Roberto Baggio · Italy
Photo : CC BY-SA 4.0 — AbolfaZl0990 (Wikimedia Commons)
Baggio missed the penalty that lost Italy the 1994 World Cup final, and it is the first thing said about him — which is unfair, because he had carried them there. He scored five goals in the knockout rounds of that tournament while barely fit, including two in the semi-final against Bulgaria.
He won the Ballon d’Or in 1993 and played for Fiorentina, Juventus, Milan, Bologna, Inter and Brescia. His 1990 transfer from Fiorentina to Juventus caused riots in Florence, and when he returned with Juventus he refused to take a penalty against his old club.
The ponytail, the Buddhism and a long sequence of knee injuries made him the most recognisable Italian player of his era. He scored 205 Serie A goals, fourth on the all-time list, across a career in which he was rarely first choice for a coach who fully trusted him.
Club career
| Years | Club | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982–1985 | Vicenza | 36 | 13 |
| 1985–1990 | Fiorentina | 94 | 39 |
| 1990–1995 | Juventus | 141 | 78 |
| 1995–1997 | AC Milan | 51 | 12 |
| 1997–1998 | Bologna | 30 | 22 |
| 1998–2000 | Inter Milan | 41 | 9 |
| 2000–2004 | Brescia | 95 | 45 |
| Total | 488 | 218 |
International career
| Years | Team | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–2004 | Italy | 56 | 27 |
Honours
Dashed = runner-up.
Related legends
Career figures compiled from public records. Competitive senior appearances only.