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Italy is a land of finesse, elegance, and excellence. The country and its countrymen not only know how to win but also how to leave an impression.
So far, Italy have had five Ballon d’Or winners, with every individual making a dent in the football universe. Today, we will take a look at the five victors and try to summarize their greatness.
Now without further ado, let us get to it.
#5 Omar Sivori
Omar Sivori is probably the most underrated player on this list and understandably so. Born in Argentina, Sivori took a while to find his footing in Italy, which has pushed him down the list in terms of popularity.
Sivori, who took an interest in football at a very young age, started his career at River Plate. He had the golden opportunity to play for the senior side in his teens and he embraced the chance with open arms.
Sivori had an outlandish hairdo, was quite outspoken, and often came off as brash during his time at River Plate. His attitude and demeanor earned him the nickname “El Cabezon (big head).”
His big break came, however, in Italy, at Juventus. He played for the club for eight seasons and emerged as the league’s top scorer with 28 goals in the 1959-60 season.
Juventus won Serie A that season and successfully defended the title in the 1960-61 season. Sivori won the Ballon d’Or in 1961 for his contribution - 25 goals in 27 matches - to Juventus’ title defense.
#4 Gianni Rivera
One of Serie A’s most successful clubs, AC Milan have had the privilege of fielding some iconic footballers over the years. Gianni Rivera, who ruled the club for 19 long seasons, certainly belonged to the top tier of Italian superstars.
Rivera was a versatile, attack-minded midfielder who loved to play as a number 10. He was excellent at linking up with his teammates and rarely missed an opportunity to venture into the final-third himself.
The former Italy international joined AC Milan in 1960 and enjoyed a fruitful career with the Rossoneri. The “Golden Boy” of Milan, who captained the side for 12 seasons, won three Serie A titles and two European Cups amongst other honors.
His most notable contribution came in 1969 when he helped Milan beat Johan Cruyff’s Ajax in the 1968-69 European Cup final.
The Italian assisted with two goals in the iconic 4-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Milan also bagged the Continental Cup the same year, which eventually sealed Rivera’s Ballon d’Or win in 1969.
#3 Paolo Rossi
An Italian legend through and through, Paolo Rossi was one of the most controversial characters of his time. He had the chance to make it big at Juventus but could only commemorate his time in a betting scandal.
However, when it came to the Italian national team, he was a different beast altogether.
In the 1982 World Cup, Paolo Rossi single-handedly carried Italy against Brazil in the quarter-finals, scoring an outstanding hat-trick. He added two more in the semis and, ultimately, another in the final.
Italy won the World Cup in style and the tournament's leading scorer and best player, Rossi, won the Ballon d’Or by a landslide.
#2 Fabio Cannavaro
Former Parma defender Fabio Cannavaro was the perfect amalgamation of talent, leadership and determination. The central defender won two Coppa Italia titles, the UEFA Super Cup with Parma, and two La Liga titles with Real Madrid. However, his greatest feat came with Italy in the 2006 World Cup.
Leading by example, Cannavaro, the captain, helped Italy keep five clean sheets in the tournament. Thanks to the team’s tenacity, they ultimately overcame Zinedine Zidane’s France in the final to bag their fourth World Cup.
For his exemplary performances throughout the tournament, Cannavaro won the Ballon d’Or in 2006, becoming the third defender in history to win the prestigious award.
Only Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer were fortunate enough to take the Golden Ball home before the Parma legend.
#1 Roberto Baggio
Nicknamed “The Divine Ponytail,” Roberto Baggio is arguably the best player Italy have ever produced. Primarily deployed as a second striker or an attacking midfielder, Baggio used to run at the opposition every time he got the opportunity.
He had quick feet, an eye for defence-piercing passes, and was a potent goalscorer. Baggio was also an exceptional free-kick taker, known especially for his curling free-kicks.
The Italian genius burst onto the scene during his time with Fiorentina. But it was at Juventus where he got the recognition he deserved. Although Juventus fans were skeptical at first, Baggio’s impressive performances eventually won them over.
During the 1993 calendar year, Baggio scored 39 goals for club and country, which helped Italy qualify for the 1994 World Cup. His contributions did not go unnoticed and he was rightly awarded the Ballon d’Or in 1993.
At the 1994 World Cup, Baggio emerged as Italy’s best player, scoring five goals en route to the final. Unfortunately, he missed the decisive penalty against Brazil in the final, which cost Italy the World Cup. His bizarre miss remains one of the most talked-about events in football.
