8. Paul Gascoigne – 1990
Gazza may have only appeared at one tournament, but from his resplendent performance against Holland in the group stage, to his tears at the semi final, the big from Newcastle encapsulated the joy, drama, passion and excitement from Italia 90 and kick started the revival in football’s fortunes back home. Criminally missed out in 1994 and tragically missed out of the tournament in France fours years later; it says a lot about his contribution on the basis of just one tournament.