Your all-time top five European players

We asked you to choose your all-time top five European players - and see if they matched up with the favourites of Match of the Day expert Mark Lawrenson.

The European Championships has been littered with stars since it first kicked off in 1960.

However, this is your opportunity to scour your memory banks and select the top five all-time players in the history of the tournament.

Surely you must be tempted to include Germany's Lothar Matthaus who looks set to compete in his fifth consecutive tournament?

Holland always boast a number of top players and Ruud Gullit and Johan Cruyff were both real entertainers in their prime.

If you like entertainers then Michel Platini and Paul Gascoigne probably caught the eye for France and England respectively or maybe the likes of Bierhoff, Shearer, Baresi and the wonderful Franz Beckenbauer would make it into your top five.

So send your all-time top five - and three entrants who match up with Lawrenson will win a selection of BBC merchandise.

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Your top five votes

Johan Cruyff

Michel Platini

Franz Beckenbauer

Marco van Basten

George Best

Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Johan Cruyff
Mengistu, Ethiopia

1. Brian Laudrup, 2. Alain Giresse, 3. Marco van Basten, 4. Jean Tigana and 5. Paulo Maldini
All absolute class!
Stewart Richardson, Scotland

Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Paul Gascoigne, Paulo Rossi.
Huankiat Seh, USA

The top five European players are George Best, Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer and Zinedine Zidane
John Koroma, Sierra Leone

My first player is Zlatko Zahovic - he plays for half of Slovenia's team, second is Sweden's Larsson followed by Shearer, Baggio and van Basten.
Ňania Melnitchuk, Russia

Without any doubt the top five are:- Ferenc Puskas, Eusebio, Michel Platini, Paolo Rossi, and, errr, may I add Enzo Scifo ?
Arnold Jacques, Belgium

1. Platini, 2. Cruyff, 3. Baggio, 4. Schmeichel, 5. Dalglish.
James Canavan, England

My Top five players are Zidane, van Basten, Platini, Beckenbauer and Figo.
Angela Ward, England

1. Marco Van Basten, 2. Ruud Guilit, 3. Michel Platini, 4. Jean Tigana, 5. Jurgen Klinsmann
Amanuel Lebassi, Eritrea

1.Marco Van Basten 2.Michel Platini 3.Johan Cryuff 4.Franco Baresi 5.Eusebio
Chris Sherrard, Northern Ireland

Why have people said Best? He's never played in the tournament, and even Cruyff hardly made a big impact. My list is Muller, Van Basten, Beckenbauer, Platini, Gullit.
Colin B, England

Peter Schmeichel, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Gary Lineker and Franco Baresi.
Helgi, Faroes

Michel Platini, Michael Laudrup, Hristo Stoichkov, Kevin Keegan and Gheorghe Hagi - all influenced their teams far more than one player really ought to - sheer inspiration.
Dom Shenton, England

1.Eusebio, 2.Michel Platini, 3.Johan Cruyff, 4.Franz Beckenbauer, 5.Peter Schmeichel
Rashid Lukombeso, Tanzania

1. Michel Platini - especially for those

Platini - the most creative midfielder of modern times.

Richard Woolley, UK

nine goals he scored in 1984 - a beautiful player, easily the most creative midfielder of modern times. 2. Johan Cruyff- I'm not old enough to remember him but by all accounts an exceptional player. 3. Marco van Basten - best striker I've ever seen. 4. Franco Baresi - best defender I've ever seen. 5. Michael Laudrup - a great player, under-rated.
Richard Woolley, UK

There have been many great players in European Football. Many names crop up but there are some who will always stay in the mind. Michel Platini, George Best, Alfredo di Stefano, Franz Beckenbauer and Marco van Basten.
Kamran Shafiq, Pakistan

Top three ... Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Charlton ......... the other two, Best and Gascoigne are down the pub.
Stephen Brown, Hong Kong

I don't wish to spoil the party here, but if we are speaking about performances at European Championships, then Cruyff should probably not be on the list. His performance in 1976 was decidedly subdued. Based on European Championship performances - Panenka, Platini, van Basten, Yashin and Beckenbauer. Both the Euro '92 and '96 tournaments were simply dreadful and therefore have no nominations.
Alex, USA

1. Platini, 2. van Basten, 3. Eusebio, 4. Klinsmann, 5. Zidane. Zinedine Zidane is the "total footballer" - strength, poise, vision and two great feet. He will have eclipsed Platini by the end of Euro 2000.
Xavier Kashiri, England

No special order - Eusebio, Roberto Baggio, Luis Figo, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten
Mwana Wamwari, Zimbabwe

My first choice would have to be Michael Laudrup. The man had class.

Keith Edwards, England

1. Puskas - Hungary 2. Cruyff - Holland 3. Bekenbauer - Germany 4. Platini - France 5. Moore - England I don't think it is possible to name 5 better players than the five above!
Gordon Todd, England

In no particular order - Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Platini, van Basten and Zoff.
Michael Wong, Malaysia

Cruyff, Platini, Best, Beckenbauer and Tigana. Only Cruyff would make the top five in the world.
Jesse Kormega, USA

1. Franz Beckenbauer 2. Ferenc Puskas 3.George Best 4. Bobby Moore 5.Johan Cruyff
Rory Edwards, UK

1.Platini - simply the most

Zinedine Zidane will have eclipsed Platini by the end of Euro 2000

Xavier Kashiri

creative European to have ever played the game. 2.Beckenbaeur - the best marshall in the field. 3.Cruyff - probably the most talented of the lot but didn't win when it mattered. 4.Matthaus - the most determined of them all. 5.van Basten - if it wasn't for his injuries, the Dutch would have dominated soccer a lot more than they did in the 80s and 90s.
Kishore, India

1. Ferenc Puskas, 2. Gerd Mueller, 3. Alfredo di Stefano, 4. Peter Schmeichel, 5. Paulo Rossi.
Philip Ryan, Belgium

Franco Baresi, Michel Platini, George Best, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten.
Tony T, England

Eusebio, Eusebio, Eusebio, Eusebio and Platini.

Simon, France

1.Cryuff, 2.Moore, 3.Beckenbauer, 4.Best, 5. Platini.
Dan McCulloch, England

The people who think Platini is the best European player of the century are crazy. 1 Cruyff (also the world's best player) 2 van Basten 3 Gullit 4 Abe Lenstra 5 Platini
Rutger Oosterhof, Netherlands

The top five are Peter Schmeichel, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini and Michael Laudrup. All of these five were the best in their respective positions but my first choice would have to be Michael Laudrup. A career spanning almost 15 years at the top at five of the biggest clubs in the world: Lazio, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Ajax. He did something no other foreigner has ever done and won the Primera Liga five years in a row. The man had class.
Keith Edwards, England

1.Johan Cruyff, 2.Michel Platini 3.Marco van Basten, 4.George Best, 5.Franz Beckenbaur.
Shishu Rai, USA

The people who think Platini is the best European player of the century are crazy.

Rutger Oosterhof, Netherlands

1.van Basten, 2.Puskas, 3.Platini, 4.Cruyff, 5.Schmeichel.
Richard Davis, England

1) Jurgen Klinsmann, 2) Hagi, 3) Johan Cruyff, 4) Gary Lineker, 5) George Weah.
Matthew Henry, England

1. Johan Cruyff, 2. Franz Beckenbauer, 3. Michel Platini, 4. Marco van Basten, 5. Eusebio
Firoz Kassam, Canada

Johan Cruyff, Lothar Matthaus, Roy Keane, George Best and Tom Finney.
Brick, England

1.Beckham, 2.Beckenbauer, 3.Matthaus, 4.van Basten, 5.Hagi.
Stefan, Romania

In no particular order: Ruud Gullit, Lothar Matthaus, Franz Beckenbaeur, Johan Cruyff and Roberto Baggio.
Robbie Naveen, Malaysia

1 Platini, 2 Cruyff, 3 Van Basten, 4 Beckenbaur, 5 Keegan.
Alex, England

Cruyff - class, Eusebio - unstoppable, Di Steffano - complete, van Basten - memorable, Best - genius.
Will, England

Platini was one of the gratest playmakers of all time

Aqshar Khaliq, England

van Basten, Papin, Gullit, Matthaus and Shearer
Lee Hamilton, England

Top five European players of past fifty years; 1 - Best 2 - Beckenbauer 3 - Cruyff 4 - Platini 5 - Dalglish
Ian Riches, Scotland

Platini was one of the gratest playmakers of all time. My top five are 1. Platini 2. Van Basten 3. Beckenbauer 4. Gullit 5. Klinsmann
Aqshar Khaliq, England

According to my belief the best footballers are attackers who can score. Therefore the following players are in my list: 1. Marco van Basten 2. Franz Beckenbauer 3. Michel Plantini 4. Johan Cruyff 5. Paulo Rossi
T Alemu, Ethiopia

1. Roberto Baggio 2. Platini 3. van Basten 4. Franco Baresi 5. Eric Cantona
Beppe Cabrelli, England

1. Johan Cruyff 2. Marco van Basten 3. Lothar Matthaus 4. Peter Schmeichel 5. Bobby Moore
Phil Matthews, England

1) Johan Cruyff - played football as it should be played 2) Franz Beckenbauer - amazing in both attack and defence 3) George Best - a crime against football for him not have been able to show his skills on the international stage 4) Marco van Basten - that strike!!!!! 5) Peter Schmeichel- United will never be able to replace the best goalkeeper of all time
Kieran Unsworth, England

Gordon Banks, George Best, Eusebio, Ferenc Puskas, and Sir Stanley Matthews are my top five European Players.
Gaz, England

1.Johan Cruyff 2. Marco van Basten 3. Alessandro Del Piero 4. Michel Platini 5. Luis Figo
Darf, Netherlands

Marco van Basten, Bobby Moore, Franz Beckenbauer, Gazza and Michel Platini.
Steve Waghorn, England

1 Best, Beckham, Cruyff, Rumenigge, Bettega.
Ulysses Christodoulou, USA

After a lot of thought these are not just the top five, but the top five in order - 1) Johan Cruyff, 2) Marco van Basten, 3) Michel Platini, 4) Ruud Gullit, 5) Peter Schmeichel.
Lee Humphries, England

five who were consistently brilliant over long careers were Beckenbauer, Muller, Platini, Cruyff and Moore

Les Linyard, UK

My top five would be Beckenbauer, Platini, Puskas, van Basten and Schmeichel.
Martin Horton, England

Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Gheorghe Hagi and Bobby Moore
Catalin Ciulei, Canada

Cruyff - No.2 after Pele in the world, Platini - consistently brilliant

Jon Round, England

I'm not going to include any players I did not see live on television, so out go those magical replays of Cruyff in 1974 etc. I shall also only go for those players who excelled on the international stage so no Dalglish etc. This leaves in no particular order - Platini, van Basten, Lineker, Klinsmann and Matthaus
Garry, UK

Eusebio, Puskas, Beckenbauer, Cruyff and Platini.
Paul Lewis, England

Cruyff - No.2 after Pele in the world, Platini - consistently brilliant, Gullit, van Basten and Klinsmann - a superb player who always put loads of effort in.
Jon Round, England

Here's my top five not in order: Bobby Moore, Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer and Bobby Charlton.
Dom Fahey, England

The European Championships in many ways have been a story of great goalkeepers, Yashin for the Russians and Schmeichel for Denmark are the greatest examples. However, for sheer flair and inspiration, Platini has to be the best ever European player owing to how he energised the French in 1984. Second would be Bernd Schuster, for doing the same things for Germany in 1980.

Marco van Basten - simply the best striker ever

Chido Okoli, Nigeria

Third in my list is Franz Beckenbauer for being the rock at the heart of the German defence between 1968 and 1976. More recently, van Basten was a revelation in 1988. The quintet would be completed by Jurgen Klinsmann for his goals in 1992 and 1996.
James Mythen, England

In no particular order: 1. Marco Van Basten, 2. Gary Lineker, 3. Hristo Stoichkov, 4. Paul Gascoigne, 5. Gheorghe Hagi.
Chris Curtis, England

In no particular order I go for Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, George Best and Ferenc Puskas ... a top ten would have been easier.
Kevin, Scotland

With previous tournaments in mind, and in no particular order - 1. Gerd Muller, 2. Ruud Gullit, 3. Luis Suarez, 4. Michel Platini, 5. Franz Beckenbauer.
Alex Batteson, UK

1. Johan Cruyff, 2. Roberto Baggio, 3. Peter Schmeichel, 4. Ruud Gullit, 5. Marco Van Basten
Richard Wieczorek, England

1. Marco van Basten - remember that goal, 2. Karl-Heinz Rumenigge - world class, 3. Gary Lineker - a constant threat, 4. Ruud Gullit - power and class, 5. Michel Platini - he showed it was a beautiful game.
Matt Ramsden, South Africa

Alfredo di Stefano - the first all-round player, Michel Platini - made everything look easy, Johan Cruyff - nothing was the same after him, Franz Beckenbauer - the best defender ever, Bobby Charlton - the perfect mix between guts and class.
Alexandre Abreu Gontijo, Brazil

Cruyff is the only European to have approached the exquisite skills of Pele and Maradona.

Shaun, England

This would make a perfect five-a-side team. Gerd Muller alongside Marco van Basten up front. Then in midfield Johan Cruyff with Paul Gascoigne and in defence Bobby Moore. A team this good doesn't need a keeper.
Hugh Gough, England

Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Lothar Matthaus and Ruud Gullit
John Gitonga, Kenya, East Africa

1. Marco van Basten 2. George Best 3. Lothar Matthaus 4. Ruud Gullit 5. Michel Platini
JH, Australia

Michel Platini, Ferenc Puskas, Bobby Moore, Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer. Five players, five different countries - perfect.
Paul Glasgow, England

1. Johan Cruyff 2. Gordon Banks 3. Bobby Moore 4. Franz Beckenbauer 5. Kenny Dalglish
Jeremy Mason, England

Michel Platini is inspirational

Salauddin S.S, Singapore

My all time five would be - Marco Van Basten, Lothar Matthaus, Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Alan Shearer.
Sooraj Sadanandan, India

1. Marco van Basten 2. Lev Yashin 3. Michel Platini 4. Ferenc Puskas 5. Franz Beckenbauer
Vladimir Gligorov, Yugoslavia

Beckenbauer, Platini, Cruyff, Best and Banks
Carole Orpe, USA

1.Johan Cruyff, 2.Gerd Mueller,3.Marco van Basten, 4.Rudi Voller, 5.Franz Beckenbauer
Dominic Chan, Singapore

Marco van Basten Michel Platini Johan Cruyff Franz Beckenbauer Bobby Charlton
Chris Boey, Malaysia

1. Marco van Basten 2. Johan Cruyff 3. Franz Beckenbauer 4. Michel Platini 5. Ruud Gullit
Yiannis Nikolaou, Greece

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