Creating a list of the best football players is a tough task because Italy consistently produces top talent year after year. When you think of best football players from Italy, you might picture its wine, sunshine, and delicious pizza, but football is a huge part of its identity too. The country has a rich football history and has given the world many of the greatest players ever. Italy is renowned for its football prowess, making it hard to narrow down the very best from such a storied tradition.
Here are the Top 5 Best Football Players from Italy:
5. Giuseppe Meazza
Giuseppe Meazza was so exceptional that Italy’s famous stadium is named after him, though it’s commonly called San Siro. He made most of his mark with Inter Milan, despite being rejected by Milan as a child. Inter signed him, and he became one of Serie A’s top strikers, winning three titles and three top scorer awards. Meazza also earned legendary status with the Italian national team. He is one of only three players to win two World Cups, claiming the Golden Ball in 1934 and captaining Italy to another win in 1938.
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4. Gianni Rivera
Nicknamed the ‘Golden Boy’, Rivera rose to fame early, scoring his first Milan goal at 17. He became an iconic number 10, leading Milan to three Serie A titles and two European Cups, and won the Ballon d’Or in 1969. Rivera’s talent also shone on the international stage. He debuted for Italy at 17, played in four World Cups, and scored the winner in the famous 1970 semi-final against Germany. He also won the 1968 European Championship, though he missed the final due to injury.
3. Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon is often listed among the greatest goalkeepers ever. He first impressed with Parma in 1995 and has won almost every major trophy except the Champions League. Juventus made him the most expensive goalkeeper in 2001 for €52 million, and he delivered with 12 Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year awards and 10 league titles. Buffon also won the Golden Glove in 2006 for keeping five clean sheets during Italy’s World Cup win. His long career, now with Parma in Serie B, is due to his ability to adapt his game, focusing on positioning and game-reading over time.
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2. Paolo Maldini
Paolo Maldini is one of the greatest defenders ever, known for his 25-year career with AC Milan. He started as a skillful left-back and later became a composed center-back. Maldini helped AC Milan win 25 trophies, including five European Cups and seven Serie A titles. He played until he was 41 and featured in four World Cups but never won a major tournament with Italy. Holding the record for most Serie A appearances by an outfield player, Maldini relied on timing and intelligence rather than physicality. As he famously said, “If I have to make a tackle, then I’ve already made a mistake.”
1. Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio is one of Italy’s greatest footballers, known for his creativity and skill as a trequartista. Nicknamed the ‘Divine Ponytail,’ his move from Fiorentina to Juventus in 1990 caused riots in Florence, but he went on to win the Ballon d’Or and several major titles with Juventus. Despite only winning two Serie A titles and missing a crucial penalty in the 1994 World Cup final, Baggio’s impact was immense. He remains Italy’s joint-fourth top scorer and was honored as the first inductee into the Italian Hall of Fame in 2011.
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