Euro 2012: Top five players

Published on 01/07/2012 00:00

Here are our five outstanding players of the Euros

ANDREA PIRLO (Italy)

Unquestionably the star of Euro 2012. At the heart of everything good about Italy, Pirlo’s passing has been peerless, his composure in possession exceptional. Even Spain’s midfielders could learn a thing or two about decision-making and execution from Italy’s 33-year-old maestro, whose chipped penalty against England summed up his tournament.

CRISTIANO RONALDO (Portugal)

Spluttered into life but Europe’s best player eventually got going, dragging his country kicking and screaming into the semi-finals and very nearly the final itself.

MARIO BALOTELLI (Italy)

Could Balotelli be the Paolo Rossi of Euro 2012? The striker was hauled off in Italy’s first two games and dropped for the third. But since coming off the bench to score against Republic of Ireland, the firebrand striker has taken the tournament by storm. He was unlucky not to score against England before stunning Germany with a double.

JORDI ALBA (Spain)

While Spain’s much-vaunted midfielders have shown only glimpses of their devastating best, Alba has been a constant menace down the left – his performances enough to convince Barcelona to buy him from Valencia during the tournament itself.

ANDRES INIESTA (Spain)

Iniesta is the player who turns Spain’s obsession with possession into an attacking weapon. The man from La Mancha’s dribbling and ball control has been dazzling, and he’s almost impossible to dispossess.