The EURO Golden Ball award is one which is reserved for the best player in the EURO tournament and one which lots of players would be itching to get their hands on. The award was first handed out in 1996 with Germany’s Matthias Sammer being awarded the title as his country beat the Czech Republic in the final. What sets this award apart is its minimal emphasis on goal scoring in determining the winner. Out of the seven recipients so far, only Antoine Griezmann in 2016 also claimed the Golden Boot. Interestingly, Griezmann is the only Forward among the winners. Matthias Sammer, Zinedine Zidane, Theodoros Zagorakis, and Xavi were either Defensive or Central Midfielders, while Andres Iniesta was an attacking Midfielder. In the 2020 edition, Gianluigi Donnarumma made history as the first Goalkeeper to bag the accolade. It’s refreshing to have an award not heavily influenced by goals, isn’t it? Anyway, ahead of what will undoubtedly be an exciting edition of the EUROs this summer, here are our top candidates for the award. **Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)** It's been a challenging season for Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United, but despite that, he's been the club's best attacking force with 15 goals and 11 assists. He currently leads the Premier League in chances created this season, with 108 - 15 ahead of the next player, Martin Ødegaard. Fernandes has been in stellar form for the national team for some years now. At the 2022 World Cup, he was arguably Portugal's best player, tallying a tournament-best 3 assists. In the qualifiers for this European Championship, he topped the assists chart with 7. While there may be other Portuguese players in better club form than the Manchester United captain, Fernandes' significance to the national team has grown significantly in recent years. If Portugal aims to clinch the EUROs title, he will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in their quest for glory. With our new Bet Builder feature, you can get the best value for your money by betting on Portugal to do well at the tournament with Bruno Fernandes producing the goods by providing both goals and assists. [Learn more about the feature here](https://m.betking.com/blog/product/how-to-boost-your-winning-potential-with-bet-builder/).
**Kylian Mbappé (France)** Yes, I know I said historically this award favours non-forwards, but Kylian Mbappé is having an incredible season. He's on the brink of guiding PSG to their second Champions League final and currently leads that tournament in goals scored. At the 2022 World Cup, he showcased his importance by leading France to the final, scoring a hat-trick in that game and clinching the Golden Boot in the process. He would eventually win the Silver Ball for that tournament, narrowly missing out on the Golden Ball to a certain Argentine from Rosario. As the French captain, Mbappe has evolved into a player who can influence games both as a scorer and a provider, as evidenced by his 9 goals and 5 assists (both 3rd in their respective categories) during the qualifiers. This has added an extra dimension to his game. With Les Bleus among the heavy favourites for this year's tournament, I wouldn't be surprised if Mbappe joins his countryman, Griezmann by becoming only the second player to win both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards, and this is our bet of the day.
**Jude Bellingham (England)** Jude Bellingham's debut season at Real Madrid has been nothing short of fantastic, proving that he can shine in a room full of stars. The Englishman has shown an ability to hold his own alongside the biggest names, for the biggest club, and in the biggest competitions. With 20 goals and 10 assists in all competitions for Los Blancos so far, he has unquestionably justified his hefty price tag. While Harry Kane is expected to shoulder much of the goal-scoring burden in this tournament, Bellingham is the player England will look to at the heart of their midfield. With the support of players like Phil Foden, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka, Bellingham is in an excellent position to make history as the first Englishman to win this award.
**Virgil van Dijk (The Netherlands)** Throughout history, the Netherlands has relied on its elite attacking talent, from legends like Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten to more recent stars such as Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, and Robin van Persie. However, leading up to this tournament, it's their defense that catches the eye. Players like Nathan Aké, Micky van de Ven, Denzel Dumfries, Matthijs de Ligt, and Daley Blind form a solid defensive line, with Virgil van Dijk shining as the standout at the back. The importance of the Liverpool defender to the Dutch side cannot be overstated, as he has been instrumental to their success, including securing 5 clean sheets in 10 games during the qualifiers. The Netherlands have won just one European championship in their history (the 1988 edition) and haven’t been past the quarter-final since 2004. If they are to break this poor streak, Virgil van Dijk will have to be the man to make that happen.
**Luka Modrić (Croatia)** This will be Luka Modrić’s last tournament with the Croatian national team. At 38 years old, he knows that time is not on his side, having started just 20 club games this season while coming off the bench 19 times. Nonetheless, whenever he steps onto the pitch, especially in the Croatian colours, he consistently delivers. Modrić’s illustrious career includes winning the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup and the Bronze Ball at the 2022 edition. So, he’s a worthy candidate for this award. The Real Madrid legend came close to his first international title when he took Croatia to the final of the UEFA Nations League which they narrowly lost on penalties. Drawn into the Group of Death alongside former champions Spain and Italy, Modrić faces a tough challenge in this tournament, but his experience and resilience suggest he's more than up to the task. After all, he's emerged from even tougher battles in the past.
**Florian Wirtz (Germany)** Germany has endured a string of disappointing performances in recent international tournaments, but there might be a glimmer of hope on the horizon. New manager Julian Nagelsmann has stated that his two young talents, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, will be the cornerstone of this rejuvenated German side, and it's easy to see why. Both players have been in stellar form for their clubs, and Nagelsmann's tactical setup has shown that they can excel despite their similar playing styles and positions. Florian Wirtz, in particular, has been a standout performer for Bayer Leverkusen in their Bundesliga-winning campaign and their pursuit of the DFB Pokal cup and Europa League title. The 20-year-old has notched up an impressive tally of 17 goals and 19 assists in 44 games for the newly crowned German champions, and with Germany hosting the tournament, the home fans will count on him to shine for the national team. @1.40, BetKing has the best odds among online betting sites for Wirtz to lead Germany to a top spot in Group A as they aim to claim their first European Championship since 1996.
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