despite being widely regarded as the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe is yet to make his mark on a European Championships. The striker failed to score in his four appearances at Euro 2020, and missed the vital penalty in France’s second round shootout defeat to Switzerland. However, his remarkable World Cup form (12 goals in 14 appearances) shows that he loves the big stage. France are among the favourites to lift the trophy, and if they do, it seems likely that Mbappe will be the star of the show.
2. Jude Bellingham (England)
Pros & Cons
- Outstanding first season at Real Madrid
- May not play in preferred position
There’s no doubt that Jude Bellingham’s transfer from Dortmund to Madrid has been a roaring success. He has scored 23 times for Real this season and is a serious contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or. He’s not quite been able to replicate his club form on the international stage, but Euro 2024 represents a fantastic chance for him to rectify that. The big question mark over Bellingham is whether England boss Gareth Southgate will deploy him in his preferred attacking midfield role. With the likes of Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in the squad, Bellingham may be asked to play more defensively, which could reduce his impact.
3. Harry Kane (England)
Pros & Cons
- England’s all time record scorer
- No goals in six European Championship group games
Unsurprisingly, Harry Kane is at the top of the
Euro 2024 Golden Boot odds, and if England lift the European Championship title, Kane will also be a strong contender for Player of the Tournament. However, England’s excellent squad depth makes it very difficult to pick a Player of the Tournament from their ranks. It is worth bearing in mind that England also have the likes of Foden, Bellingham, Saka, Rice and Stones in their squad. It is conceivable that the Three Lions could go all the way without needing a big contribution from their star striker.
4. Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium)
Pros & Cons
- Best creative midfielder in Europe
- Belgium may not reach the latter stages
Whilst many of Belgium’s golden generation are past their prime, Kevin de Bruyne is still playing at an elite level. He has been instrumental in Manchester City’s domestic dominance and has produced several world class displays in major tournaments. Belgium have a favourable group stage draw (Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine), but may lack the quality to make much progress in the knockouts. Given that the winner of the award usually comes from the winning squad, that could damage de Bruyne’s chances of success.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
There’s no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo will go down as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He has won the European Championship Golden Boot and is a five time Ballon d’Or winner. However, he is now 39 and playing his football in Saudi Arabia. So whilst Portugal have one of the strongest squads in the tournament, it is possible that Ronaldo will have a limited role in the team, as was the case at the 2022 World Cup when he was benched for the knockout stages. If you are looking for a Portuguese option in this market, the
best betting odds
may be for the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix or Bernardo Silva.
Other contenders
The Germany squad has a few contenders if you are looking for an outside option in the Player of the Tournament market,
Jamal Musiala
(33/1) is one of the most exciting young players in Europe, whilst
Ilkay Gundogan
(50/1) and
Toni Kroos
(33/1) are consistently strong performers on the big stage.
Rodri
(33/1) is also a name to consider, as the Spanish midfielder has been in imperious form for Manchester City this season. If you want an option at extremely long odds, consider Croatian veteran
Luka Modric
at 80/1. The Madrid playmaker is in the twilight of his career, but is still capable of match-winning displays and has a fantastic record in major tournaments.
As you can see, we did not have Rodri as one of our favourites but he was part of our other contenders section. He was 33/1 at the start of the tournament, so congratulations if you managed to back him at that price.
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What to look for when betting on the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament award
As well as reading the latest
Euro 2024 betting tips, you also need to conduct your own research into the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds. Here are a few of the key factors you need to assess:
Injuries
Injuries are a common issue in the build up to major tournaments. World class players such as David Alaba, Gavi and Thibaut Courtois will miss Euro 2024 through injury. And with every team playing at least two friendlies before the competition begins, there is a strong chance that more starting players will pick up injuries.
Of course, there is a strong chance that some players will appear at Euro 2024 despite carrying minor injuries. All England fans can remember David Beckham’s metatarsal injury in 2002 that saw his presence at that year’s World Cup thrown into doubt. And although Beckham did make the plane, his performances were a long way short of his best. The bottom line is that players carrying minor injuries may not be at their best during the tournament. So make sure you stay on top of the latest injury news in the run up to the competition.
Tactics and selection
As mentioned in the previous section of this guide, there is no guarantee that Jude Bellingham will play in his preferred position at Euro 2024. The same could be said for a few other players near the top of the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds. International managers often deploy defensive formations, which can restrict the potential of some star players. You also need to consider squad depth. The likes of Pedro Neto, Kai Havertz and Cole Palmer have been in excellent club form, but may find it hard to force themselves into starting lineups this Summer. Only consider guaranteed starters when assessing the Player of the Tournament odds for Euro 2024.
Potential tournament winners
All seven previous Player of the Tournament winners have played in the tournament final. Therefore it is virtually guaranteed that the 2024 winner will be from one of the competition’s best teams. So whilst you might think that (for example) Robert Lewandowski, Jan Oblak or Dusan Vlahovic are among the very best players in Europe, they all play for nations (Poland, Slovenia and Serbia) that are not highly fancied at Euro 2024. Therefore they are unlikely to be considered for the Player of the Tournament award, even if they perform exceptionally well. Remember, no matter how good a player is, they still need the rest of their team to perform at a high level.
How to get the best value from the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds
Once you have decided on your selection for Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament, you need to optimise the value of your choice. The good news is that many of the
top Euro 2024 betting sites
will be providing a host of attractive offers for the event. With that in mind, here are four tips for getting the best possible value from the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds:
Take advantage of new player offers
Look out for exclusive Euro 2024 welcome offers before and during the tournament. A typical Euro 2024 new player promotion will give you a range of free bets to use on the event, if you sign up, make a deposit and place your first bet of a specified amount. However, you will sometimes find quirky variations on this offer. Some sites may provide new players with enhanced odds on a certain Euro 2024 market, whilst other sites may offer you a cashback percentage on losing tournament bets. The best way of ensuring you don’t miss out on any Euro 2024 new player offers is to regularly read the bonus articles on this website.
Look for existing player offers
Even if you have already signed up at most major betting sites, don’t panic. Many of the best
Euro 2024 bonuses
are available to existing customers. These promotions will come in all shapes and sizes, but many of them can potentially add value to your Player of the Tournament odds. Don’t forget to regularly visit the promotions pages of your betting sites (as well as the articles on this site!) during Euro 2024, to ensure you don’t miss out on any great offers.
Enhanced odds promotions are commonplace in the build up to Euro 2024 or on the day of major fixtures. For example, England are generally priced at around 4/1 to win Euro 2024. However, on the day of England’s first group game, a leading bookmaker may offer a price of 8/1 on England lifting the trophy. This offer will only be available on that specific day, and there will usually be a maximum stake amount attached to the offer.
Another benefit of checking out a large number of betting sites is that it allows you to take advantage of the best odds for your Player of the Tournament selection. For instance, one betting site may be offering 22/1 on Bruno Fernandes winning the award. However, another site may have Fernandes priced at 28/1. If you placed a £20 bet on Fernandes at the second site, you would receive £120 more in winnings. So before placing your bet, compare the odds at all of your sites to see where you can get the best value.
What are the other main Euro 2024 betting markets?
Aside from the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds, there are several other popular betting markets attached to the event. Here are some of my favourite markets for the event:
1. Golden Boot
You can often find excellent market value when betting on the top scorer at a major tournament, especially if you place an each way wager. Unlikely players such as Patrik Schick, Milan Baros and Alan Dzagoev have made the top three at recent tournaments, so it is always worth looking at a few long odds options.
2. Tournament winners
Talking of long odds options, the European Championship has produced some incredibly unlikely champions over the years. Denmark only appeared at Euro 1992 because Yugoslavia had to pull out, but they defied odds of 20/1 to complete an unlikely triumph, whilst few people predicted Portugal (18/1) to be champions at Euro 2016. However, the most unlikely champions of all were Greece in 2004. Their 250/1 win was one of the biggest upsets in sporting history.
3. Young Player of the Tournament
Introduced in 2016, this award goes to the best player at the tournament under the age of 23. Given the wealth of young talent in the European game, there are always plenty of strong contenders for this award. That means you can often find excellent value in the betting market, as many of the top young players are priced at 20/1 or more.
4. Group winners
Whilst a single bet on a team winning their group does not usually produce great odds, you can get some excellent value by placing acca bets on multiple group winners. Most European Championships feature at least one unlikely group winner, so don’t just concentrate on the favourites.
Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds - Final thoughts
Hopefully, you are now in the perfect position to digest the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds, make your selection and get the best value for your wager. Make sure you are completely objective throughout the process - your favourite player may be at the tournament, but that does not mean he will win the award. Keep a clear head, do your research and follow the expert tips in this article.
Research is key to finding the right option in what is sure to be a competitive market. Look at how each player has performed during the domestic season, consider their likely starting position and weigh up their likely opponents in the knockout stage. The more research you do, the more likely you are to find the best Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds. Good luck!
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Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds - FAQs
👀Where can I find the best
Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds?
Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament markets are available at most leading bookmakers, however you will find significant discrepancies in the odds offered. Therefore, it is recommended that you sign up with a variety of leading bookmakers, in order to take advantage of the best odds for your chosen player. Check out the reviews at Betting.co.uk for the latest new player offers available to you.
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Who are the contenders for Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds?
The current favourite for the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament award is French striker Kylian Mbappe. Other leading contenders include England stars Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo. To get the latest Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds and exclusive tips, make sure you read the expert articles at Betting.co.uk.
🇪🇺
Who is the current European Championship Player of the Tournament?
Gianluigi Donnarumma won the award at Euro 2020 to become the first ever goalkeeper to be named Player of the Tournament. The PSG shot stopper conceded just four goals in seven games and made three penalty saves, as Italy lifted the trophy.
🤩
What should I look for when assessing the
Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds?
You need to weigh up a number of factors when analysing the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds. How well have the players performed for their club sides? Will the team coach select them in their preferred position? I cover this important issue in more detail in my expert guide to Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament odds?
