Football Club Internazionale Milano, better known as Inter Milan, is one of the most prolific football clubs in the history of the sport.
The club has found tremendous success, garnering a host of accolades, including one FIFA World Cup Championship, three UEFA Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, seven Italian Cups, five Italian Super Cups, and an astonishing 18 Serie A Championships.
These titles have been won throughout the long span of Inter’s extensive history. Established in 1908, Inter Milan has proven to be a consistent force to be reckoned with in the football world, and has won in virtually every era in the sport.
Fans of Inter Milan have the talented players that have graced the club to thank for the immense glory they have brought to Inter. Few teams can match the historic talent that Inter Milan has.
These players have had storied careers in football, and most of them have created their legends by bringing glory to Inter Milan.
In a team with a list of players, both present and former, as stacked as Inter Milan, debating on who the greatest players in the club’s history are may seem like an unending task.
But these players have created careers that simply stand out among the rest, and have left an enduring legacy to the historic club.
These are the top 10 players in the history of Inter Milan according lines.com.
10. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan is one of the most recognizable figures in present-day football, and he earned his respect and fame by making an impact on every team he has played for throughout his career.
His stint with Inter Milan may have been relatively short, but from 2006 to 2009, Zlatan made Inter one of the most dangerous teams in the sport.
The prolific striker immediately made his presence known in his first season. Ibrahimovic led Inter in goals scored in the Serie A during his first season where he scored 15 goals, and played a huge role in the club that won the Scudetto with a record-setting 97 points.
He also came in clutch in the 2008 Supercoppa Italiana by converting his penalty attempt to give Inter the win over Roma.
In his stay with Inter, Zlatan has also gathered accolades for himself. In the 2007-08 and the 2008-09 Serie A seasons, Ibrahimovic was named both Footballer of the Year and Foreign Footballer of the Year.
9. Alessandro Altobelli
Altobelli is undeniably one of the best strikers to ever play for Inter. The prolific goalscorer played for Inter Milan from 1977 to 1988, and has contributed greatly to Inter’s glory throughout those years.
Alessandro Altobelli, who is one of the best Italian forwards of his time, scored a total of 209 goals in 466 appearances throughout his playing days with Inter.
He was a key cog in the Inter squads that won the Coppa Italia in 1977-78 and 1981-82, and the Scudetto in 1979-80, scoring 10, 9, and 15 goals in the respective competitions.
Altobelli likewise finished the tournament as the top scorer in Inter Milan’s 1981-82 Coppa Italia win.
8. Mario Corso
One of the best Italian left wingers in the history of the game, the late Mario Corso enjoyed a storied career with Inter Milan, having played for the club from 1957 to 1973.
Corso made his debut for Inter at the young age of 16 and made a total of 502 appearances for Inter and has scored 94 goals in his years there.
“God’s Left Foot” was known for his deadly crossing ability and the high level of skill he employs in his game. He used these tools to help Inter win two Intercontinental Cups, two European Cups, and four Serie A titles. In his stay with Inter, the club was also able to make it to another European Cup Final and Coppa Italia Final.
7. Giuseppe Bergomi
Homegrown talent Giuseppe Bergomi spent his entire professional career playing for Inter Milan from 1979 to 1999. One of the greatest Italian defenders in history, Bergomi made a total of 756 appearances for Inter.
His 756 appearances was at the time the most appearances for Inter when he retired in 1999, but the record has since been broken by Javier Zanetti.
Bergomi was a defender who could do it all, and had the ability to adapt to anything the opposing team threw at him. His game was likewise impressive on the offensive end, as he used his quickness and athleticism to make offensive plays, scoring a total of 28 goals throughout his career.
His longevity and defensive acumen saw him help Inter win one Italian Cup, one Italian Super Cup, two Scudettos, and three UEFA Cups. In fact, the legendary Pele named Bergomi among the 125 greatest living footballers in 2004.
6. Sandro Mazzola
Sandro Mazzola is another one-club man who spent all 17 seasons he played professionally for Inter Milan from 1960 to 1977.
Mazzola was a skilled forward who belonged in the upper echelon of players in his generation, and he made a total of 565 appearances for Inter Milan.
Mazzola was a versatile player who contributed immensely to his club, and could do it all with his speed, energy, and tactics. The acrobatic Mazzola likewise had an impressive defensive work-rate, and established himself as one of the best forwards in the game during his playing days. He scored a total of 158 goals for Inter in his long career.
From 1970 until his retirement, Mazzola served as Inter’s team captain. He retired in 1977 having won one European Championship, two Intercontinental Cups, two European cups, and four Serie A titles. He finished as top scorer in the 1964-65 Serie A Season, and placed second in the 1971 Ballon d’Or.
5. Luis Suarez
The Spanish-born Luis Suarez played for many teams throughout his career, but he spent the bulk of his playing days and perhaps played at his highest level during his days with Inter Milan from 1961 to 1970. Suarez was at the time the world’s most expensive footballer when he was acquired by Inter Milan for £142,000.
Suarez made a total of 328 appearances and scored a total of 54 goals for Inter. His outstanding playmaking and explosiveness made him a focal point in Helenio Herrera’s “Grande Inter.”
He ended his career as one of the greatest Spanish players of all time, and contributed greatly to the black and blue. With Suarez in the club, Inter secured two Coppa dei Campionis, two Intercontinental Cups, and three Serie A titles.
4. Ronaldo
Ronaldo may not have had an extensive career with Inter Milan, but his legendary career would not be what it is today if not for his days with Inter.
In 1997, the Brazilian striker was signed by Inter Milan for what was then a record-breaking fee of £25 million.
Fenomeno is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. He was an excellent scorer who had outstanding technical ability, and used his dribbling skill to weave through defenses and attack. His crossing ability, together with his scoring and playmaking, made him one of the most complete forwards of all time as well.
In his time with Inter Milan which spanned 99 appearances, Ronaldo helped the team win the 1998 UEFA Cup. During his debut season with the club, he scored 25 goals, a record number of goals made by a player in his first Serie A season.
He has also collected a host of individual achievements in his time with Inter, including being named the UEFA Most Valuable Player, Serie A Footballer of the Year, UEFA Best Forward, and UEFA Club Footballer of the year all in 1998.
He was also hailed as the Serie A Player of the Decade when he played for Inter, and won the Ballon d’Or twice in his iconic career.
3. Javier Zanetti
No other player in the history of the club has played more games for Inter Milan than Javier Zanetti. The modern-day legend began playing for Inter in 1995 and has been one of the club’s centerpieces until 2014. He has made a total of 858 appearances for the club.
The Argentine defender wasn’t the flashiest of players, but he possessed the grit and leadership that the club needed. His stamina, athleticism, and feel for the game are difficult to match, and he also possessed defensive and offensive skills that made him an all-around threat.
Throughout his illustrious career with Inter Milan, Zanetti led the club to an astounding 16 trophies, which include a UEFA Cup, a Club World Cup, a Champions League title, four Supercoppa Italiana, four Coppa Italia championships, and five straight Serie A titles.
2. Giacinto Facchetti
Giacinto Facchetti is another legendary Inter Milan defender who has had a distinguished career with the club. He played for Inter from 1960 to 1978 and was part of Helenio Herrera’s “Grande Inter.” Facchetti made a total of 634 appearances for the club.
Recognized as one of the greatest full-backs in history, Fachetti changed the way the position was played. Apart from his superb stamina, power, and physicality, he also had a powerful shot and impressive crossing ability, making him a threat every time he is on the field. He scored a total of 75 goals for Inter Milan.
The late Fachetti was part of the iconic Inter Milan team that won one Coppa Italia, two European titles, two Continental trophies, and four Serie A titles. In recognition of his greatness and what he was able to bring to the game, he was posthumously inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
1. Giuseppe Meazza
It’s difficult to argue that someone is greater than Giuseppe Meazza when Inter Milan’s stadium itself is named after him. The revered striker played for Inter from 1927 to 1940, and returned to cap off his playing career with the club in the 1946-47 season, making a total of 408 appearances for Inter Milan.
The elegance in Meazza’s game is inimitable, and his creativity on the field, whether in scoring, dribbling, or passing, made him a joy to watch and a pain to play against.
He is arguably Italy’s greatest player of all time and the record of 284 goals he has scored for Inter is yet to be surpassed nearly a century after he began playing for the Internazionale.
Meazza was also a respected leader who led Inter Milan to great success. Throughout Meazza’s years with the club, Inter Milan won the Coppa Italia, the Mitropa Cup, and three Scudetti. He is an inductee of the Italian Football Hall of Fame and the legacy he left with Inter Milan is second to none.
