Best Italian Soccer Players Of All Time
When it comes to football, there have only been a handful more successful international teams on the global stage than Italy. The national side has won the FIFA World Cup on four occasions, and has been losing finalists on two further occasions.
Also at the EUROs, Italy have been crowned champions on two occasions which is why there is little surprise that some of the brightest players in the history of the game have been of Italian descent. But, which players rank among the best Italian soccer players of all-time?
That is exactly what we will be covering in this blog post, in no particular order.
The Best Italian Soccer Players of All Time
Paolo Maldini
Largely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all-time, Paolo Maldini was a key star for a prolonged period of success for AC Milan, one of the most famous Italian soccer teams. Maldini played at either left-back or center-back during his 25-season stay in Serie A with the Rossoneri.
He made his professional debut for the club in 1984, and he would play over 900 times for Milan. During his time at the San Siro, Maldini would feature heavily in success on the field, winning the Serie A title on seven occasions and the UEFA Champions League five times.
Such was his presence; Milan retired his number three jersey when Maldini called time on his career. At international level, Maldini represented Italy 126 times, and held the overall caps record when he announced his retirement.
However, even with his elite skills and leadership, the defender was never able to win a tournament with the national team, losing in the 1994 World Cup and EURO 2000 finals.
Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio is considered to be one of the best technicians to have ever played in Italy. The forward could play in the second striker or attacking midfield positions, and his technical ability in terms of creating chances and taking free kicks was lauded among the best.
In a 1999 FIFA Player of the Century poll, he ranked third, and he was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 1993. Baggio made 56 appearances for the national team, and featured in teams that finished third and second in the respective 1990 and 1994 World Cup.
At club level, Baggio became the first Italian in over half a century to reach 300 career goals. Baggio’s best success at club level came during a five-year stint with Juventus, winning the Serie A title on two occasions and the UEFA Cup.
Giuseppe Meazza
The legendary San Siro is named in honor of Giuseppe Meazza, who is still regarded as one of the finest Italian players to have played the game. Meazza played for the majority of his career at Inter Milan during the 1930s, scoring a staggering 284 goals in 408 appearances.
During his time at Inter, he would win the Serie A title on three occasions. After success at Inter, he joined arch-rivals AC Milan, before spells with Juventus and Atalanta.
Meazza still remains a key player in Italian soccer, as he is one of just four players from the nation to have won the World Cup on two occasions. His prolific scoring record saw him net 33 goals in 53 appearances at international level, and he remains the fourth-highest all-time scorer in Serie A history.
Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon is widely regarded as the world’s greatest ever goalkeeper. His ability to stay at the top of the sport for a staggering period was reflected when he retired from the game having played over 1,100 professional matches.
Buffon also holds the record for the most appearances in Serie A history. In his debut season in 1995, the goalkeeper helped Parma win the Coppa Italia, before further success was achieved in the UEFA Cup and Supercoppa Italiana in 1999.
Buffon joined Juventus for a club-record fee for a goalkeeper in 2001 and would achieve prolonged success in Turin after winning the Serie A title on nine occasions across two spells. The Italian would also win the Ligue 1 title during one season with PSG.
Buffon is the most capped goalkeeper of all-time, and also holds the appearance record for the national team. His only major success at international level came after winning the 2006 World Cup. His son is also a football player and he has been called to the national team… of Czechia (due to Buffon’s wife nationality).
Franco Baresi
Franco Baresi was a pioneering figure for AC Milan throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The central defender is widely considered to be one of the best defenders of all-time, and he ranked 19th in an all-time list of the 100 Greatest Players by World Soccer.
Baresi spent the entirety of his 20-year playing career with AC Milan, winning the Champions League three times, and the Serie A title on six occasions. Baresi would achieve further success on the international stage, forming a key part of the 1982 World Cup-winning team.
The central defender also played in the 1990 World Cup, and was Italy’s captain for the nation’s runner-up finish at the 1994 World Cup. Baresi also reached the semi-finals in the EUROs in 1980 and 1984. His legacy at club level was mirrored following his retirement when Milan retired his iconic number six jersey.
Summary
There has been no shortage of Italian legends in soccer throughout history, with each leaving their mark on the sport after retiring.
Legacies have helped shape the future of the sport within Serie A and further afield, with stars such as Maldini, Baresi, and Buffon being regarded as role-models for some of the most notable stars in the world of soccer to this day.
Their trail-blazing success at home and abroad has set the bar for future generations of Italian players, and it has been something that to this point, many teams have failed to live up to.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times have Italy won the World Cup?
Italy has won the World Cup on four previous occasions- 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006.
Which Italian player has won the most Champions League titles?
Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta hold the records for the most Champions League titles won by an Italian player. Both stars won the competition on five occasions with AC Milan between 1989 and 2007.
Has an Italian player ever won the Ballon d’Or?
Five Italian players have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or. Omar Sivori became the first Italian winner in 1961, before Gianni Rivera (1969), Paolo Rossi (1982), Roberto Baggio (1993), and Fabio Cannavaro (2006) matched the feat.
