Euro 2020 round of 16 players - ranked
Team glory is the ultimate aim at Euro 2020, but major tournaments also provide a platform for individuals to display their talents.
That has certainly been the case up to this stage, with stars old and new sparkling for their national teams.
Using Opta's player index – which calculates ratings based on data collected from every game – Stats Perform's power rankings can reveal the top 20 performers so far.
Those who were eliminated in the group stage and so did not feature in the last 16 have been discounted, however, meaning Robert Lewandowski – top after matchday three – is no longer in contention and a different name leads the way:
20. Thomas Vermaelen
After being given an almighty scare by Denmark, Belgium brought Vermaelen into their backline as they reshuffled against Finland. Although his defensive contributions were relatively limited – one tackle, two clearances, two blocks – the veteran centre-back did enough to keep his place.
Portugal unsurprisingly provided more of a test, but Vermaelen stood tall. Three tackles, five clearances, two interceptions and two blocks earned another clean sheet and a place in this list.
19. Renato Sanches
Vermaelen's excellence helped ensure the tournament is over for Sanches, yet Portugal might have avoided such a tough draw had the midfielder been handed his opportunity sooner.
An energetic presence in the centre of the pitch, Sanches played only 220 minutes but ranked third among Portugal players for duels won (19) and fourth for recoveries (21).
18. Leonardo Spinazzola
Marauding wing-back Spinazzola has been hugely influential in attack for Italy, having their fourth-most touches in the opposition box (13), so it is slightly surprising he was without an assist in the tournament heading into extra time against Austria.
His breakthrough came in good time, though, picking out Federico Chiesa for a fine strike that set the Azzurri on their way to clearing a first major hurdle.
17. Karim Benzema
Benzema was expected to bring even more quality to a world-class France forward line, and he did exactly that. His brace against Switzerland – including a staggering piece of skill before the first – made him the second France player to score two or more in consecutive Euros matches (Michel Platini in 1984, hat-tricks v Belgium and Yugoslavia).
Unfortunately, the defence could not hold up their end of the bargain and the Real Madrid striker was watching from the bench by the time his teammates lost on penalties.
16. Thibaut Courtois
Only Jordan Pickford, who is yet to concede, has a higher save percentage than Courtois (91.9), who has prevented 1.7 goals according to expected goals on target data.
Four of his 10 saves so far came against Portugal, earning him his spot in the top 20, and Courtois will likely have to be at his best again against Italy.
15. Daley Blind
Defensive colleague Matthijs de Ligt's moment of madness took the last-16 tie against the Czech Republic away from the Netherlands, but Blind did all he could to keep the Oranje on track.
As well as attempting (64) and completing (49) the most passes of any player on the pitch – attempting a team-high 34 in the opposition half and creating a chance – Blind had four tackles, although it was all in vain.
14. Patrik Schick
Subsequent strikes have not been nearly as spectacular as the effort against Scotland that should scoop the goal of the tournament prize, but Schick's goals continues to fire the Czech Republic.
His four in four games mean only Milan Baros (five – all at Euro 2004) has netted more often at major tournaments for the Czechs.
13. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Hojbjerg impressed at Tottenham last season as a combative presence, making more tackles (98) than any other Spurs player in the Premier League.
The midfielder's role in an exciting Denmark side is very different but no less effective. While he has made just one tackle, Hojbjerg has created nine chances and laid on three assists.
12. Pablo Sarabia
Sarabia was a substitute in Spain's first two matches – draws against Sweden and Poland – but was then installed in the line-up for their subsequent games and has helped turn around their tournament.
As La Roja scored five in wins against both Slovakia and Croatia, Sarabia netted with two of his seven shots and created two chances – one of which led to an assist.
11. Haris Seferovic
Opta's index ranked Seferovic 413th among all players at the tournament following matchday two, with the forward having netted only once in his prior 13 major tournament appearances. His and Switzerland's fortunes have changed dramatically since then.
Seferovic hit the opener against Turkey as his team reached the knockout stage, before two goals against France kept them alive ahead of a dramatic shootout win.
10. Andreas Christensen
Christensen could not repeat his sensational strike from the Russia game as Denmark dominated again against Wales, but he still played his part.
The Chelsea defender had a tackle, two clearances and two interceptions in the last 16 and ranks in the top two in all three categories for Denmark players at this tournament.
9. Romelu Lukaku
There will be added focus on Lukaku after injuries for Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard, but the Inter forward has looked capable of shouldering that burden so far at Euro 2020.
It feels like there is more to come from Lukaku, too. The striker did not add to his three goals against Portugal – missing the target with his only two shots – although he did contest 10 duels, winning all three of those that took place in the air to hold the ball up bravely.
8. Marco Verratti
There was debate whether Verratti should have been starting against Austria at the expense of group stage star Manuel Locatelli, and the decision to bring the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder into the XI was reversed with a 67th-minute substitution.
But Verratti's impact on this tournament has been impressive all the same.
He has created nine chances, completed 170 passes and made seven tackles. No other player has done all three – and Verratti has needed just 157 minutes.
7. Jordi Alba
The decision to drop Alba – one of Spain's top performers – for the Croatia game was slightly surprising.
An epic encounter still saw the left-back called from the bench, though, and he had time to contribute a tackle and two clearances while creating a chance. No Spain player has provided more key passes than Alba's seven.
6. Emil Forsberg
Forsberg certainly did not deserve to end up on the losing team as Sweden were defeated by Ukraine. Alexander Isak was the player exciting the neutrals in the early stages of the tournament, but Forsberg delivered more substance.
Only one Sweden player – Kennet Andersson (five) at the 1994 World Cup – has outperformed his four goals at a single major tournament, while Forsberg could have added to that tally further. He joined Robert Lewandowski (vs. Sweden) in hitting the woodwork twice in the same game against Ukraine.
5. Kasper Dolberg
Playing second fiddle to Yussuf Poulsen until a muscle injury ahead of the Wales clash, Dolberg had been limited to just 30 prior minutes at the tournament.
He made up for lost time in the last 16, though, scoring the first two goals in a thumping 4-0 win. Only Henrik Larsen, against the Netherlands at Euro 1992, had previously netted a double for Denmark in a tournament knockout game.
4. Jorginho
Italy have used 25 of the 26 members of their squad at this tournament, but Jorginho has still started all four matches so far. Only first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (389) has played more minutes (375).
The Chelsea man has a hand in both keeping the Azzurri ticking over and stopping the opposition. Against Austria, he led the team in passes (112), successful passes (103), passes in the opposition half (72) and, along with Francesco Acerbi, interceptions (four).
3. Kevin De Bruyne
Facial fractures delayed De Bruyne's start to the campaign and an ankle injury will now provide a worry ahead of the quarter-final against Italy. In between those two issues, the Manchester City midfielder lit up the tournament in typical fashion.
De Bruyne created just the one chance against Portugal before bowing out, but 10 in total – or one every 18 minutes, remarkably – have him tied at the top of the tournament standings in that category.
2. Paul Pogba
It really is a shame Pogba's tournament has ended. The multi-talented midfielder was playing some of the best football of his career, epitomised by an outrageous goal against Switzerland – his third consecutive international strike from outside the area.
An all-action last-16 display saw Pogba create four chances while also recovering possession a team-high 12 times. No other player in the tournament has so far combined those two statistics in the same match.
1. Joakim Maehle
Denmark have not been short of standout performers at this tournament, but Maehle is certainly among them – and he now tops the Opta index.
After his latest strike, no defender at the tournament has scored more goals (two – tied with Denzel Dumfries), taken more shots (nine) or completed more dribbles (11).
Classing Maehle as a defender might be cheating slightly, but the in-form Danes are excelling at both ends of the pitch regardless.