Alessandro Del Piero
A Juventus icon and World Cup winner who never wore the Blaugrana.
Alessandro Del Piero is an Italian former professional footballer who mainly played as a second striker. Born on 9 November 1974, he is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and one of the greatest players in Juventus's history. He is currently the second highest all-time Italian top-scorer in all competitions, with 346 goals, behind only Silvio Piola, with 390 goals. In his career Del Piero scored 462 goals. Since 2015, he has worked as a pundit for Sky Sport Italia.
- Primary Club
- Juventus FC
- Nationality
- Italian
- Position
- Forward / Second Striker
- Career Span (Prime)
- 1993–2012
- Status
- Retired Legend
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Del Piero began his career at Padova in Serie B before being signed by Juventus in 1993. He quickly established himself as a key player, helping the club reach three consecutive Champions League finals from 1996 to 1998, winning the 1996 edition. During this period, he scored 20 goals in 27 Champions League appearances, finishing as the competition's top scorer in 1997–98. After Juventus were forcibly relegated to Serie B in 2006 due to the Calciopoli scandal, Del Piero chose to remain at the club despite the departures of several key players, and captained them back to Serie A after a single season in the second division. He played at Juventus for 19 seasons (11 as captain) and holds the club records for most goals (290) and appearances (705). In total, he won 16 trophies at the club, including six Serie A titles.
In Their Own Story
Del Piero's loyalty to Juventus was absolute. After their relegation to Serie B due to the Calciopoli scandal, he chose to stay and lead the team back to the top flight. At international level, Del Piero represented the Italy national team at three FIFA World Cups and four UEFA European Football Championships, most notably winning the 2006 World Cup, and reaching the final of UEFA Euro 2000 with Italy. He is the joint fourth highest scorer for Italy, with 27 goals. In 2004, Del Piero was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé as a part of FIFA's centenary celebrations. In the same year, he was also voted into the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll, a list of the 50 best European players of the past 50 years.
Reader's Guide
Del Piero's tenure at Juventus (1993–2012) stands as a benchmark for longevity and consistency. He scored 290 goals in 705 appearances for the club, winning 16 trophies including six Serie A titles. His technical profile—visionary passing combined with a signature free-kick ability—made him a creative supporting forward. He won the Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year award in 1998 and 2008. After leaving Juventus in 2012, he spent two seasons with Australian side Sydney FC, and retired in 2014 after a season with Delhi Dynamos FC in the Indian Super League. For Barça supporters, studying Del Piero offers a glimpse into the rival aristocracy of European football: a player who defined an era in Turin, distinct from the Blaugrana's own golden timelines.
Did You Know?
- Del Piero scored 462 goals in his career, making him the second highest all-time Italian top-scorer in all competitions behind Silvio Piola (390 goals).
- He holds Juventus club records for most goals (290) and appearances (705).
- Del Piero was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé as a part of FIFA's centenary celebrations.
- He won the Golden Foot award, which pertains to personality as well as playing ability.
- Del Piero's older brother Stefano briefly played professional football for Sampdoria before an injury curtailed his career; he later worked as his younger brother's agent.