One of the most successful football teams in the sport’s history is Football Club Internazionale Milano or Inter Milan. With one FIFA World Cup Championship, three UEFA Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, seven Italian Cups, five Italian Super Cups, and an incredible eighteen Serie A Championships, the club has achieved great success and amassed an impressive array of honors. Inter has won several titles over the course of its lengthy history. Since its founding in 1908, Inter Milan has established itself as a reliable contender in the football world. They have won in almost every period of the game’s history. The tremendous success that Inter Milan has experienced can be attributed to the gifted players who have graced the team. Few teams have the kind of historical talent that Inter Milan possesses. Find the list of The Top 10 Inter Milan Players of All Time below.
The Top 10 Inter Milan Players of All Time
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
One of the most well-known players in the modern era of football, Zlatan gained his reputation and respect by having an influence on each squad he played for during his playing career. Despite having a brief tenure, Zlatan turned Inter Milan into one of the sport’s most dangerous teams from 2006 to 2009. In his debut season, the prolific striker made an immediate impression on everyone. With 15 goals in his debut season, Ibrahimovic led Inter in Serie A goals scored. He was a key member of the team that established a record with 97 points to win the Scudetto.
Additionally, he saved the day for Inter against Roma in the 2008 Supercoppa Italiana by successfully completing his penalty kick. During his time at Inter, Zlatan has also received praise for himself. Ibrahimovic won the titles of Foreign Footballer of the Year and Footballer of the Year in the Serie A seasons 2007–08 and 2008–09. He starts off our list of The Top 10 Inter Milan Players of All Time.
Alessandro Altobelli
Without a doubt, Altobelli is among the greatest attackers to have ever played for Inter. From 1977 until 1988, the prolific goal scorer was a member of Inter Milan and made significant contributions to the team’s success during that time. During his playing career with Inter, Alessandro Altobelli, one of the greatest Italian forwards of all time, made 466 appearances and scored 209 goals. With nine, nine, and fifteen goals in the three competitions, he was an important member of the Inter teams who won the Coppa Italia in 1977–1978 and 1981–1982, as well as the Scudetto in 1979–1980. In addition, Altobelli led Inter Milan to victory in the 1981–82 Coppa Italia, finishing first in the competition.
Mario Corso
The late Mario Corso, one of the greatest left-wingers in Italian history, had a distinguished career with Inter Milan, joining the team from 1957 until 1973. At the tender age of 16, Corso made his Inter debut. During his time there, he made 502 appearances, scored 94 goals, and amassed 94 goals altogether. “God’s Left Foot” was renowned for his great degree of proficiency in his gameplay and his lethal crossing abilities. With the use of these instruments, Inter was able to win four Serie A championships, two Intercontinental Cups, and two European Cups. During his tenure at Inter, the team advanced to both the Coppa Italia and another European Cup Final.
Giuseppe Bergomi
From 1979 to 1999, Giuseppe Bergomi played all of his professional games for Inter Milan. Bergomi, who played 756 games with Inter, is regarded as one of the best Italian defenders ever. When he retired from Inter in 1999, he had the most appearances with 756, but Javier Zanetti has since surpassed that record.
Bergomi was a versatile defender who could adjust to any situation the other team put him in. He scored a career-high 28 goals by using his quickness and athleticism to create attacking opportunities. His offensive game was as excellent. He helped Inter win one Italian Cup, one Italian Super Cup, two Scudettos, and three UEFA Cups thanks to his durability and defensive prowess. In fact, in 2004 the great Pele listed Bergomi as one of the 125 best football players of all time.
Sandro Mazzola
Another one-club man, Sandro Mazzola played professionally for Inter Milan for 17 seasons, from 1960 to 1977. Mazzola was an accomplished forward who played for Inter Milan for a total of 565 games. Mazzola was a talented player who made significant contributions to his team with his quickness, vigor, and cunning. When he was playing, the acrobatic Mazzola proved to be one of the best forwards in the game and had an excellent defensive work rate as well. Over the course of his long career, he scored 158 goals for Inter.
Mazzola led Inter’s team from 1970 until his retirement. After winning four Serie A championships, two Intercontinental Cups, two European cups, and one European Championship, he retired in 1977. In the 1964–1965 Serie A Season, he was the leading scorer; in the 1971 Ballon d’Or, he came in second.
Luis Suarez
Throughout his career, the Spanish-born Luis Suarez played for numerous teams. He primarily played for Inter Milan from 1961 until 1970, when he may have had his peak performance. When Suarez was bought by Inter Milan for £142,000, he was the most expensive football player in the world at the time.
Suarez played for Inter in 328 games and scored 54 goals overall. He was the center of attention in Helenio Herrera’s “Grande Inter” because of his exceptional playmaking and explosiveness. He made a significant contribution to the black and blue and is known as one of the best Spanish footballers. Three Serie A championships, two Intercontinental Cups, and two Coppa dei Campionis were won by Inter with Suarez on the team.
Ronaldo
Even though Ronaldo’s tenure at Inter Milan was brief, his illustrious career would not exist today if not for those years. The Brazilian striker signed a record-breaking £25 million contract with Inter Milan in 1997. Most people agree that Fenomeno is among the all-time great football players. He was a superb scorer with exceptional technical ability who could attack and weave through defenders with his dribbling abilities. In addition to his scoring and playmaking prowess, his ability to span the field also made him one of the greatest forwards of all time.
Ronaldo made 99 games for Inter Milan, where he assisted the squad in winning the 1998 UEFA Cup. He set a record for the most goals scored by a player in his first Serie A season with 25 during his first season with the team. During his tenure at Inter, he has also amassed a long list of personal accolades, such as being named the 1998 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year, UEFA Most Valuable Player, Serie A Footballer of the Year, and UEFA Best Forward.
Javier Zanetti
Javier Zanetti is the player with the most games played for Inter Milan in the club’s history. The contemporary icon joined Inter in 1995 and, up until 2014, was a key member of the team. He has played for the team in 858 appearances overall. Though not the most visually appealing player, the Argentine defender provided the team with the perseverance and leadership it required. In addition to having unmatched agility, feel for the game, and endurance, he also had offensive and defensive abilities that made him a threat all around.
Zanetti guided Inter Milan to an incredible 16 trophies during his long career, including five consecutive Serie A crowns, a UEFA Cup, a Club World Cup, a Champions League triumph, four Supercoppa Italiana championships, and four Coppa Italia championships.
Giacinto Facchetti
Another renowned Inter Milan defender with a stellar career with the team is Giacinto Facchetti. From 1960 until 1978, he was a member of Helenio Herrera’s “Grande Inter,” playing for Inter. For the team, Facchetti made a total of 634 appearances. Fachetti, regarded as one of the all-time great full-backs, revolutionized the way the position was performed. His exceptional physique, strength, and endurance were matched by his potent shot and deft crossing technique. It made him a threat wherever he was on the field. For Inter Milan, he scored 75 goals in all.
The legendary Inter Milan squad that won four Serie A titles, two European crowns, two Continental trophies, and one Coppa Italia included the late Fachetti. In 2015, the Italian Football Hall of Fame inducted him posthumously as a tribute to his achievements.
Giuseppe Meazza
The stadium of Inter Milan bears the name of Giuseppe Meazza, thus it’s hard to claim that someone is superior. The esteemed striker made 408 appearances for Inter Milan during his playing career, which spanned from 1927 to 1940. He later returned to finish his playing career with the team in the 1946–47 campaign. Meazza’s style of play is unmatched, and he was a pleasure to watch and difficult to play. His inventiveness on the field when it comes to passing, dribbling, and scoring.
Almost a century after he started playing for the Internazionale, he is still regarded as Italy’s greatest player of all time with a record 284 goals scored for the team. Meazza was a well-liked boss who had remarkable accomplishments with Inter Milan. Inter Milan won three Scudetti, the Mitropa Cup, and the Coppa Italia during Meazza’s tenure with the team. He tops our list of The Top 10 Inter Milan Players of All Time.
For more football previews, click here