Top 10 Greatest Players Of All-Time: Inter Milan

Football Club Internazionale Milano, better known as Inter Milan, is one of the most successful football clubs in the history of the sport. The club has found tremendous success, garnering a host of accolades, including one FIFA Club World Cup Championship, three UEFA Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, seven Italian Cups, five Italian Super Cups, and an incredible 18 Serie A titles. 

Established in 1908, Inter Milan has proven to be a consistent force to be reckoned with in the football world, and has won virtually every competition they’ve ever competed in. For a club with such a rich history, there have been many superstars who’ve donned the blue and black of I Nerazzurri. 

Thus, in this article, we have decided to come up with a list of the 10 best Inter Milan 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 Esteban Cambiasso

Someone like Esteban Cambiasso is hardly going to ever win any accolades for playing exquisite soccer. However, he was an integral part of the Inter Milan sides that dominated Italian football during the early 2000s.

Cambiasso was a complete, versatile, and modern footballer, who was an excellent reader of the game, and who was capable of playing in several midfield and defensive positions; although predominantly a box-to-box, or defensive midfielder, he was also deployed as a playmaking sweeper on occasion.

During his decades-long stay with Inter, Cambiasso appeared 431 times for the club, and scored 51 goals for the team. He will go down in history as one of the greatest midfielders the club ever had. 

#9 Alessandro Altobelli

Alessandro Altobelli is arguably one of the best strikers to ever play for Inter. The prolific goalscorer played for Inter Milan from 1977 to 1988, and scored a total of 209 goals in 466 appearances throughout his playing days with Inter.

A well rounded centre-forward, with an eye for goal, he excelled in the air due to his heading accuracy, power, and acrobatic ability. He was a fast, hard-working, and opportunistic player, with excellent technique, and someone who was not shy to use either foot, in spite of being naturally left-footed. 

Despite his slender build, he had excellent balance and deceptive strength. Moreover, he was capable of protecting the ball with his back to goal, and holding it up for his teammates. He was a key cog in the Inter squads that won the Coppa Italia in 1977-78 and 1981-82, and the Scudetto in 1979-80.

#8 Mario Corso

One of the greatest Italian left wingers of all time, the late Mario Corso enjoyed a glorious career with Inter Milan, having played for the club from 1957 to 1973. Corso made his debut for Inter at the young age of 16 and made a total of 502 appearances for Inter and has scored 94 goals during his time there.

Nicknamed “God’s Left Foot”, Corso was known for his deadly crossing ability and although he was not particularly quick footed, he was gifted with tenacity and a good physique, as well as class, close control, flair, and outstanding dribbling skills. 

He used these tools to help Inter win two Intercontinental Cups, two European Cups, and four Serie A titles. In his stay with Inter, the club was also able to make it to another European Cup Final and Coppa Italia Final.

#7 Giuseppe Bergomi

Academy graduate Giuseppe Bergomi spent his entire professional career playing for Inter Milan from 1979 to 1999. One of the greatest Italian defenders in history, Bergomi made a total of 756 appearances for Inter. His 756 appearances was at the time the most appearances for Inter when he retired in 1999, but the record has since been broken by Javier Zanetti.

Bergomi was a defender who could do it all, and had the ability to adapt to anything the opposing team threw at him. His game was likewise impressive on the offensive end, as he used his quickness and athleticism to make offensive plays, scoring a total of 28 goals throughout his career.

His longevity and defensive acumen saw him help Inter win one Italian Cup, one Italian Super Cup, two Scudettos, and three UEFA Cups. 

#6 Ronaldo

Fenomeno is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Ronaldo was a prolific goalscorer who had outstanding technical ability, and used his dribbling skill to weave through defenses and attack. His crossing ability, together with his scoring and playmaking, made him one of the most complete forwards of all time as well.

In his time with Inter Milan which spanned 99 appearances, Ronaldo helped the team win the 1998 UEFA Cup. During his debut season with the club, he scored 25 goals, a record number of goals made by a player in his first Serie A season.

Although injuries played a huge role during his time at Inter. He still managed to collect a host of individual achievements during his time with Inter, including being named the UEFA Most Valuable Player, Serie A Footballer of the Year, UEFA Best Forward, and UEFA Club Footballer of the year all in 1998, as well as winning two Ballon d’Ors in 1997 and 2002. 

#5 Sandro Mazzola

Another one-club man who spent all 17 seasons he played professionally for Inter Milan from 1960 to 1977. Sandro Mazzola was a skilled forward who was considered among the very best in his generation, with his total of 565 appearances for Inter Milan speaking for itself. 

Mazzola was a versatile player who could do it all with his speed, energy, and tactics. The athletic forward also had an impressive defensive work-rate, and established himself as one of the best forwards in the game during his playing days. 

From 1970 until his retirement, Mazzola also served as Inter’s team captain. He retired in 1977 having won one European Championship, two Intercontinental Cups, two European cups, and four Serie A titles. 

#4 Luis Suárez

The Spanish-born Luis Suárez played for many teams throughout his career, but he spent the bulk of his playing days and perhaps was at the peak of his powers during his days with Inter Milan from 1961 to 1970. Suarez was at the time the world’s most expensive footballer when he was acquired by Inter Milan for £142,000.

The Spanish playmaker made a total of 328 appearances and scored a total of 54 goals for Inter. His outstanding playmaking and explosiveness made him a focal point in Helenio Herrera’s “Grande Inter.”

He ended his career as one of the greatest Spanish players of all time, and contributed greatly to the black and blue. With Suarez in the club, Inter secured two Coppa dei Campioni, two Intercontinental Cups, and three Serie A titles.

#3 Javier Zanetti

No other player in the history of the club has played more games for Inter Milan than the Argentine defender. Javier Zanetti began playing for Inter in 1995 and was one of the club’s cornerstones until 2014. 

Zanetti might not have been one of those graceful defenders, but he possessed the grit and leadership that the club needed. His stamina, athleticism, and reading of the game are difficult to match, and he also possessed defensive and offensive skillsets that made him an all-around threat.

Throughout his illustrious career with Inter Milan, Zanetti led the club to an astounding 16 trophies, which include a UEFA Cup, a Club World Cup, a Champions League title, four Supercoppa Italiana, four Coppa Italia championships, and five straight Serie A titles.

#2 Giacinto Facchetti

Giacinto Facchetti is another legendary Inter Milan defender who has had a distinguished career with the club, having made a total of 634 appearances during his time. He played for Inter from 1960 to 1978 and was part of Helenio Herrera’s “Grande Inter.”

Regarded as one of the greatest full-backs in history, Fachetti changed the way the position was played. Apart from his superb stamina, power, and physicality, he also had a knack for scoring crucial goals, making him a threat every time he was on the field. He scored a total of 75 goals for Inter Milan.

During his illustrious time with Inter, the late Fachetti won one Coppa Italia, two European titles, two Continental trophies, and four Serie A titles. In recognition of his greatness and what he was able to bring to the game, he was posthumously inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

#1 Giuseppe Meazza

It’s difficult to argue that someone is greater than Giuseppe Meazza when Inter Milan’s stadium itself is named after him. The revered striker played for Inter from 1927 to 1940, and returned to cap off his playing career with the club in the 1946-47 season, making a total of 408 appearances for Inter Milan.

He is arguably Italy’s greatest player of all time and his record of 284 goals for Inter is yet to be surpassed nearly a century after he began playing for the Internazionale.

Meazza was also a respected leader who led Inter Milan to great success. Throughout Meazza’s years with the club, Inter Milan won the Coppa Italia, the Mitropa Cup, and three Scudetti. He is an inductee of the Italian Football Hall of Fame and the legacy he left with Inter Milan is second to none.