Major international tournaments represent a chance for football’s biggest stars to cement their status on the grandest stage.

From Cristiano Ronaldo powering Portugal to Euros glory in 2016, to Lionel Messi’s crowning moment in Qatar 2022, this is where legends are made.

Euro 2024 promises to be no different, with some of the game's biggest stars battling it out as they look to make their nation’s dreams a reality.

And more often than not, it’s a country’s best player who steps up to the plate to deliver the goods.

With that in mind, talkSPORT has taken a look at every team's top player, before ranking each of them from worst to best.

There were plenty of close calls, but from lesser-known names to bonafide superstars, it’s likely that this lot will be lighting things up in Germany over the summer.

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So, without further ado, let’s dive straight in and see firstly who topped the bill for each country, and secondly where they ranked among their tournament peers.

24) Radu Dragusin - Romania 

The 21-year-old centre-back is Romania’s key man. He enjoyed a steady season, helping Genoa to a comfortable mid-table position in Serie A while offering a physical presence at the back.

And the defender’s performances didn't go unnoticed with Tottenham snapping him up in the January transfer window.

Dragusin played every minute of his country’s Euro 2024 qualification campaign, which saw them go unbeaten – winning six and drawing four games while keeping six clean sheets – as they topped their group ahead of Switzerland.

It’ll be a tall order for Romania to repeat that success in Germany after being drawn into the same group as Belgium, but if they are to do anything of note this summer, Dragusin and co. will need to bring that steely defensive record with them.

23) Elseid Hysaj - Albania 

It’s fair to say Hysaj has been around the block on the international stage.

And while such stats are usually reserved for veterans of the game, the defender remains in the peak of his career, blending all that experience with a body still young enough to rampage up and down the flanks.

Albania have been drawn into the dreaded ‘group of death’ at Euro 2024, alongside tournament holders Italy, Spain, and Croatia. Hysaj will have his work cut out if his country are to perform a minor miracle and progress to the knockout stages.  

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Still, Albania can draw hope from their qualification campaign, where they edged out the Czech Republic to top Group E. Hysaj completed seven of the eight qualifying matches, including bagging an assist for Asani Brand’s wondergoal during their impressive 2-0 victory over Poland.

22) Tomas Soucek - Czech Republic

Soucek has become something of a cult icon in east London, helping West Ham to European glory back in 2023 and acting as a human battering ram when latching onto the end of James Ward-Prowse’s indirect free-kicks.

In recent times, he’s been head and shoulders – figuratively and literally – above his international teammates, helping the Czechs reach Euro 2024 by playing a starring role in every qualifying match, scoring three times along the way for good measure. 

Even a gruesome-looking injury in November’s draw to Poland couldn’t slow Soucek down as he lived up to his hard-as-nails reputation. Having now been drawn alongside Portugal and Turkey in Group F, a whole nation will be relying on Soucek to drive them on as they look to create history.

21) Aleksandar Mitrovic - Serbia

Since his move to Saudi Arabia, Mitrovic has been on fire. Averaging just shy of a goal-a-game, the frontman’s electric form has even seen his side surpass Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr to clinch the Saudi Pro League title.

Granted, the level Mitrovic is currently playing at isn’t comparable to Europe’s top leagues, but he’s shown in patches during qualifying just how lethal he can still be on the international stage, too. A hat-trick against Lithuania and brace versus Montenegro point towards the threat he still poses. 

That said, Serbia have been pretty unconvincing of late, and having been drawn in Group C alongside England and Denmark, they’ll have to rediscover some much-needed form if they are to progress. If ever there was a man for such an occasion, it’s big Mitro. 

20) Oleksandr Zinchenko - Ukraine

• Age: 27
• Position: Left-back/Central Midfield
• Current Club: Arsenal
• International Caps: 61

Zinchenko is regarded as one of the Premier League's most complete and versatile competitors.

Having joined Manchester City in 2016, Zinchenko proved himself as a trusted part of Pep Guardiola's plans, often used as a backup option at left-back in City's defence.

Clearly a player who was destined for more than just being a squad player, the Ukrainian moved to Arsenal where he's now one of the central leadership figures in Mikel Arteta's squad.

A fierce competitor, Zinchenko will be huge for Ukraine's hopes of progressing through this summer's Euros.

19) Federico Dimarco - Italy 

Dimarco has been a bit of a late bloomer. Having represented Italy at every level from U15s upwards, it wasn’t until 2022 that he finally made his senior bow. His club career has been similar: after numerous loan moves, he finally cemented his place in boyhood club Inter Milan’s first team and hasn’t looked back since. 

A wing-back by trade, Dimarco is at his scintillating best when given licence to maraud forward, and he’s been a thorn in the side of many opposition teams this season.

Italy aren’t quite what they used to be, but the defending European champions will be hoping they can replicate some of the magic they conjured up in 2021 to take the tournament by storm. It’s likely that Dimarco – alongside Nicolo Barella and Federico Chiesa – will be central to that.

18) Rasmus Hojlund - Denmark 

After arriving at Old Trafford last summer for £72m, Hojlund had the weight of the world on his shoulders this season as he looked to emulate the club’s great strikers of yesteryear. The start of his time at Man United didn't exactly go to plan, but he's since made up for it in 2024 and is beginning to find his feet.

Still, the Danish national side will be hoping they get the version of the striker that commanded such a big fee in the first place, as opposed to what followed immediately after his arrival.

Seven goals across eight qualifying games provide plenty of reasons for Danes to be optimistic, although Hojlund will be facing much sterner defences in Germany than the likes of Kazakhstan and San Marino. 

17) Jan Oblak - Slovenia

Oblak has spent the best part of a decade between the sticks for Atletico, developing a reputation as one of the very best goalkeepers in world football. He’s been at the heart of a Diego Simeone side renowned over the years for its steely defensiveness, and has even previously earned comparisons to Lionel Messi.

That world-class form may have dwindled somewhat in more recent times, but as the captain of his country, Slovenia still very much look to him as their leading star.

Four clean sheets throughout qualification helped Slovenia to a second-placed finish, as they ended the group level on points with Denmark, who they’ll meet again in Germany in Group C alongside England and Serbia.

16) Scott McTominay - Scotland 

It wasn’t so long ago that McTominay looked to be heading for the exit door at Old Trafford, but this season has seen the midfielder muscle his way back into United’s plans and establish himself as an integral squad member.

The Scot has typically been deployed in a more deep-lying position – helping to add defensive solidity – but more recently he’s been given the creative licence to bomb forward, timing late runs into the box perfectly to add goalscoring to his repertoire. One such performance against Chelsea even led to comparisons to Diego Maradona. 

McTominay has been no less integral to Scotland’s qualifying campaign. His seven goals in eight matches helped drive the Tartan Army to Germany, including netting both in a historic 2-0 win over Spain in October.   

It wasn’t all fun and games, though, with some ill-tempered moments during a 2-2 draw with Georgia, where McTominay accused the opposition of being ‘cry babies’. Now drawn in a group alongside the hosts Germany, who they face in their opening game, the Scots should fancy their chances against anyone.

15) Hakan Calhanoglu - Turkey

Billed as one of the Bundesliga’s top five greatest ever Turkish players, Calhanoglu has since taken his career to Italy, crossing the Milan divide in 2021 to become a mainstay in Inter’s midfield. 

The 29-year-old initially rose to prominence thanks to his sublime free kicks, many of which have been clipped up and gone viral across social media. Calhanoglu isn’t just a set piece merchant, though, with his passing and long shots bringing a level of threat that will concern even the best international sides at Euro 2024. 

Turkey, captained by Calhanoglu, topped their qualifying group ahead of Croatia, and will be hoping they can deliver a much-improved display in Germany from the underwhelming group-stage exit they suffered at Euro 2020.

14) Marcel Sabitzer - Austria 

A cruel ACL injury to captain David Alaba has robbed him of the chance to lead his side out at Euro 2024,