There is certainly no shortage of talent in the Serie A. In a nation known for its defense and tactics, the Serie A is an incredibly well-rounded league, with great players in all areas of the pitch.
While Italy’s premier soccer league may not be as well-respected as it once was, it is still home to some of the best players in the world. Today, I’ll be taking a look at the ten best players in the league. Who will come out on top?
Chiellini has been part of the Serie A since 2004, and the veteran defender has been a mainstay in both the league and the national team. The Italian is often criticized for his rough playing style, but he remains one of the best defenders in the world. Whether you like him or not, you can’t argue with the results.
Chiellini is a very brutish defender. He is not technically gifted; his dribbling skills are lackluster to say the least, and his passing skills are the exact opposite of Bonucci’s. He is not elegant or classy, nor does he try to be. Chiellini is a very simple defender; he is tough, and he plays with heart.
The Italian’s greatest strength lies in his physicality. He is an incredibly physical player, and this allows him to win a large majority of his aerial duels and one-on-one battles. He plays close to the attacker, and while it may not always seem like it, he is intelligent and gets into the right position to defend.
Giorgio is an old-style defender; he very rarely makes mistakes, and he is an intimidating presence on the field. In many ways, he looks like a warrior – ready to fight and battle to stop the opposition. Whenever he gets the chance, he clears the ball – firing it down the pitch aimlessly. His goal is not to build up play but rather to destroy it.
Chiellini is an excellent defender. His ability to break up attacks is second to none. He is not the virtuoso or the artist that many modern defenders aim to be. Instead, he does his job, and he does it well.
Immobile has quietly become one of the best strikers in the Serie A. He is a pure attacking threat, and following his arrival at Lazio, he has become a force to be reckoned with – earning himself the title of capocannoniere last season. So how does the Italian do it?
Simply put, Immobile is not a natural talent. He is not a skilled dribbler. He is not fantastically quick. He very rarely creates chances for himself, relying on his teammates to set him up for goals.
Despite his seeming mediocrity, Immobile has scored 52 goals in the last two seasons with Lazio, adding 12 assists as well. The reason for this success stems from Ciro’s natural eye for the goal. The forward is an incredibly gifted finisher; his right foot is absolutely lethal from almost any position.
In many senses, Immobile is a natural number nine. He is a poacher, through and through, and one of the best in the world at doing what he does. His positioning is perfect; he always finds himself in front of goal, and with such a great pair of wingers at his side, he rarely wastes any chances in front of goal.
His movement also opens up space in attack. As defenders are forced to cover Immobile’s runs, his teammates can profit, and his link-up play has allowed him to become Lazio’s centerpiece in attack. Add to that his tenacity and his ability to pressure opponents, often forcing them to give up the ball, and you have one of the best offensive talents in Italy.
Immobile is not a flash player. He will not dazzle you with his skills or solo runs. Rather, he finds a way to score time and time again. Whether Immobile is an exciting player or not, you simply can’t argue with the results that he’s produced for the Biancocelesti.
After Napoli’s new striker, Milik, was injured at the start of the 2016-2017 season, Napoli seemed to be in trouble. With their main attacking threat, they turned to an unlikely hero – Dries Mertens, the 5’ 7” Belgian who had served as a rotation player for the Partenopei in the previous seasons.
Mertens shined. In that season, he scored 28 goals and assisted in another 9; he had electrified the league, and just like that Napoli’s attacking worries had disappeared. Sarri had found his forward, and Mertens had been elevated to the forefront of Italian soccer.
Two years later, Mertens remains one of the best strikers in the league. While he is unlikely to replicate his previous form, his qualities are undeniable. At 31 years of age, the Belgian forward has finally realized his potential, and his resurgence is a fairy tale story.
Many believed Mertens to be too small to succeed in the top European leagues. But Mertens has proved his doubters wrong. The Napoli player is incredibly quick, among the fastest players in the league. He is also an incredible dribbler; he is great with the ball at his feet, and he can make some incredible runs down the pitch.
But what is most impressive about Mertens is his heart. His passion for the game is obvious every time he steps foot onto the pitch. He runs for every ball, and he always seems determined to make his mark. His passing is sublime, and he is an excellent finisher – producing some absolutely ridiculous goals from long range.
Mertens, the little boy from Leuven, has proven the world wrong. He has come into his own, and he is now one of the most exciting and lethal attacking threats in the Serie A.
Gonzalo Higuain, recently arrived at Milan, is one of the most prolific strikers in the world. He was the Serie A’s top goalscorer in the past three seasons, scoring a total of 76 goals in that three year stint. El Pipita might be getting older, but he remains one of the top goalscoring threats in the league.
Higuain is known for his clinical finishing, but to truly understand how the Argentinian operates, you have to watch him play. Gonzalo is almost unmarkable; he always finds a way to create space and make opportunities for himself. He is by no means the quickest player on the pitch, and while many criticize his weight, he remains the best mover in the entire Serie A.
Higuain reads the game incredibly well; he always understands his surroundings – reacting and adapting according to where his teammates and opponents are. This allows him to cut into space and make decisive runs; clever runs and positioning trump speed every time.
He has incredible timing, and once he finds space, he’ll make you pay. His finishing is impeccable; he always knows where the goal is, and he is clinical with his chances. He prefers placement over power, and he’ll take advantage of any hesitation on the part of his opponent.
Perhaps even more importantly, Higuain influences the game around him. With his excellent hold-up play, the Argentine is able to build the attack. He makes great passes, constantly moving and trying to create chances. El Pipita is an attacking genius – one of the smartest attackers in modern football.
Higuain might be 30 years old, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down. He is the ideal modern attacker, and his talent extends far beyond his ability to shoot. There’s a reason Higuain holds the record for the most Serie A goals in a season, and he’ll look to continue his formidable form with the Rossoneri.
Koulibaly comes in at tenth on this list, and his imposing presence in defense is one of the reasons for Napoli’s continued success in the league. The Partenopei conceded just 29 goals last year, a large part of that due to Koulibaly’s defensive leadership.
Koulibaly is an incredibly gifted player. At 6’ 5”, the Senegalese center back is always an aerial threat; there are very few duels which he’ll lose. His physical abilities allow him to muscle attackers off the ball and disrupt play easily and effectively. Last season, he averaged 3.2 clearances a game to go along with 1.5 tackles. And in doing so, he averaged under a foul a game – a very low figure, especially when you consider his struggles with fouls in the past.
But despite his physicality, Koulibaly is quite gifted with the ball at his feet. He is an excellent passer, and he completed over 90% of his passes last year, averaging 85.2 completed passes every game – second in the league only to Jorginho. His ability to distribute the ball allows him to get out of trouble, and this playmaking ability is essential in a defender, particularly when it involves the team’s build-up play.
But Koulibaly’s greatest strength has to be his ability to read the game. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time, ready to pick off passes or shut down any attacks. Koulibaly is an incredibly intelligent defender, and this allows him to put his skills to good use.
Simply put, Koulibaly is one of the best defenders in the Serie A – a league known for its defensive prowess. He is a complete defender – smart, gifted, and powerful.
Icardi has been the focal point of Inter for the last couple of seasons, and at just 25 years of age, the Argentinian looks set to become one of the best strikers in the world. Icardi was last year’s capocannoniere along with Immobile, and he helped guide Inter to a solid fourth place finish.
While many of the other strikers on this list are great finishers, Icardi is impressive not just for his ability to score goals but rather for how clinical he is. The Argentinian scored a total of 29 goals last season, and he did so from just 101 attempts. That translates to 3.48 shots for each of his goals (a 28.7% conversion rate), the highest in all of Europe.
Icardi is perhaps the most gifted finisher in the world. If you couldn’t tell from his stats, Icardi does not waste chances; he is a cold-blooded attacker, and he doesn’t need many opportunities to prove it. He is cool under pressure, and he never hesitates or flinches; Icardi is frighteningly consistent, and you can’t never count him off.
Perhaps even more impressive is Icardi’s patience. The Argentinian only needs one chance to make his mark, and while he’s always trying to create chances, the forward seems content to lie in wait – ready to pounce on any and all opportunities.
In today’s game, Icardi is an invaluable forward. He is a nearly perfect attacker; he is cool, calm, and composed – making the most of every opportunity he gets. Icardi is Inter’s rising star, and as he gets more and more chances, the goals will only continue to come.
Insigne is Italy’s most exciting attacker. While he plays on the left wing, Insigne tends to occupy more of an attacking midfielder role, floating in the front third of the pitch similar to Lionel Messi. His ability to shape play as well as finish attacks has made him one of the most exciting players in the league.
The Italian’s greatest strength is his ability to move and open up space in the defense. Insigne is known for making incisive runs, and his movement is precise and meaningful – not only putting himself in position to receive the ball but forcing opposing defenders to remain cautious.
Last season, Insigne scored 8 goals and helped assist in another 11. However, his contributions go far beyond the stat sheet. Insigne’s presence alone opens up the entire pitch. He is an excellent dribbler, and combined with his blistering pace, he dumbfounds defenders – dazzling and delighting all over in attack.
His ability to create is what makes him such a great player. The Italian is a great passer, and he commands Napoli’s attack; almost all of the Partenopei’s goals originate from Insigne. Lorenzo averaged around 3 key passes a game last year – second only to Alejandro Gomez.
Simply put, Insigne has revolutionized the Napoli attack. The Partenopei’s electrifying attack is often credited to Mertens’ goalscoring ability and Callejon’s incredible pace, but Insigne is the architect behind it all. He is both a creator and a finisher, and he makes an immediate impact wherever he is on the pitch.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is one of the most highly touted prospects in the world and for good reason. The Serbian midfielder is reminiscent of Pogba; he is a complete midfielder, and he dominates on both sides of the pitch.
Milinkovic-Savic is an incredibly physical player. He stands tall at 6’ 4”, and his height and large physique allows him to dominate in the midfield. He is quite proficient in aerial duels, and his size allows him to outmuscle his fellow midfielders. In fact, his superiority in the air is remarkable; according to WhoScored, Milinkovic-Savic has the highest percentage of aerial duels won in the league.
His physicality also allows him to make important contributions on the defensive side of things. He makes some key tackles, and his presence alone is enough to disrupt opposing attacks and instill fear in his opponents.
Despite his imposing stature, the Serbian is remarkably graceful. He is great with the ball at his feet – an excellent dribbler who can often draw fouls. His skill with the ball allows him to weave his way past opponents, and his physique allows him to keep the ball away from opponents. The midfielder has remarkable control with his feet, and he is incredibly difficult to dispossess.
Milinkovic-Savic, while not an elite passer, still maintains control over his midfield. He has excellent vision, and this allows him to pick out teammates and make crucial passes. If Sergej can improve his passing abilities, he could very well become the best midfielder in the world.
The Serbian is already the best midfielder in the Serie A, and he’s just 23 years old. He is incredibly strong and powerful, but he is light with his feet and his first touch. There’s a reason why he’s such a highly coveted transfer target; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could very well be the future of the Serie A.
Dybala has never quite attracted the attention that other young starlets have received, but the Argentinian deserves just as much hype as any other talent. At just 24 years of age, Dybala has already made quite a name for himself; prior to Ronaldo’s arrival, he was probably the most talented player in the league, and he helped guide the Juventus attack to success.
Dybala can play all along the frontline – on the wings and as a striker – but he excels as an attacking midfielder. With a relatively small frame, he can be likened to Messi. Dybala, nicknamed “La Joya”, is a joy to watch on the pitch; he weaves through defenders, orchestrating the attack and dumbfounding opponents. His agility is next to none, and he is an incredible dribbler – among the best in the world.
He is also a clinical finisher. He opens up space in the final third of the pitch, and he isn’t afraid to take his chances. His left foot rivals that of Messi, and he can finish from most everywhere on the pitch. Long shots, penalties, one-on-ones. Dybala is a natural goalscorer.
Just last year, Dybala scored 22 goals and assisted in 5 – providing crucial to Juventus’ scudetto run. In fact, he earned a 7.77 rating from WhoScored last season, the highest in the Serie A. However, Dybala has failed to show up in the more prestigious competitions, and with the acquisition of Ronaldo, it’s still unclear whether he will remain in the starting lineup.
Dybala is an incredibly talented player, and he could become the best forward in the world – even better than Mbappe. Juventus have a slew of attacking talent on their team, and Paulo Dybala is determined to fight for his spot amongst the greats.
Who else could top this list but Cristiano himself? While he hasn’t exactly thrived in the league since his arrival at Juventus, he remains one of the top two players in the world. His natural goalscoring ability is second to none, and Juventus will look to get him involved as they battle for the long-awaited Champions League trophy.
If you’ve never seen Ronaldo play, you’re missing out. Cristiano is the perfect physical specimen. The Portuguese forward stands tall at 6’ 2”, and he is incredibly powerful – making him incredibly hard to dispossess. His outrageous speed allows him to rush past the fastest of defenders, and he never seems to get tired. He wins crucial physical duels, and he is excellent at holding up play for the rest of the attack.
But Ronaldo’s most lethal attribute is his finishing. Simply put, CR7 knows how to score. He can do it all – left foot, right foot, power, finesse. He is a clinical finisher from anywhere on the pitch, better than anyone else on the planet. Combined with his excellent positioning, this makes Ronaldo the best goalscorer in the world; after all, there’s a reason the Portuguese has scored 571 goals throughout his career – averaging over 1.5 goals per game.
There’s no denying Ronaldo’s accomplishments. He is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner (soon to be six), and he’s won the Champions League five times. Cristiano has one of the most prolific set of accolades in soccer history, and he has the talent to back it up.
Ronaldo opens up a world of opportunities to the Bianconeri. Juventus seem intent on winning the Champions League in the next couple of years, and Ronaldo has plenty of experience to help them achieve that goal. The Serie A needs to watch out; Cristiano is here to make his mark.
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