Welcome to another episode of talking sports on Kramportal. Today, we’re going to be ranking the 10 greatest AC Milan players of all time.
AC Milan is one of the most famous and successful football clubs in the world. While other Italian teams like Juventus and Inter Milan might have more trophies, Milan is arguably the most iconic and beloved because of the world superstars that have played for the club.
10 Greatest AC Milan Players of all Time
10) Filippo Inzaghi
At number 10 is Milan’s greatest clutch goal scorer, the superb Filippo Inzaghi. Inzaghi became a star in Italy first with Atalanta and then with Juventus. After falling out with Del Piero, Milan signed the 29-year-old Inzaghi.
In his second season, he helped them win a Champions League trophy. In 10 years, he played 300 games and scored 126 goals for Milan. Inzaghi was known for his last-minute goals, including scoring both goals in Milan’s Champions League win in 2007.
9) Ruud Gullit
Next on this list is the famous Dutch midfielder, Ruud Gullit. He was already a superstar for the Netherlands when Milan signed him at 25 for a world record fee.
Gullit helped Milan win the Serie A title in his debut season, playing as an attacking midfielder. That season, he won the FIFA World Player of the Year award. He went on to help win back-to-back European titles, playing an integral role in the midfield.
Gullit was such a special player because of his versatility, athleticism, strength, speed, and technique, allowing him to excel in both defensive and attacking midfield roles.
8) Kaka
The number eight(8) best AC Milan player of all time is the last world-class superstar who led Milan to glory, the Brazilian Kaka. Milan’s Kaka was a 21-year-old unknown from São Paulo, and he was an instant hit, scoring 10 goals in his first season and winning the Serie A Player of the Year award.
A few seasons later, he would lead Milan to Champions League glory, scoring 10 goals in the tournament and winning the Ballon d’Or that year. In six seasons, he played 270 games, scoring 95 goals. Kaka was Milan’s creative force and cemented himself as one of the greatest midfielders of the 21st century.
7) Andrea Pirlo
Italy’s finest midfielders, Andrea Pirlo, Known for his vision, ball control, technique, creativity, passing, and free-kick ability is number seven(7) best AC Milan best player of all time.
Milan signed Pirlo as a 22-year-old and he spent 10 years at the club, making 401 appearances, scoring 41 goals. As a deep-lying playmaker, he was at the heart of Milan’s midfield, helping them win two Champions League titles.
Pirlo was known for his elegance; he didn’t rely on physical attributes but used his composure and balance to control the game, bringing a unique style Italy had never seen before.
6) Andriy Shevchenko
At number six, we have Andriy Shevchenko, the legendary striker Milan signed in 1999 for a record fee of €25 million. Expectations were high, but he delivered, becoming an instant goal machine, winning the Serie A top scorer award in his first season.
In seven seasons, he made 296 appearances, scoring 173 goals, and won both a Serie A title and a Champions League title. Shevchenko was a fan favorite due to his clinical finishing and ability to score crucial goals.
5) Gunnar Nordahl
Many might not know him, but Gunnar Nordahl helped put Milan on the map. Nordahl was a goal machine, spending seven seasons with Milan, playing 257 games, and scoring 210 goals.
To this day, he remains Milan’s all-time top scorer and third-highest goal scorer in Italian League’s history. So, for maintaining his record as Milan’s top scorer, even up to this day, he earns the number five spot on this list.
4) Gianni Rivera
Gianni Rivera who was a key player for the Italian team helped AC Milan win two Serie A titles and two European titles in the 1960s. Rivera spent the majority of his career at Milan, making 51 appearances, scoring 122 goals.
Regarded as Italy’s greatest ever midfielder, he was known for his intelligence, passing, leadership, and technical ability. Rivera was also the first Italian player to win the Ballon d’Or, an achievement he earned while playing for Milan in 1969.
3) Marco van Basten
Dutch legend Marco van Basten surely has to be on this list. Had he not been forced to retire at the age of 28 due to injuries, he would have easily gone down as Milan’s greatest ever player.
Van Basten was already a world-class player at Ajax, where he had scored 128 goals in just 133 games. So, Milan signed him instantly. In six seasons for Milan, he won three Ballon d’Or awards, four Italian League titles, and two Champions League trophies, and it was all done by the age of 26.
He was known for his pure talent. Van Basten remains one of the most technically gifted players in Milan’s history. In his short career, limitations put him on third on my list.
2) Franco Baresi
At top two is the legendary center-back Franco Baresi. He joined Milan at the age of 12 and made his senior debut at 17. He spent 20 years at the club, making 532 appearances and becoming a Milan icon.
Baresi was a sweeper defender, similar to Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer, known for his power, elegance, and physical and mental attributes. He had pace, strength, tenacity, and stamina, and he won the Serie A title six times and the Champions League three times. Baresi’s laws and defensive excellence secure him second on my list.
1) Paolo Maldini
Finally, we come to number one. It’s the one and only Paolo Maldini. Mr. AC Milan.
Now, Milan fans thought they had seen their best ever defender with Baresi, but what they never knew was that his understudy Maldini, who made his debut six years after Baresi, would go on to become even more legendary.
Born and raised in Milan, Maldini came through the youth ranks and spent 25 years in the senior team, making a total of 647 appearances.
He won seven Serie A titles and five Champions League trophies. Maldini started as a left-back, then transitioned to a center-back, excelling in both positions. He was known for his technical ability, athleticism, tackling, stamina, and composure on the ball. Maldini is rightfully Milan’s greatest player.
So that was the list of the top 10 greatest AC Milan players of all time. What do you think about this list? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
Thanks for reading. See you on the next article.