Every UEFA U21 Euro Player of the Tournament Since 2000
The UEFA Under-21 European Championship has consistently spotlighted future stars who went on to shape world football. From Andrea Pirlo’s elegance in 2000 to Harvey Elliott’s recent dominance, each winner has left a legacy. Here’s a look at every Player of the Tournament since the turn of the century—starting from the very beginning.
Andrea Pirlo – 2000 (Italy)
Pirlo was the heartbeat of Italy’s side and even finished as the tournament’s top scorer—despite being a midfielder. His effortless class later inspired a generation of deep-lying playmakers and brought Champions League titles to Milan before moving into management.
Petr Čech – 2002 (Czech Republic)
Čech stood tall in the final and earned the award thanks to his heroics, helping Czech Republic lift their first title. He soon became a Premier League icon at Chelsea, where he set a clean sheet record that still stands.
Alberto Gilardino – 2004 (Italy)
Gilardino showcased immense potential as a clinical finisher and later lifted the World Cup in 2006. Though he never became a global superstar, he enjoyed a long career and now manages Pisa in Italy.
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Klaas-Jan Huntelaar – 2006 (Netherlands)
Huntelaar won the award even though the Netherlands didn’t take the title, underlining his individual brilliance. His career saw him net nearly 300 goals, primarily with Ajax and Schalke, and he now works behind the scenes at Ajax.
Royston Drenthe – 2007 (Netherlands)
Drenthe helped the Netherlands win the tournament and secured a dream move to Real Madrid. Unfortunately, he couldn’t sustain that level and faded into obscurity before becoming a Spanish TV commentator.
Marcus Berg – 2009 (Sweden)
Despite Sweden finishing third, Berg impressed with his goal-scoring prowess. Though he never starred for a top club, he earned 90 international caps and retired in 2023 after a solid career.
Juan Mata – 2011 (Spain)
Mata’s technical brilliance guided Spain to success and earned him a move to Chelsea. His club career brought Champions League and Europa League titles, and he now plays in Australia’s A-League.
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Thiago Alcantara – 2013 (Spain)
Thiago dazzled with his creativity and vision, but left Barcelona early in search of minutes. His career flourished at Bayern and Liverpool, though injuries often kept him from his full potential.
William Carvalho – 2015 (Portugal)
Carvalho fell short in the U21 final but made his mark with his composure and strength. He later lifted the Euro 2016 trophy with Portugal and became a key player for Real Betis.
Dani Ceballos – 2017 (Spain)
Ceballos’s performances earned him a transfer to Real Madrid, but he struggled for regular playing time. Two loan spells at Arsenal gave him exposure, though he remains a fringe player at Madrid.
Fabián Ruiz – 2019 (Spain)
Ruiz was the anchor of Spain’s midfield, dictating tempo with rare maturity. He has since won league titles with PSG and helped Spain to a Euro 2024 triumph and Champions League success.
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Fábio Vieira – 2021 (Portugal)
After shining in the tournament, Vieira joined Arsenal for £34 million. He has yet to secure a regular starting spot and spent time back on loan at Porto, but remains a player full of promise.
Anthony Gordon – 2023 (England)
Gordon was vital to England’s dominant run, contributing goals and assists as they went unbeaten. Now a key figure at Newcastle, he is attracting interest from elite clubs like Liverpool.
Harvey Elliott – 2025 (England)
Elliott inspired England to back-to-back U21 titles with commanding displays. Despite nearly 150 appearances for Liverpool, his future under new manager Arne Slot remains unclear, and a move may be imminent.
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