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#3 Fabio Cannavaro
One of three defenders to have won the Ballon d'Or, Fabio Cannavaro enjoyed a storied career at the very top.
An intelligent centre-back, Cannavaro was a physically and technically gifted player who excelled for both club and country. In 2006, Cannavaro captained Italy to victory in the FIFA World Cup and won the Ballon d'Or that year due to his world-class performances.
At club level, Cannavaro represented top European clubs like Juventus and Real Madrid, although he spent much of his playing career with Parma. The Italian retired in 2011 and is currently the manager of Chinese club Guangzhou.
#2 Franco Baresi
It is not surprising to see Italians dominate this list, with Franco Baresi another one of Italy's finest.
A one-club man, Baresi spent his entire career representing AC Milan. He made his debut in 1977, and made 719 appearances during his 20 years with the club. Baresi won six Serie A titles and three Champions League trophies with AC Milan, and is regarded as one of the Rossoneri's greatest.
With Italy, Baresi won the FIFA World Cup in 1982. His brother, Giuseppe, spent much of his playing career with Inter Milan, and also played for the Italy national team.
#1 Franz Beckenbauer
Nicknamed "Der Kaiser", Franz Beckenbauer is regarded as one of football's greatest ever players.
An elegant player, Beckenbauer was a dominant centre-back who often operated as a libero. An iconic figure, Beckenbauer spent much of his career with Bayern Munich, where he won four Bundesliga titles and three European Cups.
At international level, Beckenbauer won the European Championship and the World Cup with West Germany. He won the Ballon d'Or twice during his career and remains the only defender to do so. As manager, he won the World Cup with West Germany, Ligue 1 with Marseille and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.
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