The European players with the most knockout stage goals at major tournaments

Harry Kane has faced criticism during England’s run to the final of Euro 2024 but the forward has continued to find goals on the biggest stage for the Three Lions.

Kane is England’s record scorer in tournament football and scored his ninth goal in the knockout rounds of major competitions in the semi-final against the Netherlands, setting a new record for a European player.

Here are the five European players with the most knockout stage goals at major tournaments.

Kylian Mbappé – France (8)

Kylian Mbappe has scored eight times in the latter stages of major tournaments with all eight of the Frenchman’s goals coming in the World Cup. Mbappe became the first teenager to score in a World Cup final as France were crowned world champions in 2018, having also netted twice during a thrilling Round of 16 win over Argentina.

Four years later, the Frenchman was in formidable form to win the Golden Boot in Qatar. Mbappe scored eight goals at the 2022 World Cup, including a hat-trick in the final defeat to Argentina on penalties.

Mbappe’s four goals in World Cup finals are a record, eclipsing Vava, Pele, Geoff Hurst, Ronaldo, and Zinedine Zidane (3).

Gerd Müller – Germany – (8)

Gerd Muller is one of just two players to have won the Golden Boot at both the European Championship and World Cup.

‘Der Bomber’ was a prolific presence and scored 10 times during West Germany’s run to the semi-finals at the 1970 World Cup, including consecutive group stage hat-tricks against Bulgaria and Peru, and an extra-time winner to dump out holders England in the last eight.

Two years later, Muller’s four goals earned him the Golden Boot as the Germans won the European Championship. Then a four-team tournament, he scored braces in both the semi-final and final.

Arguably Muller’s most important goal came in the 1974 World Cup final, as his winner completed a comeback win for West Germany against the Netherlands.

Antoine Griezmann – France (8)

Antoine Griezmann’s exploits have helped France to success in recent tournaments.

Euro 2016 proved to be a breakout tournament for Griezmann with the national team as the forward scored six goals to win the Golden Boot. His six goals are the second-highest return in a single edition of the European Championship as France reached the final on home soil.

Griezmann was again influential as France won the World Cup two years later. He scored three times in the 2018 knockout stages, including the second in the 4-2 final win over Croatia.

Miroslav Klose – Germany (8)

The World Cup’s all-time record goalscorer, Miroslav Klose scored 16 times for Germany on international football’s biggest stage. After winning the Silver Shoe in 2002, he top-scored as Germany reached the semi-finals on home soil four years later.

Klose also scored four times in the 2010 World Cup and twice in 2014, eclipsing Ronaldo Nazario’s World Cup record in the latter tournament. Germany were crowned world champions in 2014 with Klose retiring after that success as the national team’s record scorer.

Noughties Nines: Miroslav Klose – World Cup icon

Harry Kane – England (9)

Harry Kane’s perfectly placed penalty against the Dutch saw the England captain become European football’s record scorer in the knockout stages of major tournaments.

Kane scored six times overall during England’s run to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, becoming just the second Englishman to win the tournament’s Golden Boot. The forward scored four knockout game goals as the Three Lions finished as runners-up at Euro 2020, and has added four further goals at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

Kane has scored 15 goals in major tournaments for England with 60% being scored in knockout round games.

Read – 10 European Championship records broken at Euro 2024

See more – Wayne Rooney at Euro 2004: A precocious phenomenon

Subscribe to our social channels:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok