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The 18 Best Players at Euro 2004

By YPB Team

Champions and beaten favourites share the list, with teenage sensations next to veterans on their last big stage. Underdog grit meets genuine superstardom.

  1. Arjen Robben — ranked #11
    Arjen Robben
    Young Dutch winger whose pace and dribbling lit up the Netherlands' run to the semi-finals.
    1000pts
  2. Cristiano Ronaldo — ranked #22
    Cristiano Ronaldo
    A teenage winger who lit up the host nation's run to the final and made the team of the tournament.
    999pts
  3. Wayne Rooney — ranked #33
    Wayne Rooney
    An 18-year-old who scored four goals before breaking a foot against Portugal, announcing himself to the world.
    999pts
  4. Milan Baros — ranked #44
    Milan Baros
    Czech striker who won the Golden Boot with five goals, including one in the comeback win over the Dutch.
    999pts
  5. Thierry Henry — ranked #55
    Thierry Henry
    France's star striker, who carried the favourites to the quarter-finals before their surprise exit.
    787pts
  6. Ricardo Carvalho — ranked #66
    Ricardo Carvalho
    Composed Portuguese centre-back who anchored the defence and was picked in the team of the tournament.
    787pts
  7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic — ranked #77
    Zlatan Ibrahimovic
    The young Swedish forward whose back-heel goal against Italy became an instant classic.
    713pts
  8. Petr Cech — ranked #88
    Petr Cech
    The Czech goalkeeper emerged on the big stage and was named in the team of the tournament.
    629pts
  9. Deco — ranked #99
    Deco
    Portugal's playmaker, the creative engine behind their run to the final on home soil.
    629pts
  10. Jan Koller — ranked #1010
    Jan Koller
    The towering Czech target man who scored in the thrilling comeback win over the Netherlands.
    532pts
  11. Luis Figo — ranked #1111
    Luis Figo
    Portugal's veteran winger and playmaker, who led the hosts to the final in his last big tournament.
    420pts
  12. Zinedine Zidane — ranked #1212
    Zinedine Zidane
    France's genius, who scored two stoppage-time goals to beat England in the opening group match.
    420pts
  13. Karagounis — ranked #1313
    Karagounis
    Greek midfielder who scored in the opening match against hosts Portugal and earned a suspension before the final.
    420pts
  14. Frank Lampard — ranked #1414
    Frank Lampard
    England midfielder who scored three goals, including the equaliser in the quarter-final against Portugal.
    286pts
  15. Traianos Dellas — ranked #1515
    Traianos Dellas
    Greek centre-back whose headed silver goal beat the Czech Republic in the semi-final.
    286pts
  16. Angelos Charisteas — ranked #1616
    Angelos Charisteas
    Greek striker who scored the winning goal in the final against Portugal and a key header against France.
    0pts
  17. Pavel Nedved — ranked #1717
    Pavel Nedved
    Czech captain and tireless midfielder, the heart of the team that won all three group games.
    0pts
  18. Nuno Gomes — ranked #1818
    Nuno Gomes
    Portugal's centre-forward, who scored the winner against Spain that knocked them out in the group stage.
    0pts

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