# Who was the best player at Euro 2008?

> Spain's passing machine supplies most of the contenders, but Russia's breakout stars, Turkey's comeback specialists and a handful of beaten finalists all have a case. Some shone for three weeks; others were already legends.

*By YPB Team · Published October 28, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-was-the-best-player-at-euro-2008*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **David Villa** — score 1000/1000
   Spain striker who won the Golden Boot with four goals, including a hat-trick against Russia.
2. **Xavi** — score 918/1000
   Spain's midfield metronome, named UEFA player of the tournament as Spain won the title.
3. **Carles Puyol** — score 560/1000
   Spain centre-back who led a defence that conceded only three goals.
4. **Miroslav Klose** — score 560/1000
   Germany striker who scored in the quarter-final and semi-final.
5. **Marcos Senna** — score 508/1000
   Spain's holding midfielder who shielded the defence throughout the title run.
6. **Yuri Zhirkov** — score 508/1000
   Russia left-back whose surging runs earned him a team of the tournament spot.
7. **Gianluigi Buffon** — score 508/1000
   Italy goalkeeper who saved a penalty against Romania and was named in the team of the tournament.
8. **Philipp Lahm** — score 448/1000
   Germany full-back who scored the late semi-final winner against Turkey.
9. **Andrés Iniesta** — score 448/1000
   Creative Spain midfielder named in the team of the tournament.
10. **Ruud van Nistelrooy** — score 448/1000
   Netherlands striker who scored the opener against Italy and a late equaliser against Russia.
11. **Konstantin Zyryanov** — score 448/1000
   Russia midfielder named in the team of the tournament.
12. **Luka Modrić** — score 448/1000
   Croatia playmaker who drove his side to three group wins including a victory over Germany.
13. **Fernando Torres** — score 448/1000
   Scored the winning goal for Spain in the final against Germany in Vienna.
14. **Bastian Schweinsteiger** — score 448/1000
   Germany midfielder who scored against Portugal and Turkey in the knockout rounds.
15. **Carlos Marchena** — score 379/1000
   Spain centre-back named in the team of the tournament.
16. **Andrey Arshavin** — score 379/1000
   Russia forward who dazzled against the Netherlands and Sweden on the way to the semi-finals.
17. **Michael Ballack** — score 379/1000
   Germany captain who scored the winning free kick against Austria and led his side to the final.
18. **Wesley Sneijder** — score 299/1000
   Netherlands playmaker who scored a stunning goal in the 3-0 win over Italy.
19. **Edwin van der Sar** — score 299/1000
   Netherlands goalkeeper named in the team of the tournament.
20. **Roman Pavlyuchenko** — score 299/1000
   Russia striker who scored three goals including the opener in the semi-final run.
21. **Nihat Kahveci** — score 299/1000
   Turkey forward who scored twice in the final minutes to complete the comeback against Czech Republic.
22. **Iker Casillas** — score 299/1000
   Spain captain and goalkeeper who saved two penalties in the quarter-final shoot-out against Italy.
23. **Sergio Ramos** — score 299/1000
   Spain right-back who started every knockout match of the title run.
24. **Hamit Altıntop** — score 299/1000
   Turkey midfielder who powered a run of dramatic comebacks to the semi-finals.
25. **Arda Turan** — score 204/1000
   Turkey winger who scored the injury-time winner against Switzerland and a last-gasp goal against Czech Republic.
26. **Cesc Fàbregas** — score 204/1000
   Spain midfielder who scored the decisive penalty against Italy and starred in the semi-final.
27. **José Bosingwa** — score 204/1000
   Portugal right-back named in the team of the tournament.
28. **Lukas Podolski** — score 0/1000
   Germany forward who scored three goals, two of them against his native Poland.
29. **Semih Şentürk** — score 0/1000
   Turkey striker who scored late equalisers against Croatia and Germany.

Tags: europe, 2000s, football, players, national teams