10. Silvio Piola
Piola took the world of football by storm, setting numerous records on his way to the top of the list of Italian players who had done fabulously for the national team. He scored 2 goals at the finals of the 1938 FIFA World Cup, earning the winners medal. His record of 30 goals in 34 games would have surely been a lot more had the Second World War not put a break on his playing career.
09. Paolo Rossi
It is unfortunate that a player who was convicted for match-fixing should be on this list, however had it not been for Paolo Rossi and his 6 goal exploits at the 1982 World Cup, Italy would have never gotten the title. After ambling through the group stages, Rossi found his touch against the mighty Brazilians and scored a hat trick to help the team go past the most dangerous team in the history of football.
08. Paolo Maldini
One of the greatest left-backs to play in football, Maldini was truly a sign of strength for the Italian national team. The highest capped player failed to win the world cup despite reaching the finals in 1994. Perfect tackling, incredible speed and brilliant leadership signified everything the Maldini stood for.
07. Franco Baresi
If Maldini was a rock, then Baresi was the boulder in the centre of defence. A fantastic player & an even better leader, Baresi led Italy to the finals of the 1994 world cup tournament. Although he missed the first penalty to put the Italians under pressure, there is little doubt that he will always remain one of the best centre-backs to play in world football.
06. Fabio Cannavaro
He wasn’t technically as good as Paolo Maldini but Cannavaro had the ability to put together a fantastic team, under Marcello Lippi, which went on to win the 2006 World Cup through sheer hard work and dedication. Although at the fag-end of his career, Cannavaro did what the likes of Baresi and Maldini couldn’t and got his hands around the most coveted trophy in the world.
05. Giacinto Facchetti
With 94 caps, Facchetti had worn the Italian jersey the most times, until Dino Zoff, Paolo Maldini & Fabio Cannavaro overtook him. He captained the team 70 times, including to the 1970 world cup finals when the Italians finished second to Brazil. He helped Italy win the 1968 European Champions and was also a part of the team that went for the 1974 world cup. With fantastic vision and incredible leadership skills, Facchetti was truly a magnificent player and champion of football.
04. Roberto Baggio
He was best remembered for missing the final penalty at the 1994 FIFA World Cup finals, against Brazil. However, Roberto Baggio was anything but that! He broke into the scene with a fantastic goal against Czechoslovakia and was ranked as one of the best players in the world. He played for all the big names in Italian football, famously causing a three-day riot in Florence upon leaving Fiorentina for Juventus.
03. Dino Zoff
At 42, he is the oldest player to win the world cup and also the first goalkeeper to captain his side to the title. He was part of a team that struggled against the biggest odds, controversies and troubles, to go on and win the world cup proved that Zoff was one of the great leaders of the modern game.
02. Luigi Riva
He was called the Roar of Thunder because every time the Italian took the ball, he looked like he would score. With an incredible heading ability and a powerful & accurate left-foot, Riva was one of the best strikers the game has ever seen. It is no wonder that this wonderful player took Italy to the European Championship title as well as 4-1 loss to Brazil in the 1970 World Cup finals. Riva ended as the highest scorer in the Italian national team, with 35 goals in 42 games.
01. Giuseppe Meazza
With 33 goals, Meazza is the second highest scorer for the Italian national team, although his game was more about the other aspects as well. Despite beginning his career as an out-n-out striker, Meazza ended up as a midfielder and that lowered his scoring rate. At the age of 17, Meazza made his debut for the national team, an unheard of phenomenon at the time. He scored twice on debut and never looked back since. He helped Italy to two back-to-back titles in 1934 and 1938, becoming the first and, till date, only one of two Europeans to have won a world cup trophy twice. Truly one of the greatest Italians to play the game, Meazza has always led the way for the Azurri faithful.