Despite falling down the pecking order in recent times, the Turin-based club is still regarded as the kings of Italy, winning a record number of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana titles. A trophy-laden history that dates all the way back to 1897.
Because of this, not only do the Old Lady boast some of Italy’s greatest competitors, they have also seen global stars travel with regularity to the northwest of the country to don the fabled black and white jersey.
Thus, in this article, we have decided to come up with a list of the 10 best Juventus players ever, and to do so, we’ve taken a very specific set of criteria into account, which are as follows:
- Impact
- Longevity
- Statistics
- Trophies
#10 Roberto Baggio
For a man who is revered and loved by so many in Italy, the fact that one of his most famous moments may be that penalty miss in the 1994 World Cup final, hardly does him any justice. Moreover, for someone who was adored by the fans of every single club he has ever played, nothing can detract from the genius of the electric Italian centre forward.
The 1993 Ballon d’Or winner also donned the shirts of AC Milan, Inter Milan and Fiorentina over the course of a brilliant career, but it’s at Juve where he is most revered. During his five-year spell with the Old Lady, Baggio scored 115 goals in 200 appearances across all competitions and as well helping a sub-par Juventus team grow and win the 1993 UEFA Cup and as well as the 1995 Serie A title.
#9 Zinedine Zidane
While people will most closely associate the former French captain with Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane is also a legendary figure at Juventus. The French midfielder was playing at such a high level during his five seasons with Juve that he ultimately enticed Real Madrid to break the world transfer record for his services in 2001.
Another Ballon d’Or winner at the Turin club, Zidane swiftly endeared himself to Italian crowds with his lung-busting runs, gliding dribbles and powerful strikes during his five years in Italy. His mastery on the pitch saw him claim two Scudetti, an Italian Super Cup, a European Super Cup and an Intercontinental Cup with the club.
#8 Dino Zoff
Juve have had some pretty remarkable goalkeepers over the years, with Dino Zoff among one of the best to have ever stood between the sticks. He won the UEFA Cup as both a player and a manager at the club, while also twice reaching the European Cup final during his playing days.
During his eleven years with Juventus, Zoff won the Serie A title six times, the Coppa Italia twice and the UEFA Cup once. The former Italy international also finished as runner-up in the 1973 Ballon d’Or vote – a pretty incredible achievement for a goalkeeper.
#7 Pavel Nedved
When Zidane left Juve for the Spanish capital, Pavel Nedved was quickly brought in as his replacement. After a rocky start, the ‘Czech Fury’ eventually won over the fanbase with his combination of technical brilliance and wholehearted commitment to the Juve cause.
The wide midfielder often left defenders in a haze, desperately trying to catch up to the tricky player, as his genius meant he was a regular goalscorer and provider for the Bianconeri. Love for Nedved grew even further when the 2003 Ballon d’Or winner insisted on remaining at the club after they were relegated in 2006 as a result of the Calciopoli scandal.
The two-time Scudetti winner still plays a key role for the Old Lady today, serving as their vice president.
#6 Giorgio Chiellini
A modern day legend at the club, Giorgio Chiellini was the leader of one of the best backlines in European football. With 561 appearances to his name across 17 seasons, Chiellini rightly enjoys hero status in Turin.
Inspiring Juve to a massive nine Scudetti in a row between 2012 and 2020, the no-nonsense centre-back is one of the most respected figures in football in Italy. By the time he left the club in 2022, the towering defender had 19 winner’s medals to his name, including the nine Scudettos.
#5 Gaetano Scirea
Scirea’s free transfer from Atalanta in 1974 is considered one of the greatest bargains in Italian football history to this day. He spent 14 glorious years in Turin, made more than 500 appearances and holds the ridiculous record of never getting sent off.
The captain of some of the greatest sides the club has ever seen, Scirea won all there is to win with Juventus, namely seven Scudetti, two Coppa Italia, one UEFA Cup, one Cup Winners’ Cup, a European Cup, a European Super Cup and an Intercontinental Cup.
Tragically, the Juve legend would pass away at just 36 years old in a car accident.
#4 Gianluigi Buffon
Arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time, Gianluigi Buffon made a total of Juve 685 appearances for Juventus across two spells and won a club-record 21 trophies in that time.
What’s perhaps more remarkable than the number of appearances and trophies was how consistently brilliant Buffon was from the moment he joined for a then-record fee in 2001 before his departure 20 years later.
With due respect to the legendary Dino Zoff, he was great but there is no looking past Buffon. He was the first goalkeeper to win the Serie A Footballer of the Year award and was named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year a record twelve times. That’s some record right there!
#3 Michel Platini
Michel Platini thrilled Juve fans for five seasons between 1982 and 1987 – and for much of that period was considered the best player on the planet. A quick, versatile, elegant, and intelligent playmaker, with a unique ability to read the game, he was renowned in particular for his ball control, technical ability, dribbling skills, creativity, range of passing, and vision, despite his lack of notable physical or athletic attributes.
Winning the Ballon d’Or in three consecutive years (1983-1985), the legendary Frenchman seemingly scored goals at will from the No. 10 position. As a result, a huge trophy haul inevitably followed, including two Scudetti, an Italian Cup, a Cup Winners’ Cup, a Champions Cup, a European Super Cup and an Intercontinental Cup.
#2 Giampiero Boniperti
Before Alessandro Del Piero, there was Giampiero Boniperti. With 182 goals across all competitions, Boniperti was the highest goalscorer in Juventus’ history for more than 40 years, until his record was bested by Alessandro Del Piero.
The number ten joined the club in 1945 and instantly became the club’s prized asset. A five-time Scudetti winner, Boniperti was Juve’s biggest name from the late 1940s to the early 1960s.
Apart from his performances on the pitch, he played a big role in building his club up as the club’s honorary president for 30 years after his retirement from the game.
#1 Alessandro Del Piero
During a storied spell of almost two decades with the Bionconeri, Del Piero cemented his legacy as Juventus’ greatest ever player. After beginning his career with Italian club Padova in Serie B in 1991, he moved to Juventus in 1993, where he played for 19 seasons (11 as captain), and holds the club records for most goals (290) and appearances (705).
During his time at the club, he won six Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia, four Supercoppa Italiana titles, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the UEFA Intertoto Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup.
The man who mastered the Trequartista position, he was the complete package and a dream player for any manager. Thus, it’s no surprise the Italy and Juve legend holds the top spot in this list.
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