#3 Paolo Maldini - Tennis
As a footballer, he was a winner. With 5 Champions League titles under his name, Paolo Maldini is one of the most decorated players in the history of the game. Not only was he successful as a footballer, he was also a one-club man – a trait that is almost as extinct as dinosaurs these days.
Frequently regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, Maldini wasn’t just restrained to the confinements of football. Indeed, the legendary Italian is a tennis aficionado and actually made his professional tennis debut at the age of 49, playing a doubles match in the first round of the Aspria Tennis Cupin Milan, but lost his first ever game in straight sets – and subsequently retired.
After the loss, the 49-year-old joked: "It was like writing a poem after studying years of maths. We tried to enjoy the moment, because I didn't expect I'd be able to experience something like this at the age of 49. Ironically, on the very first point of the match I pulled a muscle.”
Seems like the legendary Milan man was not only an outstanding player, but also has a great sense of humour.
