Who is the best defender in Serie A history?

Milan and Juventus icons headline the most storied defensive tradition in the game. Who was the best?

1

Paolo Maldini

Milan one-club legend regarded as one of the greatest defenders ever.

2

Franco Baresi

Milan sweeper whose reading of the game set the gold standard.

3

Giacinto Facchetti

Inter icon and pioneer of the attacking full-back role.

4

Alessandro Nesta

Lazio and Milan centre-back famed for impeccable positioning.

5

Gaetano Scirea

Juventus libero of rare elegance and a one-club great.

6

Fabio Cannavaro

Commanding centre-back who won the Ballon d'Or while at Juventus.

7

Giorgio Chiellini

Juventus warrior centre-back and serial Scudetto winner.

8

Leonardo Bonucci

Juventus ball-playing centre-back and a pillar of their dominance.

9

Claudio Gentile

Juventus man-marker famed for shackling the world's best forwards.

10

Giuseppe Bergomi

Inter one-club stalwart nicknamed Lo Zio across two decades.

11

Ciro Ferrara

Napoli and Juventus centre-back and a defensive mainstay of the 1990s.

12

Alessandro Costacurta

Milan one-club defender and a long-serving partner to Maldini and Baresi.

13

Javier Zanetti

Inter's most-capped player, a versatile and durable full-back.