Top 10 greatest players of all time: AC Milan

In this article, we present to you our pick of the ten greatest-ever male players to ever represent AC Milan.

In 1899, an Englishman established a football club in the city of Milan. It was originally known as the Milan Football and Cricket Club, but that name was later changed to Associazione Calcio Milan—AC Milan, as we know it now. Little did that man know that, a century and a quarter later, his club would be known as one of the biggest powerhouses in club football. 

For years, Milan have been regarded as giants of the game, always able to persuade world-class players to join their ranks. Through the years, the Rossoneri have always had superstars in their team. Some are considered the greatest of their generation, several among the best of all time.

In this article, we have come up with a list of the ten best Milan players ever. To do so, we’ve taken a very specific set of criteria into account, which takes into account the following:

• Impact
• Longevity
• Statistics
• Trophies

#10 Sebastiano Rossi

Sebastiano Rossi was Milan’s backbone during one of the greatest eras in their history. Equipped with a great physique and exquisite technical ability, he was an integral part of his side’s defence. Throughout the 1990s—especially the early part of the decade—Rossi was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in world football. 

Playing behind an iconic defence featuring Mauro Tassotti, Alessandro Costacurta, Franco Baresi, and Paolo Maldini, Rossi was among the strongest Italian keepers of his generation. In his twelve years with Milan, he won five Scudetti, three Italian Super Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, and one UEFA Champions League title. 

No keeper has had as much success with Milan as “Sebo”.

#9 Ruud Gullit

Silvio Berlusconi made one of the greatest investments of all time when he brought in three of the greatest Dutch players to ever play the game. One of these players was Ruud Gullit. A footballing icon of the ’80s and ’90s, Gullit was blessed with extraordinary power and skill and is regarded as one of the best footballers to ever wear the Milan shirt.

Right from the start, Gullit proved inspirational to the team led by Arrigo Sacchi. Playing mostly as an attacking midfielder, the Dutchman helped Milan to the Scudetto for the first time in nine years. From there, the Milan of the late ’80s and early ’90s went on to become one of the most dominant teams the sport has ever seen.

#8 Andrea Pirlo

In a move you don’t see everyday, in 2001 Andrea Pirlo was sold from Inter Milan to AC Milan—a deal that continued to sting Inter for over a decade as Pirlo went on to become one of the greatest playmakers of all time.

Pirlo’s ability to dictate a game from midfield went unparalleled for the better part of a decade. He was the driving force behind Milan’s two Champions League victories over five years, which also included a trip to Istanbul for the famous UCL final against Liverpool in 2005.

Even as he moved past 30, Pirlo continued creating greatness out of nothing for Milan. In the end, the club deemed necessary to move him on after ten years as Juventus came calling, but his career will always be marked by the success and glory he found wearing the red and black of Milan.

#7 Andriy Shevchenko

After arriving at Milan in the summer of 1999 from Dinamo Kyiv, Andriy Shevchenko turned into one of the most complete strikers of his generation.

In the seemingly short time he had with Milan, Shevchenko scored 175 goals in just 322 games and remains second on the club’s all-time top scorers’ list. Physical, fast, and blessed with the ability to score long-rangers, the Ukrainian was the kind of player any coach would love in their attack.

In 2006, after seven years at San Siro, Shevchenko moved to Chelsea, which in retrospect is widely considered the greatest mistake of his playing career. At Stamford Bridge, he proved to be a shadow of his former self, and even a loan move back to Milan in 2008/09 after two seasons with the Blues couldn’t resuscitate his fortunes.

Shevchenko hung up his boots in 2012, after three years back at boyhood club Dinamo Kyiv. Even though his career did not have the glorious ending his Milan years promised, the very years ensured he would be remembered as one of the greatest forwards of his time.

#6 Alessandro Costacurta

Alessandro Costacurta was a big part of Milan’s golden age. A regular at the back for many years, he was part of a dynamic side that included Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Marco van Basten, and several other superstars that dominated Italy and Europe for many years.

Costacurta’s 663 appearances rank him third on the club’s all-time list, behind only Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini—it’s unlikely that the three will be challenged anytime soon.

During his 21-year spell with Milan, Costacurta won seven Serie A titles, five Champions League trophies, one Coppa Italia, five Supercoppe Italiane, four UEFA Super Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups. 

Also read: Real Madrid CF’s top 10 greatest players of all time

#5 Marco van Basten

When Silvio Berlusconi took over the club in 1986, he immediately made a huge investment by bringing in the Dutch trio of Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, and Marco van Basten.

Despite only playing for seven years, Van Basten rose up the scoring charts at Milan. Until Andriy Shevchenko and Filippo Inzaghi surpassed him, he was fifth on the club’s all-time goalscorers’ list.

Injuries brought his career to a premature end, but the Dutchman did enough during his time at Milan to go down in the history books as one of their greatest-ever players.

#4 Gunnar Nordahl

No player has won the Serie A Capocannoniere (top goalscorer) award more times than Gunnar Nordahl. Only Michel Platini ever matched the Swede’s record of three consecutive seasons as the league’s top scorer.

Nordahl was part of Milan’s first golden era. With two Scudetti, he helped lay the foundation for a long period of Milan success—from the ’50s into the ’60s. It was in the ’50s when Milan really began to become one of the major powers in world football, and Nordahl is a big reason why that came to be.

It is highly unlikely that any player will ever match Nordahl’s record of five Capocannoniere awards. Even his place at the top of Milan’s all-time goalscorers’ list is unlikely to be challenged anytime soon.

#3 Gianni Rivera

To see a player spend almost their entire career at one club, especially a player as talented as Gianni Rivera, is a rarity.

Rivera arrived at Milan as a teenager and left as an all-time legend. After playing one season for his hometown club, Alessandria, he spent 19 years at Milan, 13 of them as captain, and retired a Rossonero.

The 81-year-old was one of the most influential players in the Milan squad in his time, especially during the ’60s, when the team won their first two European Cups (in ’63 and ’69). He continued to lead the club to silverware in the ’70s as well, winning three Italian Cups, a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and a Scudetto in that decade.

#2 Franco Baresi

Franco Baresi was one of the last natural sweepers, and during his time in the back alongside Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, and Mauro Tassotti, Milan won five Scudetti, three European Cups, and earned the claim as the world’s best club.

Baresi captained Milan for the last 15 years of his 20-year career, which later earned him the title of the club’s “Player of the Century”. His shirt number, No. 6, is one of only two numbers retired by the club; unlike the other number, it will certainly never be worn again.

#1 Paolo Maldini

Paolo Maldini’s famous No. 3 is one of the two numbers—alongside Baresi’s No. 6—that have been retired by the club. The only way it will be worn again is if one of Maldini’s sons plays for the club.

Milan’s all-time appearance leader also holds the appearance record for the UEFA Champions League and the Serie A. Few players have even come close to winning these two competitions as often as Maldini did—five European Cups and seven Serie A titles among 21 major trophies over a 25-year career.

Maldini was a force to be reckoned with and is considered one of the greatest defenders of all time. Even after Milan’s golden age had passed and players like Baresi and Tassotti retired, Maldini continued to dominate proceedings at the back until his retirement.