Every player to score in all three group games at a European Championship | OneFootball

Georges Mikautadze has been one of the unexpected stars of Euro 2024 so far with the forward leading the race for the Golden Boot for tournament debutants Georgia.

The 23-year-old has scored three goals and provided an assist as Georgia – the lowest-ranked team in the tournament – have reached the knockout rounds and has become just the ninth player to score in all three group games at a European Championship.

He’s certainly not in bad company…

Every player to score in all three group games at a Euros:

Michel Platini – France (1984)

Michel Platini produced perhaps the best individual tournament the European Championship has witnessed in 1984. The midfielder was the inspiration for a France team that won a first-ever tournament on home soil, scoring nine times in just five games on route to success.

Platini opened the tournament with the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Denmark at the Parc des Princes, before hitting a hat-trick in Les Bleus’ 5-0 thrashing of Belgium. Incredibly, he scored another hat-trick as Yugoslavia were beaten 3-2 in France’s final fixture of the group, taking his total to seven goals in three group games. Platini’s haul in three group games at Euro ’84 is more than any player has ever scored in a single European Championship.

A 119th-minute winner in the semi-final with Portugal and the opening goal in the decider against Spain concluded an unforgettable tournament for Le Roi, who won the second of three successive Ballon d’Or awards in 1984.

Iconic Performances: Peak Platini hits three in rout of Belgium at Euro ’84

Alan Shearer – England (1996)

Alan Shearer’s place in the England side was being questioned ahead of Euro ’96. Despite consecutive Golden Boot campaigns in the Premier League, Shearer had failed to score for the Three Lions in 12 games and 21 months.

Terry Venables retained faith in the Geordie goal-getter and was rewarded as England reached the semi-finals on home soil. Shearer scored in the opening draw against Switzerland and netted the opener as Scotland were beaten 2-0 at Wembley.

In England’s third group game, he was on target twice as the Netherlands were thrashed 4-1 in a statement performance.

Shearer’s fifth goal of the tournament came in the semi-final defeat to Germany, as he ended Euro ’96 with the Golden Boot.

Hristo Stoichkov – Bulgaria (1996)

Hristo Stoichkov also scored in all three group games at Euro ’96.

Having won the Golden Boot and Ballon d’Or as Bulgaria reached the World Cup semi-finals two years earlier, Stoichkov was again his side’s inspiration with three goals in three games at Euro ’96. However, it was not enough for Bulgaria in an unsuccessful bid to reach the knockouts.

90s Hitmen: Hristo Stoichkov – Barcelona’s Balkan bull

Savo Milosevic – Yugoslavia (2000)

Savo Milosevic earned the nickname ‘Miss-a-lot-ević’ during an up-and-down time in the Premier League with Aston Villa, but proved himself on the biggest stage after leaving English football.

Milosevic won the Golden Boot at Euro 2000 with five goals, including a brace in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Slovenia and the winner against Norway. He netted again as Yugoslavia progressed despite a 4-3 defeat to Spain in their final group fixture.

Milan Baros – Czech Republic (2004)

Few would have predicted Milan Baros’ burst of goals heading into Euro 2004. The Czech centre-forward had netted just once in the Premier League for Liverpool in 2003-04 but exploded with the national team.

Baros netted in group-stage games with Latvia, the Netherlands and Germany, as the Czech Republic progressed from a tough group with a perfect record. In the quarter-finals, he scored twice to down Denmark, though the talented Czechs saw their run halted by surprise package Greece in the last four. Baros, however, took home the Golden Boot.

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Ruud van Nistelrooy – Netherlands (2004)

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored four times in three group games at Euro 2024, as the Dutchman finished as runner-up to Baros for the Golden Boot. He netted in a 1-1 draw with Germany and a defeat to the Czech Republic, before his brace against Latvia booked the Oranje a place in the knockout rounds.

The Netherlands saw their campaign end in the semi-finals after a defeat to the host nation Portugal.

Noughties Nines: The greatest assassin, Ruud van Nistelrooy

Gareth Bale – Wales (2016)

Gareth Bale made his mark on Wales’ first major tournament appearance in 58 years at Euro 2016.

Wales had never before reached a European Championship but progressed to the semi-finals on the back of the brilliance of Bale. He scored three goals, netting in each group game, with only Antoine Griezmann scoring more at the tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal (2020)

Cristiano Ronaldo is the record scorer in European Championship history and won the Golden Boot at Euro 2020.

Ronaldo scored braces against Hungary and France, alongside a goal in defeat to Germany, as Portugal squeezed through the knockout rounds as the best third-placed team.

Georges Mikautadze – Georgia (2024)

Georges Mikautadze is turning heads with his performances at Euro 2024. Georgia are the lowest-ranked team at the tournament at 74th in the world, but will face Spain in the knockout stages after a tournament to remember so far.

Mikautadze has built on a strong second half of the season at Metz to lead their charge, outshining high-profile teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with three goals and an assist so far.

AS Monaco have made an early move to sign the striker following Metz’s relegation from Ligue 1.

Read – Five unexpected stars of the Euro 2024 group stage

See more – Five players who deserve more minutes at Euro 2024

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