Germany are set to face Hungary in their second group stage games of the UEFA Euro 2024 at the MHPArena Stuttgart in Germany on 19th June, Wednesday. The host started the campaign with a sensational 5-1 victory against Scotland. All of their front-end players were on the scoresheet. They are the favourites to top the group and can achieve that by beating Hungary on 19th June.

On the other side, Hungary are coming after a 3-1 loss against Switzerland. They had a forgettable first half but improved a lot in the second half. This time, they will face a lot more challenges against a strong and confident German team so it is going to be a do-or-die game for the Hungarians. From possible starting XIs to Fantasy predictions, here is everything you need to know about the Germany vs Hungary match in the UEFA Euro 2024.

Read Also: All-time Top Goalscorers of UEFA Euros

Match Details

• Match: Germany vs Hungary - UEFA Euro 2024

• Date: 19/6/2024

• Time: 9:30 pm (IST)

• Venue: MHPArena, Stuttgart, Germany

How to watch the Germany vs Hungary UEFA Euro 2024 match?

The Live streaming of the match between Germany and Hungary will be on the Sony Liv app. The Germany vs Hungary football match will also be telecast live on the Sony Sports TV network in India.

Germany vs Hungary: Head-to-Head stats

Germany and Hungary have faced each other 8 times. Both sides have won 3 matches each while 2 matches have ended in a draw. 

• Matches: 8
• Germany won: 3
• Hungary won: 3
• Draws won: 2

Read Also: Cristiano Ronaldo UEFA Euro Stats and Records

Team News

Germany

Germany won the tournament opener by a 5-1 scoreline against a struggling Scotland team. Julian Nagelsmann is expected to start the same eleven against Hungary who are coming after delivering a poor performance against Switzerland. Kai Havertz scored from the spot in the last game and not only that but he did deliver a brilliant performance. 

Manuel Neuer didn't have to do something against Scotland but he may face some challenges against Hungary as they would be desperate to get something from this match. Joshua Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, and Mittelstadt are all set to start at the backline and they delivered a good performance in the last match.

Toni Kroos delivered a fantastic performance against Scotland. The 34-year-old completed 101 out of 102 passes which is just unbelievable. He is playing the last tournament of his footballing career and it is not looking like he has lost any of his touches yet. Andrich will play as a CDM with Ilkay Gundogan playing the role of a number 8. Florian Wirtz opened the scoring in the last game and then Jamal Musiala doubled the lead, scoring a stunning goal. They will surely start behind Kai Havertz. 

Niclas Füllkrug scored a fantastic goal after coming off the bench and he has been a great player for both Dortmund and Germany lately. Emre Can also scored a goal after coming off the bench so Nagelsmann has too many options. Leroy Sane didn't have a good outing in the Allianz Arena and he will be looking to improve after that poor performance.

🇩🇪 Florian Wirtz at 21 years and 42 days old is now the youngest-ever German goalscorer at the UEFA European Championship#EURO2024||#GERSCO pic.twitter.com/iIbWTZaKJl

— FIFA World Cup Stats (@alimo_philip) June 14, 2024

Hungary

Hungary played a 5-2-2-1 formation against Switzerland and are likely to use that again, opting for a back five to limit the attacking spaces for Germany to exploit. Gulacsi is set to start at the goal line and he delivered a brilliant performance against Switzerland in the opener. He did concede 3 goals but that was down to the defenders who had a very poor outing. Hungary don't have too many options so Lang, Orban, and Szalai are set to start at the back.

🗣️: "Teljesen más csapat voltunk az első félidőben, mint a másodikban. Sok volt a hiba, nem mehetünk úgy bele egy mérkőzésbe, hogy azt hisszük, ajándékba adják a három pontot. Nem szabad búslakodnunk, innen szép nyerni."#csakegyutt #magyarok #HUNSUI #euro2024 pic.twitter.com/L2ge6H5HC4

— MLSZ (@MLSZhivatalos) June 15, 2024

Fiola and Kerkez started as wingbacks in the last game and Kerkez had a relatively good game. He knows how to operate in those areas, how to win those tactical fouls. Naggy and Schafer will form a double pivot with Szoboszlai playing as a no 10 alongside Sallai. Varga scored a goal against Switzerland so he will start upfront for Marco Rossi's side.

Marco Rossi said that his team made lots of mistakes at the back which cost them. So, he will be hoping his team improves this time but they are up against a confident and star-studded German team.

Possible Starting XIs

Germany's possible starting lineup:

Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Kroos, Andrich; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz.

Hungary's possible starting lineup:

Gulacsi; Lang, Orban, Szalai; Bolla, Nagy, Schafer, Kerkez; Szoboszlai; Sallai, Varga.

Germany vs Hungary: Fantasy XI Prediction

Manuel Neuer; Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger, Orban, Mittelstadt; Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan, Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai; Jamal Musiala; Kai Havertz

UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League are the two pinnacles of European club tournaments, awarding the coveted continental silverware to the top clubs in Europe. 

Borth tournaments are prestigious for clubs competing in these, and hold different merits and various aspects of prizes that come with these silverware. 

However, if you are a fan of a top club that crashed out of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, you would definitely be disheartened. But, on the other end, if your club clinches the Europa League, would you celebrate it in the same manner when your club reached the UCL semis?

This may be a tough choice for fans who naturally covet the utmost success for their beloved clubs. But this question may always arise in every football fan's mind, which one is better to choose? Crashing out in the UCL semis or winning the Europa League?

Sportz Point delves into this interesting discussion through this article.

Read Also | UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarterfinals schedule: Everything you need to know

Crashing out of UEFA Champions League Semis: Pros and Cons

Advantages 

Playing in the UEFA Champions League is already competing at the highest level, and reaching the semifinals is a very significant achievement. 

• If a mid-table club in the top five European leagues manages, or a club that belongs to a league other than the lower coefficients in the UEFA European leagues ranking, reaching this level can also provide valuable experience for the team and contribute to their reputation.
• Reaching the semifinals demonstrates a lot about the team. It means they were able to overcome the best clubs in Europe and reach the knockout stage.
• If looked at from a monetary point of view, the UCL semifinalists receive a prize money of €15 million that helps the teams to look forward to their future. The Champions League also draws more marketing or TV ratings.

UEFA prize money distribution (as of 31 Jan):

7⃣3⃣% to UCL clubs (€2.14 billion)
1⃣8⃣% to UEL clubs (€528 million)
9⃣% to UECL clubs (€265 million) pic.twitter.com/anllbpFPQK

— Football Meets Data (@fmeetsdata) January 31, 2025

Disadvantages 

Losing at this stage can be disappointing, especially if the team had induced high hopes of winning the tournament. For example, Ajax in the 2018-19 UCL claimed attention in the best possible way, beating defending champions Real Madrid on the way, but crashed out of the semi-finals.

• If a team loses in the semifinals without winning anything in the domestic league, it will be considered a disastrous trophyless season. Very few people would be impressed by a club simply for reaching the semifinals.
• On the contrary, a semi-final defeat can disrupt a team's momentum, potentially affecting their performance in domestic competitions.
• This also may lead to a massive exodus of players from the club, especially if the club is not an European powerhouse already. The top European players will go after the players who performed well for the team, leading to the dismantling of the core group, making it harder to repeat the feat in the future continental competitions. 

Winning the UEFA Europa League: Pros and Cons

Advantages 

For most of the clubs, winning a silverware is a huge achievement. Winning the Europa League has its own advantages, considering that most of the mid-table or apparently mediocre clubs compete in this tournament.

• Winning the Europa League guarantees a continental silverware, which is always better than a trophy-less season. It also ensures a direct qualification in the next season's Champions League.
• The winners of the Europa League also meet the Champions League winners in a season-end competition, called the UEFA Super Cup, which presents another opportunity to clinch another silverware.
• Winning a major European trophy significantly enhances a club's global status and reputation. This success can attract sponsors, and elite players as well.

Disadvantages 

• The biggest drawback of taking part in the Europa League, particularly of winning it, is the scheduling of midweek games. This may lead to a congested fixture, resulting in fatigue among the players as well as higher injury risks. Consequently, this affects the players' performance within domestic leagues or other tournaments. The Thursday-Sunday format of the Europa League puts more pressure on players than the Tuesday-Wednesday format of the Champions League.
• Although it is a big silverware, the Europa League is usually less prestigious than the Champions League, and therefore makes it less attractive than the clubs competing in the UCL.
• Comparing to the Champions League, the Europa League offers lower prize money. This will be a downer for the clubs that are reliant on their European competition-generated revenue, more so those operating outside the major five European clubs.

The difference in prize money between 108 clubs playing UCL, UEL and UECL visualized. pic.twitter.com/T5IZwmOhsC

— Football Meets Data (@fmeetsdata) December 14, 2024

Conclusion: Which is better?

To be honest, it is subjective and depends on different contexts.

For a world-class team that can contest the Champions League, playing in the Europa League could be a disappointment or a consolation for the team, the management and mostly, for the supporters.

However, if a team has no practical hope of winning the Champions League but can contest the title for the Europa League, it would be preferable to lift the trophy instead of qualifying to the semi-finals.

In conclusion, the Champions League semi-final defeat is an indicator of greater competition and ability, while the Europa League win is a concrete victory. So, we can say that there is no definite 'better' result between these two. 

Hello and welcome to another LIVE coverage of European football. Tonight, we will bring you all the live updates, news, and live scores of the UEFA Europa League 2024-25 Round of 16 First Leg face-off between Real Sociedad and Manchester United at the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastián, Spain.

Real Sociedad advanced to the RO16 by thrashing FC Midtjylland 7-3 over two legs in the Europa League play-offs. Manchester United, on the contrary, are the only team that finished unbeaten in the league phase, positioned third on the leaderboard with 18 points in 8 matches.

Both teams are about to go against each other in an important match of the European campaign, setting up a fierce encounter. So, sit back and relax as Swastik Debnath and Soumit Bhattacharya get you the buildup, news, images, live scores, news, and updates of the Real Sociedad vs Manchester United match from our webdesk.

Moreover, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channels to get all the news and scorelines.

Don't forget to refresh the page for latest updates. Enjoy the coverage!

Liverpool achieved a significant breakthrough toward winning the 2024-25 Premier League title, following their 2-0 triumph over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. 

Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai netted two goals in the first half to secure a 2-0 lead at the break, as the Reds comfortably won the game, adding three more points to their tally.

UP THE REDS ✊🔴 #MCILIV pic.twitter.com/UwHfBoO7Eg

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 23, 2025

Liverpool were handed a huge boost after an injury-stricken Arsenal suffered a shocking 0-1 defeat against West Ham United at home on February 22nd, 2025.

Full-time at Emirates Stadium. pic.twitter.com/NcvjSVXo2B

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 22, 2025

Arsenal are now placed second at the table, having accumulated 53 points in 26 games. Liverpool, on the other hand, will now enjoy an 11-point lead at the top with 64 points in 27 matches. 

Liverpool fans have almost started celebrating their potential Premier League title after five years, raising a question as well, how many more points Liverpool need to win the title?

The equation to the coveted Premier League title for Liverpool

Arsenal, the second-placed team have 12 matches left to play in the league this season. If the Mikel Arteta-coached side can win every other remaining match, the maximum number of points they can achieve is 89. 

Interestingly, the Arne Slot-led team could reach the same total in just nine games if they win their next nine games consecutively. For context, Liverpool have 11 more games to play this season.

The Gunners and the Reds will also meet on May 10th, the 36th matchday of the season. This could be a face-off that can potentially turn out as the title-decider only if the point gap between Liverpool and Arsenal decreases.

11 points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Liverpool are running away with it 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/0WkxW9Jfql

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) February 23, 2025

Liverpool will face the fifth-placed Newcastle United in a midweek Premier League clash on February 27th, whereas Arsenal will take on the third-placed Nottingham Forest on the same day. 

However, if Arsenal start losing more points considering their continuous injury woes, Liverpool may clinch the coveted title even before their encounter against The Gunners.

The motivation is there for Mohamed Salah 💬 pic.twitter.com/lcsP84jyXj

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 23, 2025

After this match-week, we will head onto a very congested schedule for both teams, including the UEFA Champions League knock-outs as well. However, will it be Arne Slot or Mikel Arteta who is going to lift their first-ever career PL title after the league concludes on 25 May?

The fans of both teams must keep an eye on the upcoming fixtures to decide further calculations or start celebrations as early as possible!

The UEFA Women's Nations League kicks off on 21st February 2025, Friday with some blockbuster matches set to take place.

The competition returns for its second season, embracing the senior women's national teams from the Football Association UEFA. The Women's Nation League offers nations a highly competitive qualification track to major tournaments while improving interest and investment in the Women's game.

League A Groups:

Group A1:

• Germany 
• Netherlands'
• Austria 
• Scotland'

Group A2:

• France 
• Iceland
• Norway
• Switzerland

Group A3:

• Spain (Defending Champions)
• England
• Belgium 
• Portugal

Group A4:

• Italy
• Denmark
• Sweden
• Wales

League B Groups:

 Group B1:

• Poland
• Northern Ireland
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Romania

Group B2:

• Republic of Ireland
• Türkiye
• Slovenia
• Greece

Group B3:

• Finland 
• Serbia
• Hungary
• Belarus

Group B4:

• Czechia
• Ukraine
• Croatia
• Albania

League C Groups:

Group C1:

• Slovakia
• Farce Islands
• Moldova
• Gibraltar

Group C2:

• Malta
• Georgia
• Cyprus
• Andorra

Group C3:

• Luxembourg
• Armenia
• Kazakhstan
• Liechtenstein

Group C4:

• Azerbaijan
• Montenegro
• Lithuania

Group C5:

• Israel
• Bulgaria
• Estonia

Group C6:

• Kosovo
• Latvia
• North Macedonia

How does Promotion and Relegation Work?

Teams across all three leagues are eligible for Relegation and Promotion.

The four lowest-performing teams in League A and League B will be relegated at the end of the league stage, while the winners of League B and League C will earn promotion. The Lowest-ranked third-place League B team will also face relegation due to the composition of League C.

Besides the Nation League Finals, playoff matches will be performed amongst the remaining teams to decide which teams will be promoted and relegated or remain in their respective leagues.

Matchday 1:

Friday 21 February 2025

Group A1:

• Austria vs Scotland
• Netherlands vs Germany

Group A2:

• Switzerland vs Iceland
• France vs Norway

Group A3:

• Spain vs Belgium
• Portugal vs England

Group A4:

• Italy vs Wales
• Denmark vs Sweden

Group B1:

• Bosnia vs Romania
• Poland vs Northern Ireland

Group B2:

• Greece vs Slovenia
• Republic of Ireland vs Türkiye

Group B3:

• Serbia vs Finland
• Belarus vs Hungary

Group B4:

• Albania vs Ukraine
• Croatia vs Czechia

Group C1:

• Moldova vs Gibraltar
• Slovakia vs Faroe Island

Group C2:

• Georgia vs Andorra
• Cyprus vs Malta

Group C3:

• Armenia vs Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg vs Kazakhstan

Group C4:

• Azerbaijan vs Montenegro

Group C5:

• Bulgaria vs Israel

Group C6:

• North Macedonia vs Kosovo

Matchday 2:

Tuesday 25 February 2025

Group A1:

• Germany vs Austria
• Scotland vs Netherlands

Group A2:

• Norway vs Switzerland
• France vs Iceland

Group A4:

• Italy vs Denmark
• Wales vs Switzerland

Group B1:

• Romania vs Poland
• Northern Ireland vs Bosnia

Group B2:

• Türkiye vs Greece
• Slovenia vs Republic of Ireland

Group B3:

• Hungary vs Finland
• Serbia vs Belarus

Group B4:

• Czechia vs Albania
• Ukraine vs Croatia 

Group C1:

• Slovakia vs Moldova
• Gibraltar vs Faroe Island

Group C2:

• Cyprus vs Georgia
• Malta vs Andorra

Group C3:

• Armenia vs Kazakhstan
• Luxembourg vs Liechtenstein

Group C4:

• Montenegro vs Lithuania

Group C5:

• Israel vs Estonia

Group C6:

• Kosovo vs Latvia

Wednesday 26 February 2025

Group A3:

• Belgium vs Portugal
• England vs Spain

Matchday 3:

Friday 4 April 2025.

Group A1:

• Netherlands vs Austria
• Scotland vs Germany

Group A2:

• Iceland vs Norway
• Switzerland vs France

Group A3:

• England vs Belgium'
• Portugal vs Spain

Group A4:

• Sweden vs Italy
• Wales vs Denmark

Group B1:

• Poland vs Bosnia
• Romania vs Northern Island

Group B2:

• Greece vs Republic of Ireland
• Slovenia vs Türkiye

Group B3:

• Finland vs Belarus
• Hungary vs Serbia

Group B4:

• Albania vs Croatia
• Ukraine vs Czechia

Group C1:

• Faroe Island vs Moldova
• Gibraltar vs Slovakia

Group C2:

• Cyprus vs Andorra
• Georgia vs Malta

Group C3:

• Armenia vs Luxembourg
• Liechtenstein vs Kazakhstan

Group C4:

• Lithuania vs Azerbaijan

Group C5:

• Estonia vs Bulgaria 

Group C6:

• North Macedonia vs Latvia

Matchday 4

Tuesday 8 April 2025

Group A1 
Austria vs Netherlands 
Germany vs Scotland 

Group A2
Iceland vs Switzerland 
Norway vs France 

Group A3
Belgium vs England 
Spain vs Portugal 

Group A4 
Denmark vs Italy 
Sweden vs Wales 

Group B1
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Poland 
Northern Ireland vs Romania 

Group B2 
Republic of Ireland vs Greece 
Türkiye vs Slovenia 

Group B3
Belarus vs Serbia 
Finland vs Hungary 

Group B4 
Croatia vs Albania 
Czechia vs Ukraine 

Group C1 
Faroe Islands vs Gibraltar 
Moldova vs Slovakia 

Group C2 
Andorra vs Cyprus 
Malta vs Georgia 

Group C3 
Kazakhstan vs Armenia 
Liechtenstein vs Luxembourg 

Group C4 
Montenegro vs Azerbaijan 

Group C5 
Israel vs Bulgaria 

Group C6
Kosovo vs North Macedonia 

Matchday 5

Friday 30 May 2025

Group A1 
Germany vs Netherlands 
Scotland vs Austria 

Group A2
France vs Switzerland 
Norway vs Iceland 

Group A3 
Belgium vs Spain 
England vs Portugal 

Group A4
Denmark vs Wales 
Italy vs Sweden 

Group B1 
Northern Ireland vs Poland 
Romania vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Group B2 
Slovenia vs Greece 
Türkiye vs Republic of Ireland 

Group B3 
Belarus vs Finland 
Serbia vs Hungary 

Group B4 
Czechia vs Croatia 
Ukraine vs Albania 

Group C1 
Moldova vs Faroe Islands 
Slovakia vs Gibraltar 

Group C2 
Andorra vs Georgia 
Malta vs Cyprus 

Group C3 
Kazakhstan vs Liechtenstein 
Luxembourg vs Armenia 

Group C4 
Azerbaijan vs Lithuania 

Group C5 
Estonia vs Israel 

Group C6 
Latvia vs North Macedonia 

Matchday 6

Tuesday 3 June 2025

Group A1 
Austria vs Germany 
Netherlands vs Scotland 

Group A2 
Iceland vs France 
Switzerland vs Norway 

Group A3 
Portugal vs Belgium 
Spain vs England 

Group A4 
Sweden vs Denmark 
Wales vs Italy 

Group B1 
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Northern Ireland 
Poland vs Romania 

Group B2 
Greece vs Türkiye 
Republic of Ireland vs Slovenia 

Group B3 
Finland vs Serbia 
Hungary vs Belarus 

Group B4 
Albania vs Czechia 
Croatia vs Ukraine 

Group C1 
Faroe Islands vs Slovakia 
Gibraltar vs Moldova 

Group C2 
Andorra vs Malta 
Georgia vs Cyprus 

Group C3 
Kazakhstan vs Luxembourg 
Liechtenstein vs Armenia 

Group C4 
Lithuania vs Montenegro 

Group C5 
Bulgaria vs Estonia 

Group C6
Latvia vs Kosovo

2025 UEFA Women's Nations League finals & play-offs

Finals 
Draw: 6 June 2025, Nyon (date TBC)
Semi-finals (two legs): Between 22 and 28 October 2025
Final/third-place play-off (two legs): Between 26 November and 2 December 2025

Promotion/relegation play-offs
Draw: 6 June 2025, Nyon (date TBC)
Matches (two legs): Between 22 and 28 October 2025

Football is a sport that often brings limelight to certain footballers but sometimes keeps many at bay. Around football discussions worldwide, these footballers are not mentioned often, even after achieving significant accolades. 

Talking about the underrated footballers in International football, we must understand that it is very different from club football. It is tougher to leave a mark except performing in the continental and World Cup-like tournaments in every four years.

However, these footballers have always performed masterfully well while donning their national kit, bringing noteworthy achievements to their respective nations. Still, they have remained underrated in the consideration of either the fans or the football pundits.

Sportz Point explores the top 20 most underrated players in international football in this special article. This list is not a rank, but a summarisation of some underrated footballers who deserve more praise. 

Top 20 Most Underrated Players in International Football

Angel Di Maria

• National team: Argentina
• Position: Right Winger
• Appearances: 145
• Goals: 31
• Assists: 32

Notable trivia: Angel Di Maria is not given the importance he deserves for the recent successes of the Argentina National team. The 36-year-old winger retired from international football in July 2024, leaving behind an unmatched legacy. 

Most importantly, Di Maria won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, two Copa America titles in 2020 and 2024, and the Finalissima 2022, as he scored in each of the finals for Argentina except for the 2024 Copa, showing his towering presence for the national team. 

Di Maria remained underrated for the gigantic presence of Lionel Messi as his teammate, but nothing can belittle his huge contribution to Argentina's recent success of winning four trophies in four years.

Thomas Muller 

• National team: Germany
• Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Appearances: 131
• Goals: 45
• Assists: 41

Notable trivia: Thomas Muller has 10 goals and 6 assists in 19 World Cup appearances for Germany. The attacking midfielder registered 5 goals and 3 assists in his first-ever World Cup campaign in 2010, earning him the Golden Boot.

In the following World Cup, Muller was pivotal in Germany's World Cup glory, having scored 5 goals and 3 assists. Although he lost the Golden Ball to Lionel Messi that year, Muller was undoubtedly the best player of the German team, along with Manuel Neuer and Miroslav Klose.

Muller won the 2014 World Cup and finished third in EURO 2012 with Germany, as he retired in July 2024 after Germany's elimination from the EURO 2024.

Olivier Giroud

• National team: France
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 137
• Goals: 57
• Assists: 15

Notable trivia: Despite playing for a country that produced goalscorers such as Thierry Henry, Michel Platini, Karim Benzema, and David Trezeguet, Olivier Giroud tops the list of the all-time top scorers for the France national team with 57 goals.

Giroud's achievements are often overlooked both at the international and club levels, though he is one of the best French footballers of this generation. Giroud finished the EURO 2016 as the joint second-highest scorer, with 3 goals and 2 assists. 

Giroud was also part of the 2018 World Cup and 2021 Nations League-winning France team, providing significant contributions to the team. He also scored 4 goals for France in the 2022 World Cup. However, the striker retired from international football in July 2024.

Davor Šuker

• National team: Croatia
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 68
• Goals: 45
• Assists: 6

Notable trivia: Davor Šuker is arguably the greatest Croatian footballer ever, leaving an unparalleled legacy behind him for the national team.

The year 1998 is popularly known as the 'Davor Šuker Year' among football fans, as the forward led the Croatia team to a third-place finish in the 1998 World Cup. He also scored 6 goals in 7 appearances in the tournament to earn the Golden Boot. 

Šuker also won the Silver Ball as the second-best player of the tournament in 1998 WC. He is the top Croatian goalscorer of all time as well, bagging 45 goals in 68 official appearances before retiring in 2002.

Antoine Griezmann

• National team: France
• Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Appearances: 137
• Goals: 44
• Assists: 38

Notable trivia: Antoine Griezmann achieved innumerable honours with the France national team, but sadly, is often not regarded as one of the greatest international footballers ever. 

Griezmann led France to a second-place finish in EURO 2016, scoring 6 goals and 2 assists to win the Golden Boot. He was also named the Player of the Tournament in that edition.

However, Griezmann achieved his first senior international silverware in 2018, when France won the World Cup in Russia. The attacking midfielder was crucial for the team with a tally of 4 goals and the tournament-most of 4 assists, also being named the third-best player of the tournament.

Apart from the 2021 UEFA Nations League title, Girezmann orchestrated the French attack in the 2022 World Cup, providing three assists to be the joint-top assist provider. However, he retired from international football in September 2024.

Sergio Busquets

• National team: Spain
• Position: Defensive Midfielder
• Appearances: 143
• Goals: 2
• Assists: 9

Notable trivia: We all are yet to see a central-defensive midfielder in modern football who has such a high IQ in reading the game, such as Sergio Busquets. 

Busquets was popularly called 'Octopus' for his immaculate passing ability and intimidating defensive screening without breaking a sweat most of the time. the Spanish midfielder became the heart of Barcelona but his contribution was often overlooked at the national team level.

In a star-studded midfield with Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, Busquets emerged as the only one of his kind, making significant contributions to Spain's World Cup glory in 2010 and EURO 2012 victory. Busquets retired from international football in December 2022.

Hugo Lloris

• National team: France
• Position: Goalkeeper
• Appearances: 145
• Clean sheets: 68

Notable trivia: It is said in football, that being a goalkeeper is a 'thankless job'. Goalkeepers are always the last guardian of a team, but their contributions are hugely overlooked. Hugo Lloris, the former French goalkeeper is a burning example of that sensation.

Lloris kept three clean-sheets in all 7 appearances for France in the World Cup 2018, leading the team to the final glory. The French custodian has kept a staggering 68 clean-sheets overall for France in 145 appearances.

He also captained the Les Bleus in three World Cup editions from 2014 to 2022. Lloris retired from the national team in January 2023, being the most-capped player for France in history.

Edin Džeko

• National team: Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 139
• Goals: 67
• Assists: 29

Notable trivia: Edin Džeko is not often mentioned as one of the best international footballers in the modern era, only because he represents a country like Bosnia, that mostly fail to apear in big tournaments.

Yet Džeko, the greatest Bosnian footballer, led the Bosnia team to its first-ever World Cup appearance in 2014 after scoring a whopping 10 goals to be the second-top scorer in the qualification round.

He also scored 9 goals in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying round to be the second-top scorer in the qualification round as well. Džeko also ranks sixth among the active footballers with most international goals.

Michael Laudrup

• National team: Denmark
• Position: Midfielder
• Appearances: 103
• Goals: 37
• Assists: 14

Notable trivia: Michael Laudrup is often considered the greatest Danish footballer of all time, yet he doesn't always receive the full recognition that his remarkable talent deserves. He delivered outstanding performances for Denmark, scoring 37 goals in 103 appearances.

Laudrup won the 1995 Confederations Cup with Denmark, providing commendable performances throughout the tournament. German legend Franz Beckenbauer praised the Danish midfielder in the best possible way, saying, “Pele was the best in the 60s, Cruyff in the 70s, Maradona in the 80s, and Laudrup in the 90s.”

Gabriel Batistuta

• National team: Argentina
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 78
• Goals: 56
• Assists: 14

Notable trivia: Gabriel Batistuta was nicknamed 'Batigol' for his ability to score from almost anywhere on the pitch with unmatched power and precision.

Batistuta was mostly recognized for his inhuman performance in the 1991 Copa America, as Argentina won the title and he was the highest goalscorer of the tournament with 6 goals. He won his second Copa with Argentina in 1993, scoring a brace in the final.

Although he could not achieve the coveted success in the World Cups, Batistuta was one of the greatest footballers for Argentina in the World Cups, with 10 goals in 12 appearances.

Andrea Pirlo

• National team: Italy
• Position: Midfielder
• Appearances: 116
• Goals: 13
• Assists: 25

Notable trivia: Current UEFA vice-president and former Polish footballer Zbigniew Boniek praised Andrea Pirlo by saying something that probably best defines the Italian midfielder. He stated, "To pass the ball to Andrea Pirlo is like to hide it in a safe."

Andrea Pirlo is inarguably one of the most prolific playmakers who ever graced the football pitch. Famous for his outstanding passing and free-kick skills, Pirlo was essential to Italy's victory in the 2006 World Cup. Pirlo won three man of the match awards in the tournament, most by any player in that edition. 

Retiring in 2017, Pirlo remains one of the supreme players who played exceptionally well at international levels, but the recognition was never enough to praise the midfied maestro.

Ronald Koeman

• National team: Netherlands
• Position: Defender
• Appearances: 78
• Goals: 14
• Assists: 10

Notable trivia: Ronald Koeman is often overlooked, but he was a top-tier central defender known for his exceptional passing ability and masterful free-kick skills. With a record of 238 goals across club and international levels, Koeman is the highest-scoring defender in football history. 

However, the defender was a crucial part of Rinus Michels' formidable Netherlands team in the 90s, which won the 1988 European Championship. He also won the Dutch Footballer of the Year award twice in 1987 and 1988.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

• National team: Netherlands
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 76
• Goals: 42
• Assists: 12

Notable trivia: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is often overlooked among the contemporary Dutch stars of his generation. The forward is the third-highest goalscorer for the Dutch national team, with 42 goals.

Although he had a brief appearance in the 2010 World Cup, Huntelaar proved himself crucial for the team, scoring the most goals (12) in the 2012 European championship qualification round.

However, he was also a part of the Netherlands squad that finished third in the 2014 World Cup. He retired in 2021 but never got the recognition he deserved.

George Best

• National team: Northern Ireland
• Position: Winger
• Appearances: 37
• Goals: 9
• Assists: 0

Notable trivia: "Maradona Good, Pele Better, George Best" is the greatest quotation that can define how good George Best was. The Irish winger is also considered as the greatest footballer who never played in a World Cup. 

Despite having immense talent and potential, he is often overlooked in the discussion of the greatest footballers. He was named European Player of the Year in 1968, delivering consistent performance for his club and national team.

If he did not struggle with his self-destructing lifestyle, he may have achieved more accolades with Northern Ireland before retiring in 1982.

Gheorghe Hagi

• National team: Romania
• Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Appearances: 124
• Goals: 35
• Assists: 23

Notable trivia: Gheorghe Hagi was such a good player that he was nicknamed "Maradona of the Carpathians". The attacking midfielder was also called 'Regele', which translates to 'The King' for his immaculate shooting ability, playmaking skills, and vision on the pitch.

The attacking midfielder was the heart of an exciting Romania team of the 1990s. Hagi put up a memorable performance for Romania in the 1994 World Cup, scoring 3 goals and providing 4 assists to lead the team to the quarter-finals, where they eventually lost against Sweden.

He retired in 2001 but still holds the record for the most goals scored for the Romania national team, alongside Adrian Mutu, with 35 goals.

Günter Netzer

• National team: Germany
• Position: Midfielder
• Appearances: 37
• Goals: 6
• Assists: 9

Notable trivia: Günter Netzer played an integral role in Germany's 1972 European Championship victory.
The midfielder provided two assists in the semi-final of the tournament, inspiring a 2-1 win over Belgium.

Netzer was also included in the 1974 World Cup squad for Germany. Although he did not play in the final, Netzer is still regarded as the first World Cup winner who, at the time of his victory, played for a club based outside his home country.

Despite not having many opportunities to represent the national team, he was often considered as one of the best German footballers in the 70s.

Hristo Stoichkov

• National team: Bulgaria
• Position: Winger
• Appearances: 83
• Goals: 37
• Assists: 8

Notable trivia: Hristo Stoichkov was the standout performer in the 1994 World Cup as he inspired Bulgaria to a fourth-place finish and was awarded the Golden Boot for being the top scorer with 6 goals. In the tournament, he scored in the shock wins against Argentina in the Group stage and against Germany in the quarter-finals.

Stoichkov, who re-defined the 'inverted winger' role in world football, scored 37 goals in 83 games for the Bulgarian national team before retiring from international football in 1999.

Gaetano Scirea

• National team: Italy
• Position: Sweeper Defender
• Appearances: 78
• Goals: 2
• Assists: 1

Notable trivia: Despite Franco Baresi's absence, Gaetano Scirea was pivotal in Italy’s victorious 1982 World Cup-winning campaign. The defender, who played mostly as a sweeper, remained underrated due to his contemporary Italian defenders. 

Playing for a country where the best defenders are born and brought up, Scirea always stayed out of the recognition. His untimely death at the age of 36 in 1989 also restricted his legacy.

Rudi Völler 

• National team: Germany
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 90
• Goals: 47
• Assists: 18

Notable trivia: Rudi Völler was a very dependable player striker at both club and international levels. He came off the bench to equalize in the 1986 World Cup Final after scoring in the semi-final against France. Unfortunately, the Germans lost the final against Argentina. However, after four years, he played a crucial role for Germany that became World Champions in 1990, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists.

His contemporary Jurgen Klinsmann always received the highlight for the Germans, but it can not tear down his achievements with the national team. Völler's international goal-scoring record is impressive with a staggering 47 goals in 90 caps.

Matthias Sammer

• National team: Germany
• Position: Defensive/Central Midfielder
• Appearances: 51
• Goals: 8
• Assists: 3

Notable trivia: Matthias Sammer was sometimes overlooked compared to their contemporary Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini. However, he played a crucial role in Germany's victory at the 1996 European Championship, where he was named the tournament's best player. 

The midfielder also won the Ballon d'Or in 1996 and was also named the German Footballer of the Year in 1996, after earning the same accolade in 1995.