Greats Of The Game - Alessandro Nesta, Central Defender
Widely considered to be one of the best centre-backs of his time and also as one of the greatest defenders ever, he was best known for his pace, artistic tackles, elegance on the ball, distribution and tight marking of opponents.
He made over 400 Serie A appearances in a 20-year career spread between Lazio and Milan, winning domestic and European honours with both clubs as well as playing in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the Montreal Impact. He also had a stint with Chennaiyin FC of the Indian Super League. Nesta is a four-time Serie A Defender of the Year and a four-time member of the annual UEFA Team of the Year. In 2004, he was named as one of the Top 100 greatest living footballers as part of FIFA’s 100th anniversary celebration.
Club
Lazio
- Serie A (1): 1999–2000, Runner-up 1994–95, 1998–99
- Coppa Italia (2): 1997–98, 1999–2000
- Supercoppa Italiana (2): 1998, 2000
- UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (1): 1998–99
- UEFA Super Cup (1): 1999
- UEFA Cup: Runner-up 1997–98
Milan
- Serie A (2): 2004, 2011, Runner-up 2004–05, 2011–12
- Coppa Italia (1): 2002–03
- Supercoppa Italiana (2): 2004, 2011, Runner-up 2003
- UEFA Champions League (2): 2002–03, 2006–07, Runner-up 2004–05
- UEFA Super Cup (2): 2003, 2007
- FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2007, Runner-up 2003
Montreal Impact
- Canadian Championship (1): 2013
- Indian Super League (1): 2014
International
Italy
- FIFA World Cup (1): 2006
- UEFA Under-21 European Championship (1): 1996
- UEFA European Championship: Runner-up 2000
Individual
- Serie A Young Footballer of the Year (1): 1998
- Serie A Defender of the Year (4): 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
- Serie A Team of the Year (1): 2010–11
- UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (1): 2000
- UEFA Team of the Year (4): 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007
- ESM Team of the Year (1): 2000–01
- FIFPro World XI (2): 2005, 2007
- FIFA 100[62]
- UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll: #47
- A.C. Milan Hall of Fame
- All-time UEFA European Under-21 Championship dream team: 2015
- UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year (published 2015)