Summary

  • Ronaldo voted your favourite European player of the 21st century

  • A shortlist of 64 players will be whittled down to one winner in a series of head-to-head votes

  • Share your thoughts via #myeurofavourite or text 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate) 

  1. David Beckham v Steven Gerrardpublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    Two of the best English midfielders of all time - and they go head to head in the last 16.

    A whopping 229 Three Lions' caps between them - 115 for David Beckham and 114 for Steven Gerrard.

    One man goes through, one man goes out. Who will it be?

    Click here to vote.

    David Beckham and Steven GerrardImage source, Getty Images
  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    #myeurofavourite or text 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

    Eddie, Plymouth: Favourite definitely changes some of my votes compared to best... Ronaldo clearly one of the greatest ever (although Euro numbers/game aren't as good as some) but if asking would I rather watch Ronaldo or Zidane, then definitely vote for the latter, personally.

  3. Xabi Alonso v Andres Iniestapublished at 12:30 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    Xabi Alonso v Andres IniestaImage source, Getty Images

    It's a battle of the silky Spanish midfielders in this one as ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid man Xabi Alonso takes on Andres Iniesta, a four-time Champions League winner with Barcelona.

    They both helped Spain win the World Cup and two European Championships, but who gets your vote now?

    Click here to vote.

  4. Get involvedpublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    #myeurofavourite or text 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

    Sam: Remember this is our *favourite*, not the best! That's why I went for Henry over Ronaldo... (Loving this by the way BBC Sport!)

  5. Xavi v Alessandro del Pieropublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    Xavi and Del PieroImage source, Getty Images

    Alessandro del Piero is one of those power musing in the photo below and he's also up for a place in the quarter-finals.

    We have some brilliant head-to-heads and this is another too close to call one. Xavi, the Brilliant Barcelona midfielder, versus Juventus' legendary number 10 Del Piero.

    Both World Cup winners, Del Piero with Italy in 2006 and Xavi four years later with Spain, but only one can advance.

    Click here to vote.

  6. Postpublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    .Image source, Getty Images

    I've got a lot of time for footballers' professional photo shoots from the 90s.

    Some strong musing here from Paolo Maldini and co.

  7. Paul Scholes v Paolo Maldinipublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    .Image source, .

    Two players whose ability deserved more silverware at international level. On their day, probably no better in their respective positions.

    Who goes through, though?

    Cast your vote here.

  8. Get involvedpublished at 12:09 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    #myeurofavourite or text 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

    Chris: Gerrard and Beckham through? Really? Typical of the golden generation mania of the 2000s I guess...

  9. Clarence Seedorf v Zlatan Ibrahimovicpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    .Image source, .

    Both were team-mates at AC Milan in 2011-12, with Clarence Seedorf coming towards the end of his decade-long spell at the club and Zlatan Ibrahimovic enjoying a prolific spell at the Italian club.

    Do you favour one of the best midfielders or one of the best strikers for the next round?

    Click here to vote.

  10. Who we are pickingpublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    Some of our favourites have fallen at the first hurdle, so this is how we see the last-16 ties. Remember, it's your favourite player, not necessarily the best player.

    Henry v Ronaldo

    • Gary's choice: Ronaldo
    • Michael's choice: Henry.

    De Bruyne v Zidane

    • Gary's choice: Zidane.
    • Michael's choice: Zidane.

    Seedorf v Ibrahimovic

    • Gary's choice: Ibrahimovic.
    • Michael's choice: Ibrahimovic

    Scholes v Maldini

    • Gary's choice: Maldini.
    • Michael's choice: Maldini.

    Gerrard v Beckham

    • Gary's choice: Beckham.
    • Michael's choice: Beckham.

    Xavi v Del Piero

    • Gary's choice: Xavi.
    • Michael's choice: Xavi.

    Bergkamp v Pirlo

    • Gary's choice: Pirlo.
    • Michael's choice: Bergkamp.

    Alonso v Iniesta

    • Gary's choice: Iniesta.
    • Michael's choice: Iniesta.
  11. Kevin de Bruyne v Zinedine Zidanepublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    .Image source, .

    Love Kevin de Bruyne but this is a tough draw for the Belgium and Manchester City midfielder against France legend Zinedine Zidane.

    Cast your vote here.

  12. Thierry Henry v Cristiano Ronaldopublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    .Image source, .

    Oof! One of the favourites will be leaving early after these two were thrown together for the last 16.

    Who are you sending through? Cast your vote here.

  13. Get involvedpublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    #myeurofavourite or text 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

    Jack Hunter: Anything other than Ronaldo would be a travesty, Zidane is the only one that might come close

    David Braley: Gerrard over Buffon!?

  14. Results - Group M to Ppublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    Group M: 1. Dennis Bergkamp (62%), 2. Carles Puyol (14%), 3. Philipp Lahm (13%), 4. Nemanja Vidic (11%).

    Group N: 1. Andrea Pirlo (58%), 2. Robin van Persie (20%), 3. Rio Ferdinand (14%), 4. Ashley Cole (8%).

    Group O: 1. Xabi Alonso (38%), 2. David Silva (31%), 3. Vincent Kompany (19%), 4. Gerard Pique (12%).

    Group P: 1. Andres Iniesta (51%), 2. Alan Shearer (27%), 3. Francesco Totti (17%), 4. David Villa (5%).

  15. Results - Groups I to Lpublished at 11:22 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    Group I: 1. Steven Gerrard (44%), 2. Gianluigi Buffon (37%), 3. Thomas Muller (13%), 4. Alessandro Nesta (6%).

    Group J: 1. David Beckham (51%), 2. Robert Lewandowski (36%), 3. John Terry (8%), 4. Deco (5%).

    Group K: 1. Xavi (66%), 2. Eden Hazard (14%), 3. Oliver Kahn (10%), 4. Petr Cech (10%).

    Group L: 1. Alessandro del Piero (42%), 2. Frank Lampard (30%), 3. Virgil van Dijk (18%), 4. Andriy Shevchenko (10%).

  16. Results - Group E to Hpublished at 11:20 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    Group E: 1. Clarence Seedorf (29%), 2. Gareth Bale (28%), 3. Pavel Nedved (24%), 4. Franck Ribery (19%).

    Group F: 1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (48%), 2. N'Golo Kante (26%), 3. Fernando Torres (15%), 4. Michael Owen (11%).

    Group G: 1. Paul Scholes (39%), 2. Fabio Cannavaro (23%), 3. Ruud van Nistelrooy (19%), 4. Henrik Larsson (19%).

    Group H: 1. Paolo Maldini (57%), 2. Cesc Fabregas (16%), 3. Raul (14%), Manuel Neuer (13%).

    Group winners advance to the next phase.

  17. That feeling when you top the grouppublished at 11:16 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    Thierry Henry sees off Luis Figo, Kylian Mbappe and Arjen Robben with ease to storm into the last 16.

    Thierry HenryImage source, Getty Images
  18. Results - Groups A to Dpublished at 11:13 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    Group A: 1. Thierry Henry (63%), 2. Luis Figo (17%), Arjen Robben (9%), Kylian Mbappe (7%).

    Group B: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo (78%), 2. Luka Modric (11%), Harry Kane (9%), Karim Benzema (2%).

    Group C: 1. Kevin de Bruyne (35%), 2. Patrick Vieira (28%), 3. Sergio Ramos (23%), 4. Edwin van der Sar (14%)

    Group D: 1. Zinedine Zidane (74%), 2. Wayne Rooney (18%), 3. Iker Casillas (7%), 4. Pepe (1%)

  19. Postpublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 9 June 2021

    Media caption,

    'What a leap' Ronaldo's previous high flying header

    Has Cristiano Ronaldo made it through? We'll find out soon but for now watch his header against Wales at Euro 2016.

    Incredible leap.