The European Championship has been a celebration of the continent's footballing prowess since 1960. Alongside the fierce competition and memorable moments on the pitch, the mascots have become a symbol of the tournament's spirit, engaging fans and adding a layer of charm and identity to each edition.
With Euro 2024 now just months away and excitement slowly building, we have decided to rank our favourite European Championship mascots since 1980, when Italy introduced the concept…
We've ordered this list based on the mascots' suitability for each tournament, the amount of creativity involved and their overall legacy as iconic tournament symbols.
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ByStephan GeorgiouJun 11, 2024
2024
Albärt
Germany
2020
Skillzy
Pan-European
2016
Super Victor
France
2012
Slavek and Slavko
Poland and Ukraine
2008
Trix and Flix
Austria and Switzerland
2004
Kinas
Portugal
2000
Benelucky
Belgium and Netherlands
1996
Goaliath
England
1992
Rabbit
Sweden
1988
Berni
West Germany
1984
Peno
France
1980
Pinnochio
Italy
12 Skillzy Euro 2020
Skillzy, the mascot for Euro 2020, which was held in 2021 due to the pandemic, represents a modern take on football culture, embodying street football and freestyling skills.
However, it looks like very minimal effort was put into the design of the mascot, as it's literally just a human wearing a Euro 2020 outfit with bigger eyes than normal. That's literally it.
11 Super Victor Euro 2016
Super Victor, the superhero-themed mascot for Euro 2016 in France, aimed to inspire young fans with its depiction of dreams and aspirations. However, if anything, it looks like the type of mascot that would scare kids, with its glazed eyes and strange eyebrows.
Similar to Skillzy, it's just a regular person in an average superhero costume.
10 Goaliath Euro 1996
For Euro 1996 in England, the mascot was Goaliath, a lion wearing an England kit, symbolising the host nation's football heritage and the emblematic English lion.
The design was quite neat and simple, which some people certainly enjoyed, but we feel as if mascots need to be a bit more crazy and out there if you want to feature near the top of this list.
9 Kinas Euro 2004
For Euro 2004 in Portugal, Kinas, dressed in the national team's colours and symbols, showcased Portuguese pride. Its name is a nod to the Portuguese word for "cinema".
The mascot appears to resemble a man crossed with a cat, which is fairly strange.
8 Slavek and Slavko Euro 2012
The twin mascots for Euro 2012, held in Poland and Ukraine, Slavek and Slavko, were designed to reflect the colours and national football kits of the host nations. Their natural poses and friendly appearances endeared them to fans, especially children, placing them in the middle of our list.
However, they clearly didn't bring any luck, as both Poland and Ukraine were knocked out in the group stages.
7 Peno Euro 1984
The mascot for Euro 1984 in France was Peno, a rooster, which is a national symbol of France representing pride and courage. Its design was relatively simple but effectively captured the spirit of the tournament and the host country's cultural identity.
It could rank higher, but it perhaps lacks the imagination of the others to place among the more memorable efforts.
6 Rabbit Euro 1992
The unnamed rabbit mascot for Euro 1992 in Sweden, while less iconic than some of its predecessors, still managed to capture the essence of fun and sportsmanship. Its approachable design and appeal to children secure its mid-ranking position.
This would have ranked higher, but the lack of a name automatically makes it less iconic. We have to frown upon the copycat effort from its immediate predecessor, so a bit more invention wouldn't have gone amiss.
5 Trix and Flix Euro 2008
Representing Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, Trix and Flix were designed with a more animated, dynamic look, donning the tournament's official colours.
One of the reasons we've ranked them highly is their appeal to younger audiences and their ability to convey the excitement of football. Everything you want in a mascot, twice.
4 Albärt Euro 2024
Albärt, the football-loving bear, is Germany’s effort for the upcoming European Championships. And we have to say this is pretty good, as mascots go. Animals are simply better, while it’s hard to deny Albärt is super cute, and youngsters will be queueing up to give him a hug before kick-off.
His legacy is of course still unknown, but the look is on point and Euros fever is rising, so he could yet become one of the more memorable mascots in recent tournaments.
3 Pinnochio Euro 1980
As you can see, Pinnochio ended up winning a mascot poll on the Euro 2024 X page, and although we don't believe he's the best, we feel he deserves a spot in the top three.
For the 1980 tournament held in Italy, Pinocchio, the wooden puppet from Italian folklore who dreams of becoming a real boy, was chosen as the mascot. This choice was deeply rooted in Italian culture, making Pinocchio an instant hit and a symbol of the tournament's national pride. His iconic status and cultural resonance earn him a top spot in our rankings.
