'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Giorgio Chiellini
A man whose passion for the game is unmatched. The adrenaline rush he gets from defending just helps him enjoy the game so much that even the armband does not exert enough pressure. Giorgio Chiellini has been an excellent servant to Serie A giants Juventus and deserves to captain the club he loves.
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The Italian has also been his country's captain for three years now. A captain like him ensures that the team competes at the highest level and gives its best when the odds are stacked up against them. His body language has always been positive and he has always faced the toughest of challenges with a smile.
The veteran centre-back was declared permanent captain only in 2018 for both club and country after the retirement of Gianluigi Buffon. But before that as well, Chiellini led Juventus in important clashes. He captained the team to the 2014 Coppa Italia final win against Lazio and even got on the scoresheet.
In 2016, he again wore the captain's armband in the Coppa Italia Final against Milan as the team came out victorious. In doing so, he helped Juventus become the first Italian club ever to win consecutive domestic doubles.
His most recent exploits as Italian captain will be remembered for the longest time. The composed and joyous nature of Chiellini helped Italy lift the Euro 2020 trophy in enemy territory at Wembley, England.
#2 Sergio Ramos
A natural leader who will wage war on the field and play dirty if that's the need of the hour, Sergio Ramos is one of the best captains in modern football. Currently at PSG, the Spaniard isn't fit to feature regularly and is not the proud bearer of the captain's armband but he will always be Real Madrid's 'captain fantastic'.
In 2012, Ramos showcased that he was fit to take over from Iker Casillas as the long-term captain of Los Blancos. He guided Real to back-to-back victories against Barcelona and the Madrid fanbase were relieved that the born leader was among their ranks.
Under the colossal defender's captaincy, Real Madrid registered a 10-2 win in La Liga 2015 against Rayo Vallecano, their biggest win in 55 years. As captain, he lifted his first Champions League trophy in 2016 and was also named man of the match in the final against Atletico Madrid. Ramos is also the only captain to lead a club to back-to-back European Cups since the UEFA Champions League began.
The centre-back scored an incredible 101 goals for Real Madrid in his 16 seasons with the club. He is known for being vocal, aggressive, extremely involved in action, even from the sidelines and stands at times. Los Blancos couldn't have asked for a better captain.
#1 Gianluigi Buffon
Wait a minute? You thought the mighty Gianluigi Buffon had retired from the sport? Absolutely rubbish. He adores the game that has given him so much and the emotional goalkeeper plays for his boyhood club and Serie B side Parma these days. Of course he wears the captain's armband, duh!
After Alessandro Del Piero's departure, the Italian was given the opportunity to lead the Old Lady in 2012. In his very first season as captain, he lifted the Serie A trophy. The following year, Juventus retained the title, and Buffon conceded just 19 goals in 38 games in the Italian top-flight.
However, he left his biggest footprint in European football by guiding Italy to an almost improbable and unexpected 2006 World Cup victory. Despite the aging group, Buffon led them to a victory no one saw coming. In his senior club career, the mighty Italian has made 947 appearances so far.
Spanish legend Iker Casillas said about his Italian counterpart:
"He is a benchmark for me, and for every keeper of my generation. When I started playing, I had a dream, I dreamed of becoming like him."
The Italian legend was unlucky not to win the Champions League despite reaching three Champions League finals.
