49erssports.com - The Italian national team is one of the best in the world today. Italy is the second country along with Germany to win the World Cup four times.
This achievement cannot be separated from the Italian players who performed consistently throughout the tournament. Consistency is also what finally gave birth to the coach's confidence to always lower his flagship player in every game.
This consistency is very well maintained for the Italian national team players, especially defenders. Italy, which is famous for its defensive football, is able to maintain the quality of their defenders from time to time.
The consistency of these defenders is also able to bring them to be the players with the most caps. Here are the four players with the most caps for the Italian national team.
Gianluigi Buffon
The most number of caps for the Italian national team fell to the name of Gianluigi Buffon. The legendary Italian goalkeeper was able to record 176 caps for games.
Naturally, if Buffon won that many caps. Because Buffon defended the Italian national team for 21 years starting from his debut in 1997.
But the consistency of Buffon's appearance in the Italian national team has also made him a coach's confidence. Buffon's record of 146 goals and 77 clean sheets in 176 matches is a testament to his toughness in goal.
Even though he has retired from the Italian national team, Buffon is still active as a football player. Until now, Buffon, who is 44 years old, is still defending the Serie B team, Parma.
Fabio Cannavaro
Fabio Cannavaro's name became the second player with the most number of caps for the Italian national team. The Italian centre-back in the late 1990s successfully recorded 136 caps.
Cannavaro managed to become an important figure in the Italian defense for several years. Cannavaro's position as an Italian centre-back was irreplaceable until finally retiring in 2010.
Cannavaro's greatness is proven by his contribution to bringing Italy to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The magnitude of Cannavaro's contribution at that time even brought him the Ballon d'or title in 2006.
Paolo Maldini
Another legendary Italian defender who has recorded many caps, Paolo Maldini. The former AC Milan defender has played a total of 126 games with Il Nerazzurri.
Playing at left-back, Paolo Maldini's place in the Italian national team has never been replaced. Maldini, who is one of the best left-backs in the world, has always won the trust of the Italian coach.
Maldini has defended the Italian national team for 15 years since his debut in 1987. Maldini is also famous for his loyalty to AC Milan which he defended throughout his career as a player.
Daniele De Rossi and Giorgio Chiellini
In fourth place there are two names that occupy it, namely Daniele De Rossi and Giorgio Chiellini. These two players are indeed one generation in the Italian national team.
Both debuted in 2004, De Rossi and Chiellini also recorded the same number of caps, namely 117. The only difference is the position of the two players.
De Rossi plays as a defensive midfielder while Chiellini as a central defender. In addition, De Rossi defended the Italian national team for 13 years while Chiellini was up to 18 years before finally retiring in the Italian national team.
Chiellini's partner in Italy, Leonardo Bonucci also collected 117 caps in the meantime. However, Bonucci has the potential to overtake his colleague considering that he is still very much needed by the Italian national team in defense.
Source: Transfermarkt