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#2 Paolo Maldini
AC Milan's answer to Giacinto Facchetti, Maldini was the ultimate professional throughout his career which lasted a quarter of a century, and would surely have been atop this list but for the unfortunate fact that he did not get to win a title in the colours of Italy.
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Maldini made his AC Milan debut in 1985 at the tender age of 17 and went on performing at a world-class level until his retirement at the age of 41.
'Il Capitano' (The Captain) broke into a Milan team which had world class players across all ranks, including Marco Van Basten, Franco Baresi, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Carlo Ancelotti, Mauro Tasotti etc, but the teenaged Maldini was unfazed and held his own. He cemented his place in the starting line up and was an instrumental part in all Milan's success.
Primarily deployed as a left-back, Maldini was a part of an All-Italian defensive set up, forming one of the greatest defensive units in footballing history. Alongside greats like Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti, Maldini helped AC Milan conquer Europe and Italy under Arrigo Sacchi.
Success continued for Maldini and Milan under Sacchi's replacement; Fabio Capello, winning numerous league and continental titles, including going a league record 58 games unbeaten and appearing in three consecutive Champions League finals.
Maldini was named AC Milan's captain in 1997 upon Franco Baresi's retirement and he led the club for the next decade into more success and glory.
After the retirements of Baresi and Tassotti, Maldini formed a new defensive partnership with Alessandro Nesta, and along with Cafu and Costacurtta, he captained Milan to victory in the 2003 Champions League final over Juventus exactly 40 years after his father Cesare Maldini had captained the Rossoneri to its first European crown in 1963.
He retired from AC Milan in 2007, at the age of 41 after 25 years of elite performance at the top-level and had his jersey number 3 retired in honor of all his accomplishments with the club (to be brought out of retirement only in the eventuality of one of his sons playing for the Milan first team).
His 25-year career with AC Milan brought about 25 trophies, including 7 Serie A titles and 5 Champions League crowns.
Maldini made his Italian national team debut in 1988 aged 19 and went on to become a mainstay in the Azzurri for the next 14 years, making a total of 126 caps (which was the national record at the time of his retirement, since overtaken by only Cannavaro and Buffon).
He represented Italy at all seven international tournaments between 1988 and 2002 bar EURO 1992 (which Italy did not qualify for) and was voted into the teams of the tournament at the World Cups of 1990 and 1994 as well as the EURO Championships of 1988, 1996 and 2000.
Maldini particularly put in a strong performance at the 1990 World Cup held on home soil. There, he together with club teammate Franco Baresi and Guiseppe Bergomi, kept a World Cup record of five consecutive matches and 518 minutes without conceding a goal in Italy's eventual third place finish.
He deputized impressively as captain in place of the injured Baresi four years later at the 1994 World Cup, marshalling the Italian defence in the absence of key defenders Tassotti, Costacurta and Baresi, all the way to the final where they lost to Brazil on penalties.
Maldini was appointed Italy captain in 1994 following Franco Baresi's international retirement in 1994 and went on to skipper his country for the next 8 years a total of 74 times (which was a record until it was overtaken by Cannavaro and later Buffon).
Famed for his strength, efficiency, game reading, anticipation and dominance in the air, Paolo was an extremely versatile defender who could play anywhere across the back. He was regularly played as a left-back, despite being naturally right-footed due to his tactical versatility and ability with both feet. He was also adept at ball recovery and playing out from the back and was often deployed as a sweeper.
His longevity at the highest level of football marked him apart for greatness and he is one of only 18 players to have made over 1,000 career appearances. His extreme professionalism and a strong sense of leadership also earned him the trust and respect of opposing players and fans.
Maldini won numerous personal accolades over his career, including being named into Pele's FIFA 100 in 2004, finishing second in the FIFA World Best award in 1995 and third at the Ballon d'Ors of 1994 and 2003. He was voted into the World Cup and EURO All-Time greatest teams, as well as numerous other awards during his distinguished career.
He was elected into the Italian Hall of Fame in 2012 and is also a member of the AC Milan Hall of Fame. He set and holds numerous records, including: Most appearances in European competition (168), Most total minutes in World Cup history (2216), most Serie A appearances (647), Fastest Champions League final goal (50 seconds), oldest player to score in a Champions League final and the highest number of appearances in AC Milan's history (902) among others.
