Top 10 Best Italian Football Players in the World (Ranked)

Italy has been a hub of football over the years and has given some magnificent players in the past, and continues to produce exceptional talent. The Serie A remains one of the most competitive leagues in the world, and rightfully so; the talent that is being carved out in the league raises standards each year. Despite losing the UEFA Champions League 2025 Final, Inter Milan showcased immense dedication and dominance throughout the campaign, showing how good the Italian football scenario is.

From Nicolò Barella’s exceptional ball control and talent to Alessandro Bastoni’s tackling prowess and ball-playing ability, Italy is graced with some unique and extraordinary talents at the moment, which further makes them one of the most lethal sides at the international level. Italy was also regarded as one of the strongest defensive sides in recent years, given their hard-hitting defenders. Join us as we take a look at some of the best Italian football players of the current generation.

List of Best Italian Footballers Currently

As Italian sides continue to dominate the scene and are giving some phenomenal talents each year, there are some top-notch contenders to be on the Top 10 list, but we have carefully reviewed the performances of each player and summed them up for you in our list of the Top 10 best Italian football players.

Rank	Player	Position	Club
10	Moise Kean	Striker	Fiorentina
9	Davide Frattesi	Midfielder	Inter Milan
8	Mateo Retegui	Striker	Atalanta
7	Lorenzo Pellegrini	Midfielder	AS Roma
6	Destiny Udogie	Left-back	Tottenham Hotspur
5	Sandro Tonali	Midfielder	Newcastle United
4	Federico Dimarco	Left-back	Inter Milan
3	Alessandro Bastoni	Centre-back	Inter Milan
2	Nicolò Barella	Midfielder	Inter Milan
1	Gianluigi Donnarumma	Goalkeeper	Paris Saint-Germain

How we Ranked the Best Italian Football Players?

While there is a flood of talent in Italy at the moment, there are some high-quality players from the pool that we have hand-picked in this Top 10 list. From Moise Kean’s goal-scoring prowess to Alessandro Bastoni’s dominant defense, we have various ranking factors on which these players have been judged and compared to rank them accordingly in our list of the best Italian football players currently.

• Performance Stats

Each player has various statistics throughout the season, making them stand out from the remaining pool of players, and that is what our most important ranking factor is. The number of goals scored, saved, or successful tackles made is one of the performance stats we look at while ranking the players.

• Consistency

Another key point in ranking these players is how consistent they are on the field. Avoiding or recovering from injuries in a quick time is a key asset for any player, and that must be considered while ranking players.

• Playing Position

Playing position also matters, as it becomes tough to compare two players who play in different positions. It is essential to know which position is important and accordingly rank the players according to the importance of their position.

• Impact in Key Matches

A player is truly tested in high-quality matches, like any knockout stage or the Finals of any tournament. If a player delivers on the big stage, he is destined for greatness, and that makes a player better than every other player on the team.

• Trophies/ Achievements

At the end of the day, it matters which player has won more trophies and championships and was part of the winning team. It is important to compare player based on their merit and how many trophies they have won to rank them.

Who are Italy’s Best Football Players Right Now?

As we have already given the list of the Top 10 best Italian Football players in the world right now, let us dive deep into the list and know why the players have been ranked in such a manner. While Italy undoubtedly has a huge list of talented footballers, these footballers have been ranked on their recent performances for their club and country, making this list solely for the current phase of football.

10. Moise Kean (Fiorentina)

The prolific Italian striker Moise Kean is one to look out for as he just had a bolstering season with Fiorentina, netting 19 goals along with 3 assists in 32 games for the club. His physicality includes his fast pace and explosive capabilities, making him a part of the list.

His previous spells at Juventus and Everton have been frustrating for the 25-year-old, but the way he has bounced back with Fiorentina in the 2024-25 season has been exceptionally well. He is regarded as one of the most promising aspects of Italian football, and the way he has carried himself in the last season, it remains to be seen if he will be able to capitalize on it and become one of the best Italian footballers shortly.

Appearances (2024-25)	Expected Goals (xG)	Goals	Assists
44	19.4	25	3

9. Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan)

The Italian midfielder Davide Frattesi is one of the most important players for Inter Milan and helped his team in the crucial knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League. His timely runs ahead of defenders and exquisite finishing inside the box are something that makes him one of the most brutal players in the team.

Being energetic and pacy, Davide Frattesi also provides extreme defensive prowess and aims to make great counter-attacking opportunities from the middle of the field. His versatile nature in play makes him eligible for playing as an attacking midfielder and even as a winger, hence being a huge asset for his team.

Appearances (2024-25)	Goals + Assists	Progressive Passes (Per 90)	Progressive Carries (Per 90)
47	9	2.25	1.73

8. Mateo Retegui (Atalanta)

Mateo Retegui is one of the most trustworthy Italian strikers currently and has undoubtedly provided some thrilling goals in his recent season for Atalanta. Since joining the Italian National team, he has been a great addition and a first-choice striker for his country after country legends like Ciro Immobile and Mario Balotelli.

Since joining Atalanta last season, he has been a beast for the side, scoring 25 goals in the Serie A, hence being the top goal scorer in the league for the 2024-25 season. As he continues to showcase immense goal-scoring abilities, only time will tell how the 26-year-old will perform in the upcoming seasons and whether he will be able to sustain his place at the top of Italy’s attack or not.

Appearances (2024-25)	Expected Goals (xG)	Goals	Assists
49	18.9	28	8

7. Lorenzo Pellegrini (AS Roma)

The Attacking midfielder, Lorenzo Pellegrini, is currently one of the most decorated Italian players and is known for his versatility on the field. The 29-year-old has great on-field creativity, which can be seen in his extraordinary through balls, which have led to several goals for his side.

Being a huge asset for Roma, he is also a great player for his country and has made huge headlines for his dedicated ball control and big-match temperament. Being AS Roma’s captain, Pellegrini has been delivering on the big stage and continues to operate on the highest level, and is certainly one of the best Italian footballers of the current generation.

Appearances (2024-25)	Goals + Assists	Progressive Passes (Per 90)	Progressive Carries (Per 90)
34	7	3.24	1.71

6. Destiny Udogie (Tottenham Hotspur)

The Italian left-back Destiny Udogie is one of the most prolific and promising left-backs in the current Italian footballing scenario. The Tottenham Hotspur man has previously played for Hellas Verona and also had loan spells at Udinese.

Considered a great player given his age and position, the 21-year-old has plenty of potential, which can be seen in his attacking prowess. His pace, dribbling, and ability to make long runs forward are what make him one of the most promising talents for his team. If he continues this form, he might become one of Italy best football players.

Appearances (2024-25)	Aerial Duels Won (Per 90)	Blocks (Per 90)	Interceptions (Per 90)
46	0.54	1.67	1.07

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5. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United)

Sandro Tonali is another bright talent of Italian football who continues to be on the rise for his immense skills and is considered a maestro in midfield. The 25-year-old currently plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League and is known for his tireless energy on the pitch, which further makes him a great defensive midfielder and one of Italy best football players.

Tonali has a great passing range and also makes calculated runs forward, making him a lethal midfielder all around. Since joining the Premier League side, he has been a great asset, controlling the midfield with his versatility and tactical intelligence.

Appearances (2024-25)	Goals + Assists	Progressive Passes (Per 90)	Progressive Carries (Per 90)
55	11	4.38	1.27

4. Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan)

The Italian defender Federico Dimarco has garnered huge popularity for his extraordinary abilities showcased in his left-back position at Inter Milan and the Italian national team. The 27-year-old has great attacking strength, making him a lethal defender for his side and hence generating exceptional crosses and set pieces.

Pundits have included him in lists of the best defenders in the world right now, and rightfully so. Dimarco has been showcasing an immense work rate and athleticism. Being regarded as one of the best full-backs at the moment in Serie A, he has been a huge asset for Inter and the Italian football team.

Appearances (2024-25)	Aerial Duels Won (Per 90)	Blocks (Per 90)	Interceptions (Per 90)
65	0.23	1.05	0.69

3. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan)

The 26-year-old centre back Alessandro Bastoni has already showcased his brilliance and defensive capabilities for several seasons with Inter and is undoubtedly one of the most lethal defenders in the game currently. Being the defender of the 2024-25 season in Serie A, Bastoni is considered to be the best defender in the world by many and one of the best Italian football players of all time.

His marking prowess, ball control, keen passing, and tactical flexibility make him a huge threat to the opposition. He is also dangerous from set pieces and is a step ahead in the air. Being a well-rounded defender, Bastoni continues to be one of Italy best football players.

Appearances (2024-25)	Aerial Duels Won (Per 90)	Blocks (Per 90)	Interceptions (Per 90)
73	1.32	1.19	0.80

2. Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan)

There might be no one better in the midfield than Nicolò Barella at the moment in Italy. The 28-year-old has been making headlines for his impressive work rate and technical ability throughout the 2024-25 season, and his performances against huge teams like Barcelona and Bayern Munich exactly prove the point.

Being a top-tier central midfielder for Inter and Italy, his box-to-box style and exquisite passing ability make him an all-around asset for the team. Barella also aims to be a strong tackler and interceptor, disrupting various opposition attacks. It remains to be seen how his career trajectory unfolds ahead, as he is currently regarded as one of the best Italian footballers.

Appearances (2024-25)	Goals + Assists	Progressive Passes (Per 90)	Progressive Carries (Per 90)
67	12	7.85	2.14

1. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)

There might be no argument in putting the goalkeeping maestro Gianluigi Donnarumma at the top of the list. The amount of saves the 26-year-old has made in the previous made his team win the UEFA Champions League, and that alone might be enough to put him on top. Being relatively young and having so potential at the moment, Donnarumma is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, let alone being one of the best Italian football players.

His shot-stopping ability and penalty saves have already buzzed the internet over the years, and being a great tactical passer, Donnarumma was also named the best goalkeeper in the world by CIES. As he has already paved the way for PSG to win their first UEFA Champions League, only time will tell what his career trajectory will be in the upcoming years. As of now, he is undoubtedly one of the best football players in Italy.

Appearances (2024-25)	Total Clean Sheets	Total Saves	Shots Save % (Per 90)
59	16	75	68.3

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