Complete Guide to Italian Football Players: Profiles, Stats, Transfers, Injuries & Net Worth

Italy holds a special place for all football lovers in a world where defense is celebrated more than attack. They have some of the most passionate players out there who wear their hearts on their sleeves. The best Italian football players are legends of the game and enjoy much fanfare whenever they go to their clubs after their illustrious careers. Therefore, Sportsdunia presents you with a dedicated page for Italian football players who play the beautiful game. It features bios of some of the best Italian football players and contains information about their stats, transfers, injuries, and net worth. So dive deeper to know the rich Italian football history and heritage.

Italian Football Players: All Features

There were many famous Italian football players like Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Francesco Totti, and many more. With all the rich history they shared, this page gives you an understanding of the current football players who ply their trade in various leagues. With multiple features on the Italian football players page, here are some insights into the webpage dedicated to the footballers from Italy. Here are some of the features:

  • Player bios - There are player bios where fans can check out their favorite football players and all the information related to them.
  • Basic info - Basic information about football players includes their age, preferred foot, position, etc.
  • Injuries - Injury concerns remain a problem for all football players, and you can find the latest updates from this section.
  • Stats - Most footballers are judged on their stats, and fans can judge them by exploring the Sportsdunia stats section.
  • Transfers - Transfer timeline and history remain another key feature in the Italian football section.
  • Filter sections - Getting to know the best players from various leagues, the filter option can help you focus on the Italian football players.

Famous Italian Football Players: Men

With four World Cups to their name, the best Italian football players are plentiful, and most of them are the best in their position. Think of Italian legends like Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, or Alessandro Del Piero. These players captured the hearts and minds of football fans with their incredible talent and humility. Hence, with Italy home to some of the world's finest football players, we explore some of the famous Italian football players who have stepped foot on the turf.

Player NamePositionMajor ClubsYears Active / EraKey / Notable AchievementsTotal Appearances
Paolo MaldiniDefenderAC Milan1985–20095× Champions League, 7× Serie A, Italy captain1,028+
Roberto BaggioForwardFiorentina, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter1982–20041993 Ballon d'Or, 1994 World Cup runner-up643+
Francesco TottiForwardAS Roma1992–20172006 World Cup winner, Serie A one-club legend, 1× Serie A785
Alessandro Del PieroForwardJuventus1991–20142006 World Cup winner, Juventus record scorer900+
Gianluigi BuffonGoalkeeperParma, Juventus, PSG1995–20232006 World Cup winner, most Serie A appearances1,150+
Andrea PirloMidfielderInter, AC Milan, Juventus1995–20172006 World Cup winner, Champions League titles756
Franco BaresiDefenderAC Milan1977–19973× Champions League, 6× Serie A, Italy legend719
Dino ZoffGoalkeeperNapoli, Juventus1964–19831982 World Cup-winning captain, longest unbeaten streak642
Fabio CannavaroDefenderJuventus, Real Madrid, Napoli1991–20112006 World Cup, 2× La Liga595+
Giuseppe MeazzaForwardInter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus1927–19472× World Cup winner (1934, 1938), Serie A legend500+

Famous Italian Football Players: Women

The women's game can't be discredited when talking about the best Italian football players. With the attendance numbers increasing game by game, the women’s game deserves a mention. They have made inroads in major tournaments like the World Cups and Euros to give them a platform to perform. Hence, fans love to see women’s football, and teams like the USA, England, and Italy boast some major football players. Therefore, we look at the Top 10 best Italian football players to play women’s football. 

Player NamePositionMajor ClubsYears Active / EraKey / Notable AchievementsAppearances
Carolina MoraceForwardLazio, AC Milan Women1978–1997Italy’s record scorer, 105 goals in 153 caps, pioneer coach500+
Patrizia PanicoForwardLazio, Torino, Fiorentina1986–2016Italy’s most-capped woman (204 caps), 110 international goals600+
Melania GabbiadiniForwardVerona Women2000–201750+ international goals, multiple Serie A titles500+
Sara GamaDefenderBrescia, Juventus Women2006–PresentItaly captain, Serie A champion with Juventus, UEFA ambassador400+
Barbara BonanseaForwardBrescia, Juventus Women2007–PresentKey scorer for Italy at 2019 World Cup, Serie A titles300+
Elena LinariDefenderFiorentina, Atlético Madrid, Roma2011–PresentChampions League semi-finalist, Serie A champion250+
Katia SerraMidfielderBologna, Lazio Women1986–2002Early Italian women’s football icon, later TV commentator400+
Cristiana GirelliForwardBrescia, Juventus Women2005–PresentOver 50 international goals, Serie A top scorer multiple times350+
Daniela SabatinoForwardBrescia, Fiorentina, Sassuolo2002–PresentConsistent Serie A goal-scorer, Italy international striker400+
Manuela GiuglianoMidfielderRoma Women2013–PresentKey playmaker for Italy, Serie A title with Roma250+

Top 5 Best Italian Strikers

Most people believe the best Italian football players are defenders. Yet, fans can’t sleep on the Italian strikers. Throughout the past few years, the country has seen a dip in Italian strikers, and the national team has suffered due to the lack of a pure No. 9. Yet, there are some up-and-coming strikers right now in the Serie A and other leagues elsewhere. We take a look at the top 5 best Italian strikers right now. Please note that the goals and assists are compiled for the 2024-25 football season.

Player NameCurrent ClubKey / Notable AchievementsGoalsAssists
Gianluca ScamaccaAtalantaUEFA Europa League (2023/24)197
Mateo ReteguiAl QadasiyaLiga Profesional (2017/18)289
Moise KeanFiorentinaSerie A (2016/17, 2018/19), Coppa Italia (2016/17, 2023/24), Coupe de France (2020/21)253
Giacomo RaspadoriAtletico MadridSerie A (2022/23, 2024/25)62
Lorenzo LuccaNapoliRising talent141

Top 5 Best Italian Midfielders

Italian midfielders continue to excite fans with their calm and composed game style, controlling the tempo and smashing the ball into the back of the net. But there is another side to Italian midfielders who are aggressive and combative and play the game out of pure passion. They have some elegant midfielders like Andrea Pirlo and mentality monsters like Gennaro Gattuso. Here, we look at the Top five Italian midfielders in the game right now using stats from the 2024-25 season and per 90.

Player NameCurrent ClubGoalsAssistsInterceptions
Nicolò BarellaInter Milan390.43
Sandro TonaliNewcastle United631.16
Lorenzo PellegriniRoma320.33
Davide FrattesiInter Milan710.38
Nicolò RovellaLazio041.55

Top 5 Best Italian Defenders

Defense and Italy go hand in hand. Some Italian defenders are the world’s best and probably make it to the All-time football 11. Players like Baresi and Maldini are stalwarts at the back, and opposition players find it hard to break them down. Hence, Italian defenders are known for their positioning, tackling ability, and aerial prowess. We look at the Top 5 Italian defenders in the game right now, according to the 2024-25 season and per 90.

Player NameCurrent ClubClean SheetsInterceptionsTackles Won
Alessandro BastoniInter Milan140.820.89
Destiny UdogieTottenham Hotspur41.032.19
Giovanni Di LorenzoNapoli180.841.19
Federico GattiJuventus130.740.94
Federico DimarcoInter Milan130.570.57

Top 5 Best Italian Goalkeepers

Another position in Italy that earns respect is goalkeeping. Some consider them some of the best Italian football players in the world. For a long time, Buffon dominated the goalkeeping position in Italy, but Gianluigi Donnarumma took up the mantle of a solid Italian goalkeeper. Italian goalkeepers are physically massive, communicate well, and organise defences to perfection. Hence, we are currently exploring the Top 5 Italian goalkeepers, according to the 2024-25 season and per 90. 

Player NameCurrent ClubClean SheetsSaves per 90Goals Conceded per 90
Gianluigi DonnarummaParis Saint-Germain42.191.08
Alex MeretNapoli161.830.75
Marco CarnesecchiAtalanta132.881.00
Guglielmo VicarioTottenham Hotspur42.831.54
Michele Di GregorioJuventus142.180.97