Ronaldo, Maradona, Maldini: The 15 greatest Serie A players of all-time

There once was a time when Calcio was king.

The 1990’s were the golden age of Italian football. Serie A clubs won 13 European titles in that period, had six Ballon d’Or winners and paid out on six world record transfer fees.

Everybody who was somebody wanted to ply their trade on Italian shores. Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona, Marco Van Basten and the mighty Ronaldo are just a few examples of football’s finest that made the journey.

But who were the greatest? Check out our top 15 below:

15. Cristiano Ronaldo

He may have enjoyed his finest hour in the Spanish capital but Ronaldo’s time with Juventus can still be classed as a success. Over his three seasons with the club he helped the Old Lady to two league titles and three domestic cups, scoring no less than 101 goals in just 134 games.

14. Giorgio Chiellini

Having spent nearly his entire career with Juventus, Chiellini has earned himself quite the trophy cabinet. A nine-time Italian champion, he also boasts 10x domestic cup triumphs and a European Championship, in which he was voted the defender of the tournament.

More than anything though, the way he embodies the spirit of an Italian gladiator every time he steps onto the field is what he will best be remembered for.

13. Cafu

Widely regarded to be the greatest right-back of all-time, Cafu was a nothing short of a certainty for this list. The Brazilian won the Serie A with both Roma and Milan, the latter he also won the 2006/07 Champions League with.

On the international stage he remains to this day Brazil’s most capped player ever and has won two World Cups.

12. Fabio Cannavaro

Being the only defender ever to win the Ballon d’Or is an incredible achievement and it’s one of many impressive moments in the