COUPE DU MONDE 2026 · 11 JUIN – 19 JUIL · ÉTATS-UNIS · CANADA · MEXIQUE

Paolo Maldini — Defender, Italy

Légendes #3

Paolo Maldini

The Milan captain who made defending elegant, combining longevity, timing, leadership, and effortless cool across two decades.

Pays
🇮🇹 Italy
Rôle
Defender
Époque
1985-2009

À propos de Paolo Maldini

Paolo Maldini is the standard by which elegant defenders are still measured. A one-club icon for AC Milan, he played at left-back and centre-back with rare intelligence, balance, and restraint. His career stretched across generations, collecting European trophies and defining a vision of defending built on positioning, timing, and leadership rather than desperation.

TEMPS FORTS DE CARRIÈRE

1985

AC Milan debut

Maldini made his senior debut as a teenager, beginning a 24-year first-team career at Milan.

1994

European dominance

He helped Milan beat Barcelona in the Champions League final, one of the defining defensive displays of the era.

2007

Final Champions League title

As captain, Maldini lifted the Champions League again with Milan at age 38.

QUESTIONS FRÉQUENTES

Why is Paolo Maldini considered one of the greatest defenders?

His longevity, tactical intelligence, clean defending, leadership, and European success made him a benchmark defender.

Did Paolo Maldini only play for AC Milan?

Yes. Maldini spent his entire senior club career with AC Milan from 1985 to 2009.

What positions did Paolo Maldini play?

He played mainly as a left-back and later as a centre-back.

PLUS DE LÉGENDES

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