Paolo Maldini, football’s most attractive man (sorry Olivier), turns 47 today.
While contenders have come and gone, Paolo has stood firm, as has his awe-inspiring head of hair.
Now, with help from the excellent Old School Panini and Vintage Footy, we can take a look at how the cocky teenager became the idolised one-club man.
Paolo MALDINI – Milan AC from 1985 to 2009 !! pic.twitter.com/VctlaNGpO0
— Old School Panini (@OldSchoolPanini) April 26, 2014
Maldini was just 17 when he was given the number three shirt at Milan in the 1985/86 season, playing alongside the likes of Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta.
First sticker of Paolo MALDINI (Milan AC 1985-86) pic.twitter.com/mwpPw9DdcJ
— Old School Panini (@OldSchoolPanini) November 26, 2013
He broke into the Italian first team in 1988, before representing his country on home soil two years later in his first World Cup.
Paolo MALDINI – Italy 1990 pic.twitter.com/IYK28eTdvD
— Old School Panini (@OldSchoolPanini) April 15, 2014
It took until the mid-90s for Maldini’s recognisable mane to assert itself
Christian Ziege marking Paolo Maldini during Euro 96' pic.twitter.com/h1Ifzwe0VJ
— VintageFooty (@VintageFooty) April 22, 2015
He played his last game for the Azzurri back in 2002, but carried on at the top for years after that.
Paolo Maldini 2002 World Cup in South Korea & Japan pic.twitter.com/uEJcgFK9dF
— VintageFooty (@VintageFooty) February 27, 2015
Those piercing eyes have seen everything there is to see, or at least that’s what he thought – this photo was taken before the 2005 Champions League final, when his early goal was not enough to see off Liverpool.
His career came to an end in 2009 after a remarkable 24 seasons at Milan, and it was an emotional moment for the 40-year-old.
Maldini finished with seven Serie A titles, five European Cup winner’s medals, five European Super Cups, five Italian Super Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, a Club World Cup, a Coppa Italia and, most importantly, a place in all our hearts.
