Top 10 Best Italian Football Players – 2026 (Ranked)

Over the course of history, the European giant Italy has been a leading name in football. The southern and western country has given some magnificent players in the past, and continue to produce exceptional talent to mark their place amongst the best Italian football players. At present, Italian players are playing all around the globe, from the Premier League, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, to the Italian Serie A.

The Italian top flight remains one of the most competitive leagues in the world, and rightfully so; the talent that is being carved out in the league raises standards each year. Despite losing the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League Final, Inter Milan showcased immense dedication and dominance throughout the campaign, showing how good the Italian football scenario is.

From Nicolò Barella’s exceptional ball control and talent to Alessandro Bastoni’s tackling prowess and ball-playing ability. Italy is graced with some unique and extraordinary talents at the moment, which further strenghtens Italian football team at the international level. Join us as we take a look at some of the best Italian footballers of this generation.

List of Italy Best Football Players

As Gli Azzuri continue to dominate the scene, giving some of Italy best football players who have managed to secure a place in the top 10 list of best Italian football players courtesy of their 2025-26 campaign.

How did we rank the Best Italian Football Players in 2026?

While there is a flood of talent in Italy at the moment, there are some high-quality players from the pool that we have hand-picked to find the best Italian football player. We have considered various ranking factors on which these players have been judged and compared to rank them accordingly in our list of the best italian footballers.

• Performance Stats: Performance statistics of each player are our primary factor, our most important ranking factor. The number of goals scored, assists, clean sheets, and successful tackles, etc., have been taken into account while ranking the players.
• Consistency: Another key point in ranking these players is how consistently they are performing on the field. Avoiding or recovering from injuries in a quick time is a key asset for any player, and that must be considered while ranking players.
• Impact in Key Matches: A player is truly tested in high-quality matches, and if a player is able to deliver on the big stage, he is destined for greatness, and that makes him a standout player on whom his team can rely.

Note: All stats are taken from reliable sources like Sportsdunia, Transfermrkt and Opta analyst.

Who is the Best Italian Football Player in 2026?

As we have already given the list of the best Italian football players. Let us dive deep into the list and know why the players have been ranked in such a manner analysying their performances in the ongoing season for their club and country.

10. Moise Kean (Fiorentina)

At just 25, the prolific Italian striker Moise Kean has already played for a handful of clubs, such as Hellas Verona, Juventus, PSG, Everton and now at AFC Fiorentina. It seems he has finally settled down in Florence, bolstering the attack of La Viola. Last season, the talented forward bagged 19 goals along with 3 assists in 32 games in the Serie A, taking his goal tally to 25 across all competitions.

Kean's physicality, fast pace and explosiveness and agility make him a dangerous attacker. Earlier, during his spell at Juventus and the Merseyside club Everton have been frustrating for him. However, the way Moise has bounced back with Fiorentina is commendable. He is regarded as one of the most promising aspects of Italian football; it remains to be seen if he will be able to capitalise on it to salvage his side from the relegation zone.

9. Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah)

In July 2025, the Italian international Mateo Retegui became the latest sensation to move to the Saudi Pro League on a £56m deal from Atalanta. He put pen to paper on four year contrat with Al-Qadsiah in a shocking move, especially after finishing as top scorer in the 2024-25 Serie A season. He has gained the trust of Gennaro Gattuso after his extraordinary exploits with the Italy national football team and club performance.

Known for his clinical finishing, clever movements, and aerial abilities have made him a great addition and a first-choice striker for his country. In the recent European World Cup Qualifiers, the 26-year-old scored 5 goals and 4 assists in 8 appearances. The Argentine-born striker has been significantly impactful for his club in the SPL, with his prolific scoring 15 times in 23 appearances in all competitions.

8. Lorenzo Pellegrini (AS Roma)

The attacking midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini is known for his versatility across the midfield. He possesses excellent creativity and delivers extraordinary through balls; his intelligence and teachnicality provides AS Roma with the stability in the middle. Pellegrini is a huge asset for Roma; he is also a great player for his country and has made huge headlines for his dedicated ball control and big-match temperament.

This season, he has also given a leadership role as he consistently been delivering in the Italian league to achieve a top finish to secure a UEFA Champions League spot next season. One of the best Italian football players, the 29-year-old midfielder made 25 appearances in all competitions while netting 4 goals and a single assist to his name in the ongoing 2025-26 season.

7. Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal)

The Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori has emerged as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League this season. He has been trusted by Mikel Arteta for the defensive duties and build-ups makes him one of the most promising figures in the current Italian footballing scenario. Calafiori played more than 24 times for the Gunners and was involved in 4 goal contributions in all competitions.

The defender rose through the academy of AS Roma and later played for Genoa and Bologna in Italy before joining North London giants Arsenal. The 23-year-old has great potential to succeed in England, owing to his dynamism and technique. His pace, dribbling, and ability to make long runs forward are what make him one of the most promising talents, and one of the Italy best football players.

6. Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)

The Juventus skipper Manuel Locatelli, is our next pick for the best Italian football player. The defensive midfielder has established himself as an important pillar in the midfield for the Bianconeri in this 2025-26 season. Sitting deep as a number, Locatelli is dominating the charts in terms of progressive passes, buildups and in transitional play, his presence helps Juve to build attacks.

The 28-year-old midfielder has grown in confidence under Luciano Spalletti; his impact as a midfielder has been remarkable. He provides an extreme defensive prowess and aims to create great counter-attacking opportunities from the middle of the field. The ex-Sassualo man is enjoying his best campaign in the recent years in a commanding role, making 33 appearances altogether till now.

5. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United)

The former Milan star Sandro Tonali is another bright talent of Italian football who continues to be on the rise for his immense skills and is considered a maestro in midfield in the Premier League. The 25-year-old midfielder currently plays for Newcastle United and has become a key figure for the Magpies. He is known for his tireless energy, exquisite passing and solid defensive skills

Tonali has a great passing range and has the ability to make calculated runs forward to get into great positions to take aim at the goal. He is a complete midfielder who can also play as a central midfielder. The Italian international is lauded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, due to his versatility and tactical intelligence that enable him to control the midfield.

4. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan)

The 26-year-old centre back Alessandro Bastoni has already showcased his brilliance and defensive capabilities for several seasons with Inter Milan and the Italy national team. He ranks amongst the best defenders in the world currently, courtesy of his consistent performances over the years. He played a key role in Nerazzurri's 2024-25 Champions League campaign.

Bastoni's phenomenal modern-day centre back, regarded for his marking prowess, ball control, brilliant passing, and tactical flexibility make him a huge threat to the opposition. From setpieces, he is dangerous in aerial battles thanks to his towering height. This season, the defender remains one of the best Italian football players and will be keen to help Inter reclaim Serie A.

3. Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan)

There might be no one better in the midfield than Inter Milan star midfielder Nicolò Barella at the moment in the Italian top division. The 28-year-old has been making headlines for his impressive work rate and technical ability throughout the 2024-25 season, and his performances against huge teams like Barcelona and Bayern Munich have further proven this point.

Barella has been dropping consistent performances for both club and country. He is a box-to-box style player with exquisite passing ability make him an all-around asset for Nerazzurri. Additionally, he is a strong tackler and interceptor, disrupting various opposition attacks. With 30 outings and 7 goal contributions, it remains to be seen how his career trajectory unfolds ahead in the 2025-26 season.

2. Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan)

Over the years, Italy has been regarded for producing hard-hitting and formidable defenders. The Italian wide midfielder Federico Dimarco has garnered huge popularity for his extraordinary abilities showcased on the left side of defence for Inter Milan and the Italian national team. The 27-year-old has great attacking strength, making him a lethal defender for his side and hence generating exceptional crosses and set pieces.

Dimarco has been showcasing an immense work rate and athleticism. His attacking nature and ability to move forward with the ball are what make him a huge threat to defenders. This season, he has racked up an unbelievable figure of 14 assists and found the back of the net 6 times in just 23 league appearances. Federico stands second in the list of best Italian football players.

1. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)

There might be no argument in putting the Man City shot stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma at the top of the list. The amount of saves the 26-year-old has made in the previous made his team win the UEFA Champions League, and that alone might be enough to put him on top. However, his performance in the ongoing 2025-26 has not dipped at all, playing for Premier League club Man City under Pep Guardiola.

The Italian captain replaced Ederson in goal at Eithad Stadium, which itself is a remarkable task. Donnarumma is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, let alone being one of the best Italian football players. His shot-stopping ability, penalty saves and passing make him a vital cog in Manchester City's lineup. After leading the PSG to UEFA Champions League glory, he will be eager to claim some silverware in England.