Who are the greatest top 10 AC Milan legends of all time?

Who are the greatest top 10 AC Milan legends of all time?

Kevin Omuya
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:57 PM

When one thinks of Italian football, the names of such great legendary players like Paolo Maldini, Brazilian Kaka and many more come to mind. Come with us as we introduce you to the greatest AC Milan legends of all time.

The greatest top AC Milan legends of all time
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Italian football has seen many ups and downs, but its great clubs have always risen to the occasion. The lovable Rossoneri is one of these powerful clubs. But who are the legends who have shone brightly throughout this club's history?

Top 10 AC Milan legends of all time

We have compiled a list of AC Milan's best players using the most recent statistics. Is your favourite AC Milan legend on the list?

10. Franco Baressi

Top 10 best ac milan legends of all time ranked.
Franco Baresi of AC Milan Glorie during Steve Harper's testimonial match against Newcastle United Glorie at St James' Park on September 11, 2013, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Photo: Nigel Roddis
Source: Getty Images

Franco is the younger brother of legendary defender Giuseppe Baresi. As youngsters, both sportsmen had tryouts for Inter, but Franco was rejected, and later purchased by local rivals Milan.

"He could play anywhere at the back, and what is often overlooked is his ability to carry the ball forward from defence and find the right pass." Van Basten

9. Jose Altafini

Top 10 best ac milan legends of all time ranked.
Juventus Player Josè Altafini during Juventus - Bologna on January 28, 1973, in Turin, Italy. Photo: Juventus FC - Archive
Source: Getty Images

Jose was half Italian and half Brazilian, as his name suggests. From 1958 to 1965, he appeared in 246 games for the club, scoring 161 goals. As one of Rossoneri's top scorers, he won two Scudettos and one European Cup. He could not miss being on the AC Milan football legends list because of his goal-scoring rate. He is one of AC Milan's old players on this list.

8. Frank Rijkaard

Top 10 best ac milan legends of all time ranked.
Frank Rijkaard is seen during their Serie A match against Napoli at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 9, 1989, in San Siro, Italy. Photo: Etsuo Hara
Source: Getty Images

Frank Rijkaard's time with the club saw him achieve similar levels of success. Rijkaard's primary role, however, was to prevent goals rather than score them. One of AC Milan's most famous players possessed these qualities in spades, capable of playing in advanced and central defence roles.

His success as a supremely talented footballer included silverware, with two Serie A and two European Cup titles to his name during his tenure at San Siro.

7. Andriy Shevchenko

Who are the top 10 ac milan legends of all time ranked.
Andriy Shevchenko celebrates scoring during the Serie A match against Inter, played at the Guiseppe Meazza Stadium, San Siro. Photo: DIGITAL IMAGE
Source: Getty Images

Shevchenko scored 175 goals in 322 appearances during his seven-year tenure as one of the top AC Milan legends midfielders. In a short period, he was able to establish himself as the second-best player in the history of Milan.

His numerous goals helped the club win trophies such as the Scudetto (2003/04 season), Coppa Italia (2003/04 season), Italian Supercoppa (2004 season), UEFA Champions League Cup (2003/04 season), and UEFA Super Cup (2004 and 2003 season)

6. Gianni Rivera

Top 10 best ac milan legends of all time ranked.
In London, England, Gianni Rivera looks on before the friendly match between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2018. Photo: Claudio Villa
Source: Getty Images

Rivera had a significant impact on the club for nearly 20 years, from 1960 to 1979. His nickname was "Golden Boy." He earned it with 164 goals in 658 appearances, resulting in a slew of trophies for the Rossoneri. They won three Scudettos, four Italian Coppa, two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups, two European Cups, and one Intercontinental Cup.

5. Gunnar Nordahl

Top 10 best ac milan legends of all time ranked.
Gunnar Nordahl, Norrkoping. Photo: Barratts
Source: Getty Images

During his eight seasons with the Rossoneri from 1948 to 1956, Gunnar Nordahl was regarded as one of his generation's best Ac Milan legends strikers. His 221 goals in 268 appearances made him the most efficient scorer, and he was instrumental in the club's numerous successes.

He was a vital team member that ended the Scudetto drought with two Scudettos (50/51 and 54/55 seasons) and two Latin Cups (50/51 and 55/56 seasons). He is regarded as one of the greatest Swedish football players.

4. Kaka

Top 10 best ac milan legends of all time ranked.
Ricardo Kaka looks on during the Serie A match against Bologna FC at San Siro Stadium on February 14, 2014, in San Siro, Italy. Photo: Marco Luzzani
Source: Getty Images

Kaka joined the Rosseneris in 2003 and won his first piece of Italian silverware, a Serie A title, three years later, followed by a Champions League title. Much of his success was due to his ability on the ball, which included defence-splitting passes and mesmeric footwork, establishing him as one of AC Milan's most famous legends.

Only once in his first six years at San Siro did he fail to score more than ten goals per season, with his second spell was not as fruitful, with 95 goals scored during his time with the club.

3. Paolo Maldini

Who are the top 10 ac milan legends of all time ranked.
Paolo Maldini in action against Perspolis FC in Glorie Milan Foundation Fund Raising Friendly match in Tehran, Iran, on November 28, 2013. Photo: Amin Mohammad
Source: Getty Images

When you think of Rossoneris, the first player who comes to mind is Paolo Maldini, and football is fortunate to have him. A seven-time Serie A champion, a five-time European Cup and Champions League winner, the club's record appearance holder, a formidable defender, a man whose father was one of the team's captains and whose son has since taken over the mantle, a man who bleeds football. After completing this lengthy Squad Building Challenge in FIFA, Maldini is one of the greatest defenders of all time is rated 92 in AC Milan legends FIFA 22.

2. Marco van Basten

Top 10 best ac milan legends of all time ranked.
In Naples, Italy, Marco Van Basten of AC Milan was in action during the Serie A match against Napoli at the Stadio Sao Paulo on November 27, 1988. Photo: Etsuo Hara
Source: Getty Images

Injury cut short the striker's career at the age of 28, but he still had time to establish himself as one of the best foreign players to grace Italian football. He was one of the greatest football players of all time. He, who joined the Rossoneri from Ajax in 1987, won three Serie A titles and two European Cups while scoring 125 goals in 201 Rossoneri appearances.

1. Ruud Gullit

Top 10 best ac milan legends of all time ranked.
1990 Ruud Gullit of AC Milan during the training, Italy. Photo: Alessandro Sabattini
Source: Getty Images

Gullit Moved from PSV Eindhoven for a then-world record fee. He would win two more league titles and two European Cups during his illustrious career in Italy. His final-third vision and intelligence quickly won him over to starting lineup, and he is rightly regarded as one of the best AC Milan legends.

AC Milan players 2020/21 had a successful season, finishing second in Serie A behind Inter and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over half a decade. They are currently top of the table as of February 2022.

Every decade, new generations of footballers are introduced to the world of football and the club's side, with new prospects and highly talented youngsters coming of age. However, we'll have to wait and see how many changes the AC Milan legends players undergo over two or three decades.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.