There once was a time when Calcio was king.
The 1990's were the golden age of Italian football. Serie A clubs won 13 European titles in that period, had six Ballon d'Or winners and paid out on six world record transfer fees.
Everybody who was somebody wanted to ply their trade on Italian shores. Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona, Marco Van Basten and the mighty Ronaldo are just a few examples of football's finest that made the journey.
But who were the greatest? Check out our top 15 below:
15. Cristiano Ronaldo
He may have enjoyed his finest hour in the Spanish capital but Ronaldo's time with Juventus can still be classed as a success. Over his three seasons with the club he helped the Old Lady to two league titles and three domestic cups, scoring no less than 101 goals in just 134 games.
14. Giorgio Chiellini
Having spent nearly his entire career with Juventus, Chiellini has earned himself quite the trophy cabinet. A nine-time Italian champion, he also boasts 10x domestic cup triumphs and a European Championship, in which he was voted the defender of the tournament.
More than anything though, the way he embodies the spirit of an Italian gladiator every time he steps onto the field is what he will best be remembered for.
13. Cafu
Widely regarded to be the greatest right-back of all-time, Cafu was a nothing short of a certainty for this list. The Brazilian won the Serie A with both Roma and Milan, the latter he also won the 2006/07 Champions League with.
On the international stage he remains to this day Brazil's most capped player ever and has won two World Cups.
12. Fabio Cannavaro
Cannavaro in action
Being the only defender ever to win the Ballon d'Or is an incredible achievement and it's one of many impressive moments in the centre-back's career.
He captained the Azzuri to their latest World Cup triumph in 2006 and also had a successful spell with Real Madrid after. Surprsingly, he never won the Serie A.
11. Roberto Baggio
'The Divine Ponytail' is best known for scoring one of the greatest goals ever at the 1990 World Cup and of course, his hairstyle is stuff of legend.
Roberto Baggio free-kick against Roma
He won the Ballon d'Or in 1993 and is a two-time Italian champion with Juventus and Milan respectively. A true icon from the golden age of Calcio football.
10. Ruud Gullit
Another man famous for his crazy hairstyles, Ruud Gullit fast became a Milan legend alongside compatriot Marco Van Basten as they led the club to three league titles and two European Cups in the late 1980's.
A physical specimen, with surprisingly impressive ball control, Gullit revolutionsied the Italian game and won the Ballon d'Or for his troubles in 1987.
9. Franco Baresi
Baresi was a Rossoneri through and through, even captaining the club for 15 seasons consecutively. He led the team to six league titles, a Champions League and Italy to the 1982 World Cup.
In the 1987-88 season, the defence he led conceded on just 14 occasions.
8. Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti Roma
The ultimate one club man, Totti famously once said: "winning one league title with Rome, to me, is worth more than winning 10 with Juventus or Real Madrid."
The die-hard Roman scored 250 goals in the Serie A, winning one league title and one World Cup. One of the all-time great number 10's- simply sublime.
7. Gianluigi Buffon
Everyone's favourite goalkeeper, 'Gigi' Buffon is still going strong despite starting his career way back in 1994 for Parma, where he has returned to and plays currently.
The iconic Italian keeper spent 20 seasons with Juventus and won a staggering 11 league titles. Beyond that, he won the World Cup in 2006, but the Champions League has always been just beyond reach.
6. Andrea Pirlo
'The Architect' is like no player we'd seen before, and most likely, will never see again. He played for Milan, Inter, and Juventus, yet is still loved by all. Multiple league winners medals, Champions Leagues and international honors make him one of the most widely decorated players the game has ever seen.
England fans know better than many of the ice that runs through this man's veins after his iconic panenka vs Joe Hart. It's no wonder he spent the entire day building up to the World Cup final sitting their playing FIFA...
5. Zinedine Zidane
Zidane won the Ballon d'Or during his time at Juventus.
Let's be clear, 'Zizou' would be considerably higher on this list if it wasn't Serie A specific, but he still earns a respectable fifth spot despite the legends surrounding him.
A three-time winner of the men's best player award, he also won the 1998 Ballon d'Or in his time with Juventus, growing into a talisman for the club as he led them to two league titles.
4. Michel Platini
Controversy has consumed Mr. Platini in his previous role as the president of UEFA; however, there's nothing controversial about his spot on this list.
The Frenchman set the world alight like few before him in his spell with Juventus, winning three Ballon d'Or back-to-back from 1983-1985. Despite being an attacking midfielder he was also top scorer in the league on three occasions.
3. Marco Van Basten
The Dutch marksman is much like the Brazilian Ronaldo in the sense that there will be always be the 'what if?' question mark surrounding his career.
He played his last ever game at 28 having suffered from injuries on a consistent basis, yet, Van Basten still racked up an incredible three Ballon d'Or prior to his retirement. He won three Italian leagues and two European Cups with Milan.
2. Diego Maradona
Adored by the Napoli fans - hailed like a god even - yet a pariah to the Italian public at the time.
Maradona's spell in Napoli between 1984-1991 might be the most remarkable spell any footballer has ever had with a club. From transforming the ultimate underdogs to two-time Serie A champions despite the mite of Milan, to drug addiction, to tangling with the mafia, it was prime Maradona.
- Paolo Maldini
Maldini in action
The worthiest of winners. Maldini spent 25 seasons at the heart of the Rossoneri's defence, making 902 appearances for the club and earning 26 major honours. The family name has steadily become royalty in the city, with his son Daniel recently becoming a third generation Milan first team player, like his father and grandfather before him.
Although primarily a left-back, Maldini was so good that of the 196 matches in which he paired with Baresi at centre-back, the duo conceded just 23 goals.