“I’m the best player in history”

Paolo Maldini He is an undisputed football legend, but he considers himself one of the “biggest losers” in history and perhaps his bitter career has something to do with it. Italy in Euro Cupsa tournament missing from his record and he only held in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2000.

“I am the most defeated player in history. I have won a lot, but I have lost three Champions League finals, one European Super Cup final, three Intercontinental finals, one World Cup final, one European Championship final and the World Cup semi-final,” he said in an Instagram live with Christian Vieri, recalling his career.

“With so many wins, I saw those lost finals as part of the game and I accepted it without a problem. But in 2006 Lippi called me but I refused to go to the World Cup. Then, when Italy won, I thought : I’m jinxed. I made a record of appearances, a record of minutes… But that’s life, you have to accept the result,” he added.

The legendary Milan full-back, who retired from football in 2009, played a total of 13 games in the three European Championships he played in, where he amassed a record of seven wins, three draws and three losses. Additionally, he played 90 minutes in 10 of those 13 games.

He debuted at 19 years old, in June 1988.

He made his debut at the age of 19, on June 10, 1988 in a tournament held in West Germany. They drew against the hosts, beat Spain and Denmark in the group stage and lost in the semi-finals against the USSR. 8 years later, he played in his second Euro Cup, already at 27. In the 1992 edition, Italy did not qualify after falling behind the Soviet Union in the previous round.

On June 11, 1966, in England, they did not advance to the group stage. They beat Russia, but lost against the Czech Republic and tied with Germany on the final day. It was in his third appearance that he came closest to glory. At the Euro Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands 2000, where he turned 32, also captained Italy.

The ‘Azzurra’ completed an impeccable group stage with victories over Türkiye, Belgium and Sweden. In the quarterfinals they easily defeated Romania and in the semifinals they faced the other host. That match against the Netherlands was an exercise in endurance. Italy played one down from the 34th minute due to the sending off of Gianluca Zambrotta and held on for a 0-0 draw despite conceding two penalties, which Frank De Boer and Patrick Kluivert missed.

Penalties decided the rivalry. Totti’s shot like Panenka’s and Maldini’s missed, but Italy made it to the grand final, where they lost thanks to Trezeguet’s legendary golden goal. There, on the brink of glory, ended Euro Cup aspirations for a legend left on the brink of one of the few titles missing from his extensive record.