GOAL breaks down the Italian defender's journey from son of a legend to legend himself
Long before he burst onto the scene at AC Milan, Paolo Maldini's last name was legendary in Italy. His father, Cesare, was an icon for both Milan and the national team, a captain for both club and country. A dominant defender in his playing days, Cesare Maldini went on to manage AC Milan, too, making him one of the most important figures in history for one of the world's biggest clubs.
All of that is to say that the name Maldini carried weight and, for many, that weight would have been crushing. The moment Paolo Maldini was born, that weight was thrust upon him. He spent his entire childhood being looked at as Cesare's boy as he followed in the footsteps of his father for both club and country.
So how did Maldini shoulder that weight? How did he respond to the massive expectations thrown on him? Well, he simply became perhaps the best defender this sport has ever seen. Not bad… not bad, at all.
By the time his own career was over, Maldini redefined what his own last name meant. Over the course of two-and-a-half decades, Maldini won everything there is to win, reinventing himself as a player over and over again. His time at Milan was iconic. No player is more synonymous with a club than Maldini and Milan.
Born amid unrelenting pressure, Maldini exceeded every expectation, becoming an all-time great. To coincide with the release of his Future Stars Icon card on EA Sports FC24 on PlayStation 5, GOAL takes a look back at Maldini's journey and how he went from Future Star to ICON…
GettyWhere it all began
Maldini was born to play football, that much is clear. It didn't take long for him to prove that, either.
He rapidly rose through the club's youth teams and made his senior debut for the club at just 16 years old during the 1984-85 season. That was his only appearance during that Serie A season, but, at the start of the next campaign, Maldini was thrust right into the starting XI as a right-back. Notably, he was also handed the No.3 shirt that previously belonged to his father, too, cementing him as a player to watch for a rising Milan team.
He won his first Scudetto in the 1987-88 season, anchoring a legendary Milan side that would be remembered as "The Immortals". Featuring the likes of Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Franco Baresi, the Rossoneri were loaded with legends and conceded just 14 goals throughout an entire Serie A season. Over the next two years, Maldini and Milan lifted back-to-back European Cups as the defender cemented his place among the best in the game.
AdvertisementThe big break
Although he is likely best known for his skills as a centerback, Maldini's early career was defined by his play on the outside. Having started on the right, he was eventually moved to the left by manager Arrigo Sacchi, highlighting Maldini's ability to play with both feet.
Still at the height of their powers, Milan took things to an even higher level during the 1991-92 season, going unbeaten for 58 matches to earn the "Invincibles" monicker. Under Fabio Capello, Maldini and Milan won three consecutive Serie A titles and reached three consecutive Champions League finals, establishing Milan as the top side in the world.
After winning a third Champions League trophy and reaching the 1994 World Cup final, Maldini truly arrived on the world stage. He finished third in that year's Ballon d'Or voting, a massive achievement for a defender, and finished fifth in the FIFA World Cup Player of the Year voting.
By 1994, at just age 26, Maldini had already won four Serie A titles, three Champions League titles, three European Super Cups and had been to a World Cup final. Following Franco Baresi's retirement, he was also handed Italy's captaincy and, ahead of the 1996-97 season, he was rewarded with the armband at Milan as well.
GettyBecoming an ICON
After being handed the captaincy, Maldini ushered in a new era of AC Milan dominance. Throughout the final years of the 20th century, the club's performance dipped a little as the players that formed the backbone of that early-90s side aged out. Maldini, then, was entrusted to be the face and leader of a new generation, one which went on to reach incredible heights as well.
As the figurehead of a backline that also featured Alessandro Nesta and Cafu, Maldini and Milan won the 2002-03 Champions League, his first as a captain. That win, which came over Juventus, came exactly 40 years after his father, Cesare, also lifted the trophy as Milan's captain. Maldini, of course, was Man of the Match, solidifying his place among the game's legendary defenders.
Now a centerback, Maldini went on to win one more Champions League in 2006-07 after infamously losing to Liverpool in the final the year prior. He went on to play all the way until 2009, making 902 total appearances for Milan. In total, he won 26 trophies with the Rossoneri, who retired his No.3 shirt after his retirement.
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GettyBiggest strengths
Where do you even begin? It's difficult to break down everything Maldini could do given the fact that he was a superstar at two different positions.
As a fullback, Maldini showcased fantastic pace and stamina, while also showing off the famous tackling and defending that would define his play as a centerback later in his career. The Italian was an underrated crosser of the ball, too, popping up with goals and assists that often go overlooked due to that defensive prowess.
That defensive prowess, though, is what made him a legend. One of the best pure defenders of all time, Maldini was a master of marking. Always aware of his surroundings, Maldini's positioning was unmatched, leaving few gaps for even the world's best attackers to exploit.
From a leadership perspective, too, there were few better, as evidenced by his trophy count and the trust put in him by both Milan and Italy to lead them as their captain.