Both the UEFA European Championship and Copa America have kicked off this month, with 24 nations competing in Germany, while 16 are targeting glory in the United States.
But many notable players have missed out, either because their nation failed to qualify, or because they are injured, or because the manager simply did not favour them.
The good news is that, with the 2024/25 Premier League season around the corner and the fixtures already released, these players have an opportunity to recharge and focus on performing for their club.
Here are some of the stars who are having a restful summer and looking forward to August.
Erling Haaland (Man City)
The striker had another excellent season for Manchester City, claiming his second consecutive Premier League Golden Boot and champion's medal. But even though he scored six goals in eight qualification matches, Norway did not make it through to the Euro 2024 finals.
Haaland, who has netted twice on the opening weekend of each of his two Premier League seasons so far, will be hoping to hit the ground running again when City travel to Chelsea for their first fixture. He will aim to be in peak form before the home match against Arsenal in September.
Jack Grealish (Man City)
Grealish made the preliminary England squad, and it came as a shock to many when he failed to make the final cut having been a part of Man City's title-winning season.
The winger, who appeared 20 times in the league last season, will now aim to solidify his spot and remain fit throughout the campaign, having struggled with injuries in 2023/24. Pep Guardiola takes on his former assistant Enzo Maresca on the opening weekend, a fixture which ended 4-4 in November 2023.
Ederson (Man City)
Misfortune struck Man City's goalkeeper during the title run-in when he fractured his eye socket against Spurs, ruling him out of Brazil's squad.
He is now recovering and aiming to be available against Chelsea in Matchweek 1.
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Despite what seems like a match made in heaven - the creativity of Odegaard and Haaland's clinical finishing - Norway finished six points behind Group A runners-up Scotland and failed to qualify.
Arsenal captain Odegaard will be eager to lead his team in another title race, with hopes of finally overcoming Man City. The Gunners face Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and champions City among their first five matches - all teams they dropped points to last season.
Ben White (Arsenal)
The right-back was one of Arsenal's key players during their 2023/24 title challenge, playing 37 league matches, but he has not represented England since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
White will be fit and rested, intending to have another stellar season with the Gunners, who host Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening weekend - one of only two fixtures the defender made a substitute appearance in last season.
Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
Jesus struggled with injury last season and was unable to get back to his best form in time to make the cut for Brazil.
Spells in the treatment room have consistently held him back. The Brazilian has only once featured 30 times or more in a Premier League season, during the 2019/20 campaign when he was at Man City, and 13 of those appearance were as a substitute.
Jesus will be determined to be fully fit ahead of Arsenal's season opener against Wolves.
Matty Cash (Aston Villa)
Cash had a successful season with Villa but it ended with disappointment as a calf injury ruled him out of the final two Premier League matches and a place in Poland's Euro 2024 squad.
The right-back will be eager to make a strong start against West Ham United on the opening weekend, followed by a home encounter with Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.
James Maddison (Spurs)
The attacking midfielder was selected as part of England's provisional squad, but narrowly missed out due to Gareth Southgate's many options in the No 10 role.
Maddison will want to highlight his quality in midfield in his second season at Spurs, and a return to his former club Leicester City in their opening match may give him the additional motivation to do so.
Richarlison (Spurs)
The Spurs striker was Brazil's top scorer at the Qatar World Cup but he has missed out on the latest squad, with upcoming star Endrick being favoured instead of the 27-year-old.
Richarlison's season will start against Leicester, a club he has played against 12 times in the league but has yet to score against.
Dejan Kulusevski (Spurs)
Kulusevski had 11 Premier League goal involvements last campaign - one more than the previous season - but he is not at the Euros because Sweden failed to qualify for the competition for the first time since 1996.
Spurs had a good start to 2023/24, not losing a match until November's defeat by Chelsea. It will be a hard task to repeat that feat this season as they host north London rivals Arsenal in Matchweek 4 - a fixture they lost 3-2 in April.
Reece James (Chelsea)
James struggled for fitness throughout the 2023/24 campaign, only appearing in 10 league matches, and was overlooked by Southgate for England's squad.
The right-back will miss the first three matches of the new Premier League season after his red card against Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of the last campaign. His first appearance is likely to be at AFC Bournemouth - a fixture which ended 0-0 when Andoni Iraola's side last hosted Chelsea in September 2023.
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea)
Similarly to his full-back partner James, Chilwell was injured for the majority of last campaign, making only 13 appearances. The defender missed Chelsea's last seven matches due to a knee issue, but he is now eyeing the season opener against Man City.
Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
The Swedish striker had his best goalscoring season in senior football in 2023/24, netting 25 times in all competitions.
The Newcastle United forward will aim to pick up where he left off last season, and an opening home match against promoted Southampton gives him a great chance of making a fast start.
Marcus Rashford (Man Utd)
After a stellar 2022/23 campaign in which he scored 17 Premier League goals, Rashford was unable to replicate the same form last season as Manchester United finished eighth, before winning the FA Cup. As a result, Southgate favoured other attacking options who had a more successful campaign, such as Anthony Gordon.
Man Utd don't have to wait long to face rivals Liverpool, who travel to Old Trafford on 31 August. Their last encounter was a 2-2 end-to-end thriller during the run-in.
Casemiro (Man Utd)
The experienced midfielder was left out of Dorival Junior's squad after a difficult season at Man Utd. Although Casemiro has been capped 75 times by Brazil, the manager has opted for a youthful approach, with none of the midfielders selected being over 30 years old.
Casemiro will look to influence an improved campaign at Old Trafford, and Fulham present them with an early opportunity to avenge last season's 2-1 home defeat.
Harry Maguire (Man Utd)
Maguire's hopes of featuring at the Euros were dashed by a hamstring injury that kept him out of Man Utd's FA Cup final triumph against Man City.
The centre-back will want to regain his fitness and cement his place in Erik ten Hag's starting XI for the opening match at home to Fulham, a fixture he scored in - but ultimately lost - last season.
Evan Ferguson (Brighton)
The 19-year-old star featured for the Republic of Ireland during qualifiers where they struggled, only winning two matches out of eight - both against Gibraltar. Ferguson scored in each of those matches, but his country missed out on reaching their fourth European Championship.
Brighton will be hoping for a winning start under new head coach Fabian Hurzeler when they start the new campaign at Everton. Their last trip to Goodison Park ended in a 1-1 draw.
Pervis Estupinan (Brighton)
The left-back underwent surgery on his ankle after suffering an injury in a 1-1 draw against Burnley in April. Estupinan was ruled out of the Copa America and will also miss the beginning of the new campaign.
He will then hope to stay fit and available, having managed only 15 Premier League starts last season.
Dominic Solanke (AFC Bournemouth)
Despite scoring 19 Premier League goals last season, the most ever by a Bournemouth player in the competition, Solanke was overlooked by Southgate, who picked Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney as his strikers.
The Cherries will look to get off to a good start against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground to avoid their early-season struggles in 2023/24, when they waited until their 10th match for a win, beating Burnley 2-1.
