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| 1969 European Cup |
Some of the unpublished posts from this blog have been turned into a two-volume book: The Multiverse of the Beautiful Game: National Teams of Pure Fantasy.
Volume 1 takes you back in time and asks the questions every football fan has dreamed about. Picture football's wildest dreams actually coming true. Could Brazil's already-beautiful 1982 side, with Careca leading the line, have cruised to the title?And what about the United Kingdom sending its team to the 1970 World Cup? I believe they would have been the strongest side on earth — Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Jack Charlton, George Best, Denis Law, Jinky Johnstone and Billy Bremner could have beaten Brazil.What if Argentina had fielded both Omar Sivori and Alfredo Di Stéfano together in 1958? Italy could have fielded the most expensive team in football with Roberto Baggio, Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Giuseppe Giannini, Gianluigi Lentini, Roberto Baggio and Gianluca Vialli. What if Johan Cruyff had lined up alongside Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard? What if Eusébio had played for Brazil? And that's only scratching the surface — Volume 1 is packed with legendary "what ifs" that will keep you turning pages.
Volume 2 brings the fantasy closer to home. What if England had Michael Olise, Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo and Jamal Musiala in 2026 — could they go all the way with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham? What if Yugoslavia had gone to the World Cup in 2018 with Luka Modrić, Edin Džeko, Miralem Pjanić, Jan Oblak, Ivan Perišić, Nemanja Matić, Mario Mandžukić and Aleksandar Kolarov ? What if the United States could select Neven Subotić and Giuseppe Rossi in 2010? It would be the greatest American side ever. And what if Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had actually played for the same national team in 2006? They would beat Italy. It could have happened — if the soccer gods had smiled on us.
Some of the unpublished posts from this blog have been turned into a two-volume book: The Multiverse of the Beautiful Game: National Teams of Pure Fantasy.
Volume 1 takes you back in time and asks the questions every football fan has dreamed about. Picture football's wildest dreams actually coming true. Could Brazil's already-beautiful 1982 side, with Careca leading the line, have cruised to the title?And what about the United Kingdom sending its team to the 1970 World Cup? I believe they would have been the strongest side on earth — Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Jack Charlton, George Best, Denis Law, Jinky Johnstone and Billy Bremner could have beaten Brazil.What if Argentina had fielded both Omar Sivori and Alfredo Di Stéfano together in 1958? Italy could have fielded the most expensive team in football with Roberto Baggio, Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Giuseppe Giannini, Gianluigi Lentini, Roberto Baggio and Gianluca Vialli. What if Johan Cruyff had lined up alongside Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard? What if Eusébio had played for Brazil? And that's only scratching the surface — Volume 1 is packed with legendary "what ifs" that will keep you turning pages.
Volume 2 brings the fantasy closer to home. What if England had Michael Olise, Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo and Jamal Musiala in 2026 — could they go all the way with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham? What if Yugoslavia had gone to the World Cup in 2018 with Luka Modrić, Edin Džeko, Miralem Pjanić, Jan Oblak, Ivan Perišić, Nemanja Matić, Mario Mandžukić and Aleksandar Kolarov ? What if the United States could select Neven Subotić and Giuseppe Rossi in 2010? It would be the greatest American side ever. And what if Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had actually played for the same national team in 2006? They would beat Italy. It could have happened — if the soccer gods had smiled on us.
Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.
AC Milan All-Time Team Under Silvio Berlusconi
AC Milan All-Time Italian Team
AC Milan All-Time Foreign Player Team
AC Milan Brazilian Best XI
All-Time Team Under Fabio Capello (Club only)
All-Time Team under Carlos Ancelotti
This is my selection of a 25 member all-time team for the club. The number 25 was chosen because it is the official squad size for the Champions' League.
Nicknamed "I Rossoneri", AC Milan is the second most successful club after Real Madrid in Europe. At the time of writing, they have won the Euorpean Cup/Champions' league 7 times. They have a strong team in the 1960's, winning the 1963 and 1969. After many years of failure in the 1970's and early 1980's, Silvio Berlusconi bought the club in 1986. He turned the club into a dynasty. The Dutch trio of Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard combined with the backbone of the Italian national team to form one of the greatest club sides in history.
GK: Sebastiano Rossi (Italy)
During a 21-year professional career, Sebastiano Rossi appeared in 346 Serie A games, most notably representing A.C. Milan (12 seasons) with which he won 12 major titles, including the 1994 Champions League. Rossi held the record for the longest streak without conceding a goal in Serie A history. In an 11-match span, he kept a clean sheet for 929 consecutive minutes. He was never capped by Italy.
GK: Fabio Cudicini (Italy)
Fabio Cudicini played Udinese, Roma, AC Milan and Brescia. He was remembered for his two stints with AC Milan. Between 1967 and 1972, he played for AC Milan. He helped Milan to win the 1969 European Cup. Before Milan, he won the Inter-Cities Fair Cup with Roma. His son is Carlo Cudicini. He was uncapped because he was playing the same generation with Dino Zoff, Lozenzo Buffon and Enrico Albertosi.
RB: Mauro Tassotti (Italy)
After making his Serie A debut with Lazio, Mauro Tassotti went on to play with Milan for 17 years. He won 17 major titles with Milan, including five Serie A championships and three UEFA Champions League tournaments, reaching five finals in total. He was a part of both Arrigo Sacchi's and Fabio Capello's AC Milan. He also went to the WC in 1994, where Italy came second.
RB: Cafu (Brazil)
Cafu is the all-time cap record holder for Brazil with 142 caps. He is the only man to play in three WC finals, winning it in 1994 and 2002. He was the captain of the 2002 team. With Sao Paulo, he won two Copa Libertadores: 1992, 1993. In Europe, he won a Cup Winners Cup with Real Zaragoza, and he also won a single Champions League with AC Milan in 2006. He was South American Player of the Year in 1994.
AM: Nils Liedholm (Sweden)
AC Milan All-Time Team Under Silvio Berlusconi
AC Milan All-Time Italian Team
AC Milan All-Time Foreign Player Team
AC Milan Brazilian Best XI
All-Time Team Under Fabio Capello (Club only)
All-Time Team under Carlos Ancelotti
This is my selection of a 25 member all-time team for the club. The number 25 was chosen because it is the official squad size for the Champions' League.
Nicknamed "I Rossoneri", AC Milan is the second most successful club after Real Madrid in Europe. At the time of writing, they have won the Euorpean Cup/Champions' league 7 times. They have a strong team in the 1960's, winning the 1963 and 1969. After many years of failure in the 1970's and early 1980's, Silvio Berlusconi bought the club in 1986. He turned the club into a dynasty. The Dutch trio of Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard combined with the backbone of the Italian national team to form one of the greatest club sides in history.
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| Champions' league 2003 |
Team
GK: Lorenzo Buffon (Italy)
Lorenzo Buffon was one of the best goalkeepers in the 1950's and early 1960's. He helped AC Milan to reach the Final of the 1958 European Cup Final. He also played for Genoa C.F.C. (1959–60), F.C. Internazionale Milano (1960–63), and ACF Fiorentina (1963–64). His cousin is Gianluigi Buffon's grandfather. He had 15 caps for Italy between 1958 and 1962. He went to the 1962 World Cup Finals.
GK: Lorenzo Buffon (Italy)
Lorenzo Buffon was one of the best goalkeepers in the 1950's and early 1960's. He helped AC Milan to reach the Final of the 1958 European Cup Final. He also played for Genoa C.F.C. (1959–60), F.C. Internazionale Milano (1960–63), and ACF Fiorentina (1963–64). His cousin is Gianluigi Buffon's grandfather. He had 15 caps for Italy between 1958 and 1962. He went to the 1962 World Cup Finals.
GK: Sebastiano Rossi (Italy)
During a 21-year professional career, Sebastiano Rossi appeared in 346 Serie A games, most notably representing A.C. Milan (12 seasons) with which he won 12 major titles, including the 1994 Champions League. Rossi held the record for the longest streak without conceding a goal in Serie A history. In an 11-match span, he kept a clean sheet for 929 consecutive minutes. He was never capped by Italy.
GK: Fabio Cudicini (Italy)
Fabio Cudicini played Udinese, Roma, AC Milan and Brescia. He was remembered for his two stints with AC Milan. Between 1967 and 1972, he played for AC Milan. He helped Milan to win the 1969 European Cup. Before Milan, he won the Inter-Cities Fair Cup with Roma. His son is Carlo Cudicini. He was uncapped because he was playing the same generation with Dino Zoff, Lozenzo Buffon and Enrico Albertosi.
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| Fabio Cudicini |
After making his Serie A debut with Lazio, Mauro Tassotti went on to play with Milan for 17 years. He won 17 major titles with Milan, including five Serie A championships and three UEFA Champions League tournaments, reaching five finals in total. He was a part of both Arrigo Sacchi's and Fabio Capello's AC Milan. He also went to the WC in 1994, where Italy came second.
RB: Cafu (Brazil)
Cafu is the all-time cap record holder for Brazil with 142 caps. He is the only man to play in three WC finals, winning it in 1994 and 2002. He was the captain of the 2002 team. With Sao Paulo, he won two Copa Libertadores: 1992, 1993. In Europe, he won a Cup Winners Cup with Real Zaragoza, and he also won a single Champions League with AC Milan in 2006. He was South American Player of the Year in 1994.
CB: Alessandro Nesta (Italy)
Alessandro Nesta is considered one of the best defender of his generation. He was the Serie A defender of the Year for 4 times. He started his career with Lazio. Later, he played with AC Milan where he won two Champions' league. He also played in MLS. For Italy, he earned 78 caps. He played on the 2006 World Cup winning team, but injured in the third game of the tournament. He also went to 1998 and 2002 World Cup Finals as well as the European Championship in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
RB/SW: Cesare Maldini (Italy)
Cesare Maldini spent 12 seasons with AC Milan. He was the captain of the 1963 European Cup winning team. He also played for Torino at the end of his career for a single season. He picked up 14 caps for Italy between 1960 and 1962. He went to the 1962 World Cup Finals. After retirement, he became a successful coach. His son is Paolo Maldini who also captained and won the European Cup.
Alessandro Nesta is considered one of the best defender of his generation. He was the Serie A defender of the Year for 4 times. He started his career with Lazio. Later, he played with AC Milan where he won two Champions' league. He also played in MLS. For Italy, he earned 78 caps. He played on the 2006 World Cup winning team, but injured in the third game of the tournament. He also went to 1998 and 2002 World Cup Finals as well as the European Championship in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
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| Alessandro Nesta |
Cesare Maldini spent 12 seasons with AC Milan. He was the captain of the 1963 European Cup winning team. He also played for Torino at the end of his career for a single season. He picked up 14 caps for Italy between 1960 and 1962. He went to the 1962 World Cup Finals. After retirement, he became a successful coach. His son is Paolo Maldini who also captained and won the European Cup.
CB: Alessandro Costacurta (Italy)
Alessandro Costacurta was Baresi's partner at central defense for both club and country. He was a part of 5 Champions' League winning team for AC Milan. However, he only played 59 times for Italy because largely of injuries. He went to two World Cup Finals (in 1994 and 1998), as well as a European Championship in 1996. With Italy, he managed to reach the 1994 World Cup Final, which was lost against Brazil on penalties.
SW: Franco Baresi (Italy)
Franco Baresi was considered Italy's greatest libero. He was capped 82 times between 1982 and 1994. He led the Azzurri to the semifinal of the World Cup in 1990 and then, the Final in 1994. However, he missed most of the tournament in 1994 through an injury, playing in the Final. He was a part of the 1982 World Cup winning team, but he did not play a single match. He was a one club man with AC Milan. He is their captain for 15 years, where he won three European Cups and 6 Serie A titles.
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| Franco Baresi |
CB/LB: Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (West Germany)
In his prime, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger was considered one of the best leftbacks in the world. He participated in 4 World Cup Finals, unfortunaitely sandwiched between West Germany's two World Cup winning tournaments. He was remembered one of the first German to star in Italy. He had a remarkable stint with AC Milan and As Roma. He won the European Cup in 1969 with Milan.CB/LB: Paolo Maldini (Italy)
Paolo Maldini was considered the greatest leftback of all-time. He won 26 trophies in his 25 year career with AC Milan, including 5 Champions' league trophies. He took part in three European Championships, and four World Cups. He reached the finals of the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2000, and the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and Euro 1988, and was elected into the all-star teams for each of these tournaments, in addition to the Euro 96 all-star team. He was capped 126 times for Italy.
CM: Frank Rijkaard (Netherlands)
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| Paolo Madlini |
Frank Rijkaard was one of Netherlands' most important player. Capped 73 times. He won the 1988 European Championship in West Germany. He notably played for Ajax and AC Milan. He spent 5 seasons with AC Milan when Milan was considered the greatest club team in the world, winning two European Cup. In 1995, he led a young Ajax team to their famous Champions' League victory. That team is also considered one of the greatest club sides ever.
CB/DM: Marcel Desailly (France)
Marcel Desailly was considered to be one of the greatest defensive players during the 1990's. He played 116 times for France, winning the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000. He was the first player to win the European Cup in consecutive seasons with different clubs, when he won it with Marseille in 1993 and AC Milan the following year. He also played for Chelsea at the end of his career.
CM: Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
Andrea Pirlo started as an attack midfielder with Inter Milan without success before becoming a regista. He redefined the regista role in the modern game. He had 116 caps for Italy. He won the World Cup in 2006 and took Italy to the Final of Euro 2012. For his club career, he was known for his career with AC Milan. He played over 280 matches for them, winning two Champions' League titles. He switched to Juventus late in his career and played for New York City FC.
AM: Dejan Savicevic (Montenegro)
CB/DM: Marcel Desailly (France)
Marcel Desailly was considered to be one of the greatest defensive players during the 1990's. He played 116 times for France, winning the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000. He was the first player to win the European Cup in consecutive seasons with different clubs, when he won it with Marseille in 1993 and AC Milan the following year. He also played for Chelsea at the end of his career.
CM: Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
Andrea Pirlo started as an attack midfielder with Inter Milan without success before becoming a regista. He redefined the regista role in the modern game. He had 116 caps for Italy. He won the World Cup in 2006 and took Italy to the Final of Euro 2012. For his club career, he was known for his career with AC Milan. He played over 280 matches for them, winning two Champions' League titles. He switched to Juventus late in his career and played for New York City FC.
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| Andrea Pirlo |
LW: Roberto Donadoni (Italy)
Roberto Donadoni was one of Italy's greatest wingers. He was a vital part of AC Milan's squad under both Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello, winning six Serie A titles, three European Cups, four Italian Supercups, three European Super Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups during his time at Milan. Between 1986 and 1996, he earned over 60 caps for Italy. He went to the World Cup Finals in 1990 and 1994, and the European Championship in 1988 and 1996.
AM/CM: Kaka (Brazil)
Kaka started his career with Sao Paulo in Brazil before moving to AC Milan in 2003. He was the star player who helped Milan to win the Champions' League in 2007 and he himself won the Ballon d'or on the same year. In 2009, he left Milan for Real Madrid. At the end of his career, he played for Orlando City in the MLS. For Brazil, he was capped 92 times. He was a young and seldom used player at the World Cup in 2002. He was a key player after the World Cup Finals in 2002.
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| Kaka |
Dejan Savicevic was a part of the Red Star Belgrade team that won the 1990–91 European Cup before joining A.C. Milan in 1992. With Milan, he won three Serie A titles and the 1993–94 UEFA Champions League. His international career was limited due to sanction placed on his country. He did not play in a major tournament at the peak of his career. However, he represented Yugoslavia at the 1990 and 1998 World Cups. He had over 50 caps.
AM: Gianni Rivera (Italy)
Gianni Rivera was Italy's "Golden Boy"of the 1960's and perhaps their best player of his generation. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1969. He led AC Milan to win two European Cups in 1963 and 1969. He was capped 63 times, scoring 15 goals, at four World Cup Finals (1962, 1966, 1970, and 1974). Rivera is remembered for scoring the decisive goal in Italy's extra-time win over West Germany in the semi-final of Mexico 1970. Italy reached the Final of that World Cup Final before losing Pele's Brazil.
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| Gianni Rivera |
Nicknamed Il Barone (The Baron), Nils Liedholm is probably one of Sweden's greatest players. He played for AC Milan between 1949 and 1961. He also won the Latin Cup in 1951 and 1956 and was the captain of Milan that played in the 1958 European Cup Final that lost against Real Madrid. He was a part of the famous "Gre-No-Li" line for both club and country. He won a Gold Medal at the 1948 Olympics and helped Sweden to finish second at the World Cup Finals in 1958.
SS: Juan Schiaffino (Uruguay)
At international level, Juan Schiaffino won the 1950 FIFA World Cup with the Uruguayan national team, and also took part at the 1954 FIFA World Cup; he later also represented the Italy national football team. He was considered one of the greatest Uruguayan players in history. For club level, he played in Uruguay for Penarol and in Italy with Milan and Roma.
ST: Jose Altafini (Brazil)
AM: Ruud Gullit (Netherlands)
Ruud Gullit was the iconic captain of Netherlands 1988. In 1987, he moved from PSV Eindhoven to A.C. Milan for a world record transfer fee. He was an important player for AC Milan during the 1980's where they won two straight European Cups. He was the European Footballer of the Year in 1987 and the World Soccer Player of the Year in 1987 and 1989. He spent one season with Sampdoria winning the Italian Cup in 1994. He later played for Chelsea as a sweeper.
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| Ruud Gullit |
In Brazil, Jose Altafini was known as Mazzola in Brazil because of his resemblance with Italian attacking midfielder Valentino Mazzola. He started to use his real name Jose Altafini after he joined AC Milan in 1958. He is the current 4th top-scorer in Italy's Serie A history. For the national team, he was the original starter on the 1958 World Cup team, but was replaced in the semifinal and the final.
-- The team is dominated by players playing under Silvio Berlusconi, who turned the club into the second most successful clubs in European history. I did another blog team just for that period of time.
ST: Gunnar Nordahl (Sweden)
Gunnar Nordahl is probably one of both Sweden and AC Milan's greatest players. He is played with Gunnar Gren and Nils Liedholm to form the renowned Gre-No-Li line at AC Milan. He was Serie A top scorer for 5 times. He is the all-time leading scorer at Milan. He won the Gold Medal at the 1948 Olympics, but was not selected for the WC in 1950. He played two years with Roma before retiring. His brother Bertil and Knut also played for Sweden.
ST: Andrei Shevchenko (Ukraine)
Andrei Shevchenko is considered one of the greatest Ukrainian player in history. He won the Ballon D'Or in 2004 and came 3rd on the World Player of the Year. He started his career with Dynamo Kyiv. He was best remembered for his stint with AC Milan, winning the Champions' League in 2003. He won 111 caps and scored 48 goals for the Ukraine. He led Ukraine to qualify for the World Cup Finals in 2006.
ST: Marco Van Basten (Netherlands)
Marco Van Basten was probably the second best Dutch player and among the best striker in football's history. He won the Ballon d'Or three times. He led Oranje to the victory at the European Championship 1988 scoring 5 goals at the tournament. It was Holland's first victory in a major tournament. His goal in the Final is considered one of the best in history of the tournament. He started his career with Ajax. He also won two European Cups with AC Milan, a club side that was considered the best ever.
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| Marco Van Basten |
Honorable Mention
Dida (Brazil), Giovanni Galli (Italy), Enrico Albertosi (Italy), Christian Abbiati (Italy), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy), Giorgio Ghezzi (Italy), Giovanni Rossetti (Italy), Dario Copiani (Italy), Angelo Anquilletti (Italy), Christian Panucci (Italy), Giuseppe Sabadini (Italy), Giovanni Trapattoni (Italy), Fulvio Collovati (Italy), Filippo Galli (Italy), Thiago Silva (Brazil), Kakha Kaladze (Georgia), Luigi Radice (Italy), Aldo Maldera (Italy), Renzo De Vecchi (Italy), Serginho (Brazil), Romeo Benetti (Italy), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy), Alberico Evani (Italy), Rui Costa (Portugal), Leonardo (Brazil), Clarence Seedorf (Netherlands), Demetrio Albertini (Italy), Zvonimir Boban (Croatia), Carlo Ancelotti (Italy), Gunnar Gren (Sweden), Filippo Inzaghi (Italy), George Weah (Liberia), Massimo Ambrosini (Italy), Aldo Boffi (Italy), Giuseppe Santagostino (Italy), Pierino Prati (Italy), Aldo Boffi (Italy), Filippo Inzaghi (Italy), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden), Pierino Prati (Italy), Oliver Bierhoff (Germany), Daniele Massaro (Italy).
Dida (Brazil), Giovanni Galli (Italy), Enrico Albertosi (Italy), Christian Abbiati (Italy), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy), Giorgio Ghezzi (Italy), Giovanni Rossetti (Italy), Dario Copiani (Italy), Angelo Anquilletti (Italy), Christian Panucci (Italy), Giuseppe Sabadini (Italy), Giovanni Trapattoni (Italy), Fulvio Collovati (Italy), Filippo Galli (Italy), Thiago Silva (Brazil), Kakha Kaladze (Georgia), Luigi Radice (Italy), Aldo Maldera (Italy), Renzo De Vecchi (Italy), Serginho (Brazil), Romeo Benetti (Italy), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy), Alberico Evani (Italy), Rui Costa (Portugal), Leonardo (Brazil), Clarence Seedorf (Netherlands), Demetrio Albertini (Italy), Zvonimir Boban (Croatia), Carlo Ancelotti (Italy), Gunnar Gren (Sweden), Filippo Inzaghi (Italy), George Weah (Liberia), Massimo Ambrosini (Italy), Aldo Boffi (Italy), Giuseppe Santagostino (Italy), Pierino Prati (Italy), Aldo Boffi (Italy), Filippo Inzaghi (Italy), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden), Pierino Prati (Italy), Oliver Bierhoff (Germany), Daniele Massaro (Italy).
Squad Explanation
-- I edited this team in June 2024.
-- I edited this team in June 2024.
-- This all-time team is very difficult to select. There are too many great players. They took over most of the spots before I even started to do my research. Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Andrei Shevchenko and Gianni Rivera are my automatic selections. I would probably take Kaka, Alessandro Nesta, Jose Altafini, Juan Schiaffino, Cesare Maldini, Dejan Savicevic and Andreas Pirlo. And I know that at least one of the Gre-No-Li would be on the team. Basically, I started with just around 15 spaces left and three of whom were goalkeepers.
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| Rijkaard, Van Basten and Gullit |
-- AC Milan dominated the domestic league in the 1950's. I took Juan Schiaffino and Lorenzo Buffon. Unfortunately, I left off Gunnar Gren of the renowned "Gre-No-Li" trio while taking the other two.
-- Gianni Rivera (1969), Andrei Shevchenko (2004), Ruud Gullit (1987) and Marco Van Basten (1988, 1989, 1992) all won Ballon d'or as a Milan player. George Weah (1995), Roanldo (2002) and Ronaldinho (2005) won theirs not when they played for the club.
-- AC Milan first won two European Cup in the 1960's. Gianni Rivera and Fabio Cudicini were on both winning teams. Cesare Maldini captained the 1962 team alongside José Altafini. Karl-Heinz Schnellinger played on 1969 team.
-- I selected Marcel Desailly as a defensive midfielder where he played for the 1994 AC Milan team. Roberto Rosato was probably the best central defender not selected. He was born on the same day as his team-mate Gianni Rivera, where they were known as "twins". Giovanni Trapattoni, Filippo Galli, Fulvio Collovati and Thiago Silva also made honorable mentions.
-- Clarence Seedorf was a big part of that "Diamond" midfield formation under Carlos Ancelotti that also included Gattuso, Pirlo, and Kaká. He also played 10 seasons in Milan. Rui Costa and Zvonimir Boban were also important players in their time. But I left them on honorable mentions. Rui Costa's peak was with Fiorentina. In Milan, he had a starring role, but his struggled with some injuries and later, sidelined by the arrival of Kaka. Along with Dejan Savicevic, Boban helped AC Milan to win the Champions' League in 1994. Milan placed him on the left side of midfield, with Donadoni playing on the right. Savicevic was pushed to the front next to Daniele Massaro. The result was a 4-0 rout of Barcelona's "Dream" team. Boban was as important as Savicevic, but Savicevic played an incredible final that became a lasting memory, especially Yugoslavia was banned from the World Cup that year.
-- AC Milan went undefeated in the 1993-1994 season, allowing a remarkable tally of merely 15 goals. The defensive prowess showcased by Milan during that year is widely recognized as unparalleled in the annals of football history. I selected all of the main defensive players from the team. Sebastiano Rossi, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta, Mauro Tassotti and Marcel Desailly. From their pool of offensive players, I only selected Roberto Donadoni and Dejan Savićević.
-- The back-to-back European Cup team in the late 1980's consisted of a similar defensive line. Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta also played in that era. I also took Frank Rijkaard. From their offensive line, I included Roberto Donadoni, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten.
-- Paolo Maldini would win two more Champions' league in the 2000's. Kaka played on one of them while Andrei Shevchenko, Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Nesta won both.
Goalkeepers
-- I went with two old-timers: Lorenzo Buffon and Fabio Cudicini. Lorenzo Buffon is often listed as AC Milan's greatest goalkeeper. He won four scudetti in 1950's. Please do not confuse him with Gianluigi Buffon. The two Buffons are actually related. Lorenzo was a cousin of Gianluigi's grandfather. Although Fabio Cudicini never represented the Italy national football team, he is widely recognized as one of Italy's all-time greats in that position. He is primarily remembered for his remarkable and influential tenure at A.C. Milan. Notably, he played a pivotal role in their triumphant victory in the 1969 European Cup Final, along with numerous other domestic, European, and international honors.
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| Lorenzo Buffon |
-- Similarly, Sebastiano Rossi, despite receiving two call-ups, never made an appearance for the national team. However, he played a crucial role as a vital player in Fabio Capello's "Invincibles" team, which remained undefeated and won the Champions League. He once held the league record for the longest streak without conceding a goal (929 minutes). He currently holds the Serie A record for fewest goals conceded in a single 34-game season (11). He spent over a decade with the club, while his peak years spanned approximately six seasons, a duration similar to that of Gianluigi Donnarumma, making Donnarumma a possible candidate for the team. In 2015, Gianluigi Donnarumma became the second-youngest goalkeeper ever to debut in Serie A, aged 16 years and 242 days. By the time he departed for PSG, he has spent 6 seasons in Milan. He might have been a better goalkeeper, but he only made honorable mention because he was less decorated than Cudicini and Rossi. So I went with Rossi as the third goalkeeper.
-- Albertosi Enrico was old when he joined Milan. His best years were behind him. Dida actually deserved to be on the team. He had won a Champions League with the club. He also played over 300 games for the club. Christian Abbiati made more appearance for Milan than any other goalkeeper in history. Giorgio Ghezzi became the first Italian goalkeeper to win the European Cup when AC Milan beat Benfica in the Final. Giovanni Galli started in both of the club's back-to-back European Cup victories in 1989 and 1990. They made honorable mentions.
Defenders
-- In the 1993-94 season, Milan accomplished an extraordinary feat by securing their third consecutive Serie A title, conceding a remarkable total of only 15 goals. They also won the Champions' League that season with a convincing victory over Barcelona. Their defense during this era is widely regarded as the best in the history of the game. Individually, Paulo Maldini is known as the greatest ever leftback , while Franco Baresi is recognized as one of the finest liberos ever to grace the sport. Alessandro Costacurta primarily played as a center back but exhibited versatility across the entire defensive line. Mauro Tassotti might not be the greatest rightback ever. But he had a long service to the club. He spent 17 seasons during Milan's greatest eras.
-- Alessandro Nesta was another undisputed choice for a central defender. Then, I selected Cesare Maldini because he was the captain who brought home the first European Cup. The other three central defenders were set before I began.
-- Alessandro Nesta was another undisputed choice for a central defender. Then, I selected Cesare Maldini because he was the captain who brought home the first European Cup. The other three central defenders were set before I began.
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| Cesare Maldini |
-- So I was left with two spots for the fullback position from each side. Cafu was simply one of the best rightback in history. While in Milan, he was named on the UEFA Team of the Year twice. Angelo Anquilletti, Christian Panucci and Giuseppe Sabadini made honorable mentions. The second leftback spot went to Karl-Heinz Schnellinger. He was almost undisputed, but the younger fans might have taken Kakha Kaladze. Kaladze succeeded Maldini as Milan's starting left-back, which was a very hard act to follow. Meanwhile, Maldini seamlessly transitioned to the central defense, instantly establishing himself as the one of the best central defenders, further solidifying his status as one of the best in the game. Luigi Radice, Aldo Maldera and Renzo De Vecchi were other notable leftbacks.
Midfielders/Wingers
-- For the deep defensive position, I first took Frank Rijkaard and Marco Desailly. Frank Rijkaard played a crucial role in the team's success during the late 1980s and early 1990s. As a defensive midfielder, he played a vital part in Milan's triumphs, including winning back-to-back European Cups. Marcel Desailly, on the other hand, joined Milan in 1993 and became an integral part of the team's defense. Both were two of the greatest defensive midfielders ever played in the game. I left off Giovanni Lodetti, Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini and Romeo Benetti.
-- Andreas Pirlo is one of the most underrated players in history. He was critical to the successes of AC Milan. His departure to Juventus changed the balance of power in Serie A. I could not take his midfield partner Gennaro Gattuso. Gattuso and Pirlo were also the main reasons why Italy won the World Cup in 2006. I would love to take Demetrio Albertini or Carlo Ancelotti as backups for Pirlo, but I had no space for them. Ancelotti was a box-to-box midfielder. The team might need his type of player.
-- Kaka's outstanding performances in the 2006-2007 Champions' League led to him winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or award. Gianni Rivera also won the Ballon d'Or in 1969. He led AC Milan to win two European Cups in 1963 and 1969. He was Italy's "Golden Boy "in the 1960's and perhaps, AC Milan's greatest Italian player. Dejan Savicevic was underrated. He was unable to participate in a major international tournament in his prime. He often got overlooked as one of the all-time greats. He destroyed Johan Cruyff's Barcelona in the Final of 1994 Champions' League Final. His performance in the Final was considered to be one of the greatest individual performances in the history of the tournament. Nils Liedholm carried the team in one of their most successful domestic periods. Ruud Gullit could also be considered as an attack midfielder. So this team is overloaded with five attacking midfielders.
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| Dejan Savicevic |
-- Dejan Savicevic and Rudd Guilt also operated on the right. So I did not select a true winger. On the left, I added Roberto Donadoni. He was a major contributor to AC Milan's best years. I took him over Alberico Evani. Leonaldo played mainly on the left in Milan, but he was a playmaker. I preferred Donadoni who was a true winger. Rafael Leão won the Serie A of the Year in 2022, but he still has a long way before he would be considered.
-- Roberto Baggio's career with Milan was not as good as some of the players listed. His best years were not with the club.
Forwards
-- Jose Altafini is the joint-fourth highest scorer in history of Serie A, with 216 goals, sharing this position with Giuseppe Meazza. He also holds the distinction of being the fifth-youngest player in Serie A history to reach 100 goals, accomplishing this milestone at the age of 24 years and 239 days.
-- Gunnar Nordahl held the prestigious title of AC Milan's all-time leading scorer. Unfortunately, Gunnar Gren was dropped from the team due to the abundance of talented attackers. He was the third member of the renowned "Gre-No-Li" trio. Although it was a difficult decision, not everyone from that formidable attacking line could be selected. However, in a different era, all three of the famous Dutch trio from the 1980s were chosen for the team. AC Milan in the late 1980s was widely regarded as one of the greatest club sides in history. During his time at AC Milan, Marco van Basten achieved numerous individual awards. He won the Ballon d'Or award in 1988, 1989, and 1992. In addition, he was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992. His teammate Ruud Guilt also needed no introduction. He was named World Soccer Player of the Year twice, and the 1989 award was related to his performance in Milan.
-- Andriy Shevchenko, also enjoyed a remarkable career and garnered numerous individual accolades during his time in Milan. In 2004, he was honored with Ballon d'Or award. He netted 9 goals in the 2005-2006 season, cementing his reputation as a formidable striker on the European stage. In Serie A, he was recognized as the Foreign Footballer of the Year in 2000. He also clinched the Serie A top scorer title in the 1999-2000 season with 24 goals and repeated the feat in the 2003-04 season.
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| Andriy Shevchenko |
-- While George Weah was great at Milan, he did not win the European Cup/Champions League. I tended to reward players with winning the bigger trophies. Milan happened to be a team full of championship winning teams. Filippo Inzaghi spent over 10 seasons in Milan. He also won many trophies, but it would be hard for him to beat the ones selected for a spot.
-- Zlatan Ibrahimović played two seasons before leaving for PSG in 2012. He returned in 2020. He won two league titles and finished as the league top scorer once while in Milan. But the ones selected were more decorated.
-- Pierino Prati, Aldo Boffi, and Giuseppe Santagostino were old-timers who also deserved spots on the team.Formation
I opted for a formation similar to the Christmas tree formation used by Carlos Ancelotti. I started Van Basten with Nordalh. Shevchenko was the alternative. Gullit played on the right side. He is versatile enough to adopt this unfamiliar role. I chose Tassotti over Cafu because Tassotti was more "Milan" than Cafu.
