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?

Paolo Maldini

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

1/13

Franco Baresi

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

2/13

Giacinto Facchetti

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

3/13

Alessandro Nesta

Lazio and Milan centre-back famed for impeccable positioning.

4/13

Gaetano Scirea

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

5/13

Fabio Cannavaro

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

6/13

Giorgio Chiellini

Juventus warrior centre-back and serial Scudetto winner.

7/13

Leonardo Bonucci

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

8/13

Claudio Gentile

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

9/13

Giuseppe Bergomi

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

10/13

Ciro Ferrara

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

11/13

Alessandro Costacurta

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

12/13

Javier Zanetti

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

13/13