A club that has been around since the start of Italian football, Inter Milan are one of the most historic clubs in Italy, if not Europe. However, it has taken several legendary players for the club to be where it is today. Their contributions and sacrifices for the greater good of the team shall forever be shrouded in Inter Milan history.
Today, the Nerazzurri are among the most successful clubs in Italy and became the first Italian club ever to win a treble when they overcame Bayern Munich in 2010. Fans of Inter Milan have the talented players that have graced the club to thank for the immense glory they have brought to Inter. Few teams can match the historic talent that Inter Milan has. These players have had storied careers in football, and most of them have created their legends by bringing glory to Inter Milan.
Let us take a look at the Top 10 players in Inter Milan’s iconic history:
1) GIUSEPPE MEAZZA:
Trophies: 2 x World Cup, 3 x Serie A, 1 x Italian Cup
Personal accolades: 3 x Serie A Top scorer
Quite possibly the most iconic player in Milan, Giuseppe Meazza was the yesteryear hero in Italian football. Meazza joined Inter Milan in 1931 and went on to score 242 goals in 365 appearances for the Nerazzurri, including becoming the Serie A top scorer on three occasions. Meazza’s skill on the ball, coupled with his creativity, made him an attractive prospect for fans of Italian football. The forward also won the Golden Ball award when he played for the Italian National Team at the 1934 World Cup. Meazza is the second-highest goal-scorer for the national team and the highest goal-scorer for the Nerazzurri to date.
In 1980, San Siro, which is the home stadium for both Inter Milan and AC Milan, was named as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in the player’s honour. A hero for Italian football, Giuseppe was rightly named inducted into the Italian Football Hall of fame in 2011.
2) JAVIER ZANETTI:
Trophies: 1 x UEFA Champions League, 5 x Serie A, 4 x Italian Cup, 4 x Italian Super Cup, 1 x FIFA World Cup, 1 x UEFA Cup
One of the most phenomenal defenders of his generation, Javier Zanetti is quite possibly the greatest captain in Inter Milan history. Zanetti joined the club in 1995 and currently holds the record of most appearances (858) for Inter Milan. Zanetti always had innate leadership qualities due to his style of play. The Argentine would never give up and motivate the players around him on and off the pitch. Zanetti was also one of the very first defenders in the 20th century to play across all areas of the backline including being a full-back on both sides.
Zanetti never cared for personal accolades and always strived hard for the success of the club as a whole. The fans loved the Argentine dearly, thus, it was hard for them to see the player retire eventually in 2014.
3) GIACINTO FACCHETTI:
Trophies: 1 x European Champion, 2 x European Champion Club’s Cup, 4 x Serie A, 1 x Italian Cup, 2 x Intercontinental Cup
Yet another defender forming part of this list, Giacinto Facchetti was Inter Milan’s superstar in the 1960s and 70s. Before Zanetti broke onto the scene in the 1990s, Facchetti was the pedestal every defender measured their performances against, such was the Italian’s calibre in Inter Milan’s backline. He is remembered as one of the first truly attacking full-backs as he would contribute not just in defence but also going forward, due to his physique, technical abilities, and intelligence on the pitch. Facchetti scored 75 goals for Inter Milan, while he was also impenetrable in defence.
However, his career with Inter Milan was not over after he retired in 1978 as he was made club chairman in 2004 until his death in 2006. Like Meazza, Giacinto Facchetti was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2015 to honour his incredible performances during his time with Inter Milan.
4) LUIS SUAREZ:
Trophies: 1 x European Champion, 2 x European Champion Club’s Cup, 3 x Serie A, 2 x Intercontinental Cup.
Personal accolades: 1 x Ballon d’Or.
Luis Suarez, who is known to be one of the greatest playmakers of his time, joined Inter Milan in 1961 and covered himself in a decade-long period of success. The midfielder’s creativity and selflessness on the ball is what made him famous among the Inter Milan faithful. However, he was a winner even before he joined the club due to which Inter Milan made Suarez the world’s most expensive footballer at the time by paying £142,000 to secure the Ballon d’Or winner’s services.
His incredible consistency in the attacking midfield role along with his knack for scoring crucial goals made him one of the most loved players at the club. Luis Suarez was a legend before, during as well as after he joined the club and will always have a special place in the hearts of Inter Milan fans.
5) GIUSEPPE BERGOMI:
Trophies: 1 x World Cup, 1 x Serie A, 1 x Italian Cup, 1 x Italian Super Cup, 3 x UEFA Cup.
Inter Milan’s one-club man, Giuseppe Bergomi, epitomized the 1980s and 1990s for the club as he was the club captain for the longest time. A brilliant right-back, Bergomi’s reading of the game and work ethic enabled him to become one of the greatest Italian defenders of all time. Bergomi was a big voice in the dressing room at Inter Milan as he was a leader, motivator, and mentor on and off the pitch for the players as well members of the club.
Now, a pundit on Sky Italia, Bergomi continues to conduct himself with the same level of dignity, which made him a fan favourite for nearly two decades at Inter Milan.
6) SANDRO MAZZOLA:
Trophies: 1 x European Champion, 2 x European Champion Club’s Cup, 4 x Serie A, 2 x Intercontinental Cup
Personal Accolades: 1 x Serie A Top Scorer, 1 x European Champion Club’s Cup Top Scorer
One of Inter’s very own, Sandro Mazzola played for the badge on the front than the name on the back of the shirt. A man with an incredible spirit for the sport, Mazzola was one of the first players in world football to play the role of a second striker the way it has been reinvented in today’s game. The Italian played for 17 years at the club, and he holds the record of having the most appearances as a forward for the Nerazzurri. Mazzola is also 4th on Inter Milan’s all-time top scorers list.
Now a commentator at RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana) in Italy, Mazzola holds vivid experiences from his incredible time at the club, while he is still a favourite among the Inter Milan faithful.
7) ALLESANDRO ALTOBELLI:
Trophies: 1 x World Cup, 1 x Serie A, 2 x Italian Cup.
Personal accolades: 2 x Coppa Italia Top scorer, 1 x UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Top Scorer
The 2nd highest goal-scorer in Inter Milan’s 113-year history, Alessandro Altobelli picked up the torch from Mazzola in 1977. The forward played for 11 glorious years at Inter Milan and scored 209 goals in that period. Arguably the best Italian forward in the late 1970s, Altobelli played an important role in securing the scudetto (Serie A) for Inter Milan in the 1979/80 season.
One of the most gifted players of his generation, Altobelli, was nicknamed Spillo (Needle) by the end of his career due to his ability to cause havoc against opposition defences, even though he had a slender build.
8) WALTER ZENGA:
Trophies: 1 x Serie A, 1 x Italian Super Cup, 2 x UEFA CUP.
The goalkeeper with the most appearances for Inter Milan, Walter Zenga was a consistent figure in Inter Milan’s starting lineup during the 1980s and early 90s. Amassing 470 appearances until he left the club in 1994, Zenga was one of the most dynamic goalkeepers in that era. Zenga was an instant hit at the club as he allowed a league-low- 23 goals in his first season between the sticks for the club. Walter Zenga’s style of play gave him the nickname of ‘Spiderman’ while his exuberant personality was also one of his features that every Inter Milan fan loved.
Since his retirement, Zenga has managed various clubs across Europe and has always tried to instill his dynamic style of play at every club.
9) CHRISTIAN VIERI:
Trophies: 1 x Italian Cup, 1 x European U-21.
Personal accolades: 1 x Serie A Top scorer, 1 x La Liga Top scorer
A pure center-forward, Christian Vieri was sublime during his time at Inter Milan. In 190 appearances for the Nerazzurri, Vieri scored 123 times at an average of 0.65. Inter Milan broke their club-record fee at the time to sign Christian Vieri in 1999 for £32 million. Vieri will always be remembered for his obscure record of headed goals, such was his threat aerially. While an injury hampered his momentum at the club, he was still better than the best.
Although Vieri was quite the journeyman in his professional career, his best years will always be remembered in the blue and black of Inter Milan.
10) RONALDO NAZARIO:
Trophies: 2 x World Cup, 2 x Copa America, 1 x UEFA Cup.
Personal Accolades: 3 x FIFA THE BEST, 2 x Ballon d’Or, 2 x La Liga Top scorer, 1 x Copa America Top Scorer, 1 x World Cup Golden boot.
Arguably the most talented player in the history of the sport, Ronaldo was an alien among mere mortals. While players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are said to be the greatest players in the game, Ronaldo Nazario was more talented than both of them. The Brazilian is also said to be the only player in history to have broken the world record transfer fee twice as both Barcelona (1996) and Inter Milan (1997) broke the record to secure the forward’s services. Ronaldo picked up the Ballon d’Or in 1997 during his time at Inter Milan and remains the youngest recipient of the award.
Currently, the owner of Spanish club Real Valladolid, Ronaldo often talks about his time at Inter Milan and how the club helped him reach unreal levels in the game.
(The trophies mentioned above are only the ones the players have won with Inter Milan, while the personal accolades include achievements at other clubs as well)
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