Alessandro Nesta made defending look as if it were an art form rather than a physical contest. The AC Milan centre-back rarely needed a desperate tackle because he was usually already standing where the pass was going. He glided about the pitch, picked off the ball and moved on.
Before Milan he won the Serie A title with Lazio. At Milan he became a defensive leader and won the Champions League twice, in 2003 and 2007. Alongside Paolo Maldini he formed one of the finest defensive partnerships in the history of the game.
Playing through the knees
What makes the record more impressive is the body underneath it. Nesta dealt with chronic knee problems through much of his career and still kept an extraordinarily high standard. He was named in the UEFA Team of the Year more than once, and he stayed near the top of Italian football for over a decade.
While others lunged and fought, Nesta read the game, took up the right position and won the ball without appearing to break a sweat. Many rate him the most technically gifted centre-back Serie A has produced.
He is number 14 on our list.
Tomorrow: number 13.
