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09/11/74
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International Debut 25/03/1995 v Estonia (won 4-1)
2002 could see the resurrection of Alessandro Del Piero on the international scene. Crowned champion of Italy with Juventus in May, the saviour of the ""Old Lady"" as Juve is known, has enjoyed his most prolific season since his serious ligament injury in November 1998, notching 21 goals. His perfect partnership with France's David Trezeguet and the incredible progress made by his team have contributed to his phenomenal success. Del Piero began his Juventus career as a precocious 18-year-old in 1993. It took him just one season to make his mark and the gifted creator has been terrorising the Serie A with his impeccable skills ever since. He is deadly in the penalty area and devastating from free-kicks, but it his passing game that sets him apart. He has the ability to do the right thing at the right time, all with an effortless elegance that could only come from an Italian. With his flowing locks and longing eyes, ""Alex"" could pass for a diva. On the contrary, he is an absolutely incessant workhorse. At 28, Del Piero is indispensable both for Juventus and the national team. Even in such illustrious company as Trezeguet and Vieri, he is considered the most charismatic striker in Italy (according to the 2001 Football Awards), and carries the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/JapanTM. Rarely has a player acquired so many nicknames - from ""Mr Goal-a-game"" to ""Pinturicchio"" in homage to the Renaissance painter, and ""Brave little soldier"", because of his never-say-die attitude under any circumstances. Del Piero has become an Azzurri mainstay over the years, breaking into the Italian national team as early as USA 94 and reaching the quarter-finals with his country at France 98. Having won the Scudetto four-times, the UEFA Champions League and Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup with Juventus (scoring the winner in the 1996-97 final), Del Piero has set his sights on finally adding a FIFA World Cup to his list of honours in 2002. The master technician has even relinquished the famous number 10 jersey in a bid to get back to his roots, wearing the number 7 he first sported for his tiny home-town club of San Vendemiano. Diabolically accurate and incredibly powerful striker.
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Filippo Inzaghi
Christian Vieri
Fancesco Totti
Marco Delvecchio
Vincenzo Montella