Euros records: Most wins, top goalscorer, biggest victory and more

Euro 2024 takes place in the summer with all of the top international teams and players from across the continent gathering in Germany for what should be another exciting tournament.

Italy are the defending champions, having triumphed at Euro 2020 when they beat England on penalties in the final at Wembley, and the next edition will be the 17th Euros.

England are amongst the favourites to clinch their first-ever European title, while World Cup runners-up France are also at the top of the outright market.

As anticipation grows ahead of next year's tournament, we have looked over the history of the Euros to detail some of the biggest and best achievements in a competition that dates back to 1960.

Most Euros wins

Germany and Spain are the joint record winners with three tournament victories apiece.

Germany triumphed in 1972 in Belgium, then again eight years later in Italy and won their most recent Euros in 1996 when they were victorious in England, memorably beating the Three Lions in the semis and then the Czech Republic in the final at Wembley.

Spain's European Championship victories came in 1964 on home soil, then in consecutive tournaments in 2008 in Austria and Switzerland and 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

Most Euros defeats

Denmark have suffered the most defeats in Euros history, losing a record 17 games.

The Danes have again made it to Germany for next summer’s tournament and famously tasted victory in 1992 in Sweden.

Most consecutive Euros titles

Spain are the only nation to win consecutive European Championships with their victories in 2008 and 2012.

Biggest Euros victory

Five countries have won by a record five-goal margin in previous tournaments, with France beating Belgium 5-0 in 1984, the same year Denmark defeated Yugoslavia by the same scoreline.

Netherlands also achieved the feat when beating FR Yugoslavia 6-1 in 2000 and Sweden's 5-0 success over Bulgaria in 2004 matches the record win, as does Spain's 5-0 victory over Slovakia at Euro 2020. 

Most Euros appearances

Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for the most appearances in European Championships with the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward having played in five tournaments.

He made his debut in 2004, also starred for his country in 2008 before playing in the 2012, 2016 and 2020 editions.

Ronaldo is expected to feature in his sixth Euros in 2024.

Top Euros goalscorer

Cristiano Ronaldo is also the record Euros goalscorer with 14 goals spread out across the five different tournaments he has featured in.

The Portugal legend scored twice at Euro 2004, then added another goal to his record in 2008.

Ronaldo was then back amongst the goals in 2012 and 2016 when he scored three in both of those tournaments and he notched five at Euro 2020 to take his tally up to 14 in total.

Most Euros hat-tricks

France legend Michel Platini holds the record for the most hat-tricks in the Euros with two, both of which came in 1984 when he scored trebles against Belgium and Yugoslavia.

Fastest Euros goal

Russian player Dmitri Kirichenko scored the fastest-ever goal in Euros history, netting against Greece after just 67 seconds in 2004.

Youngest player to appear in Euros

At 17 years, 246 days old, Poland midfielder Kacper Kozlowski became the youngest-ever player to feature in the tournament when he played against Spain at Euro 2020.

Oldest player to appear in Euros

Goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly is the oldest Euros participant ever, playing for Hungary against Belgium aged 40 years and 86 days old in 2016.

Highest scoring Euros match

The game with the most goals in Euros history came in the inaugural tournament in 1960 in France, when nine goals were scored in Yugoslavia's 5-4 victory over the hosts.

Most Euros red cards

Only one player, Radoslav Latal of the Czech Republic, has been sent off twice in the history of the European Championship, being shown a red card at both the 1996 and 2000 tournaments.