Welcome to #EuroRank, a weeklong look at the top 25 players we expect to see at the European Championship. Over 50 ESPN FC experts and writers from across the globe voted, and we're rolling out the results right up to opening day, when France plays Romania on June 10.
Why is Paul Pogba in the top 25?
This is the summer time when Pogba can confirm himself one of the best players on the planet as the leading player of the host nation. Tall and rangy, with rapid acceleration from midfield, he is also powerful as a defensive midfielder and coveted by every major club in the game. At Juventus, he has won four Serie A titles in a row and was a loser to Barcelona in the 2015 Champions League final. At the 2014 World Cup he was recognised by FIFA as the Best Young Player of the tournament after Les Bleus reached the last eight.
What the experts say about Pogba:
"I saw his interviews in which he said he wanted to become the best in the world and I am happy with that, because in my view he can be the best." -- Former Juventus manager Antonio Conte, August 2013.
"Maybe we are talking about Pogba a bit too much, but if he can keep up his current development he can become one of the best players ever. He is a combination of Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira." -- Zinedine Zidane, October 2014.
Career highlight:
After missing the previous two months because of a hamstring injury, Pogba returned to star for Juve in their Champions League semifinal second leg at Real Madrid, setting up Alvaro Morata's equaliser to make it 1-1 and send his club to the final.
Stat of the season:
Pogba, playing in a more advanced position, finished joint-top of the Serie A assists table with 12 alongside Miralem Pjanic.
What next for Pogba after Euro 2016?
Could this be the summer that he leaves Juventus after four glorious years? Starring at the Euros could push the asking price sky high.
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