The ONLY defender in history to win the Ballon d'Or! Fabio Cannavaro won the 2006 World Cup with Italy and was named the best player in the ENTIRE WORLD — not just the best defender, the best PLAYER. At just 5'9", the Italian captain was proof that great defending is about brains, not height!
Career Highlights
- Won the Ballon d'Or in 2006 — the only defender to win the award in the 21st century
- Captained Italy to the 2006 World Cup title in Germany — the pinnacle of his career
- Named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2006 — sweeping both major individual awards
- Despite being only 5'9", was one of the best aerial defenders in the world — pure timing and jumping ability
- Played for Parma, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Real Madrid across a legendary career
The Verdict
Cannavaro is the ultimate proof that size doesn't matter in football. At 5'9", he outjumped strikers a foot taller than him and won the Ballon d'Or ahead of Ronaldinho, Henry, and every other superstar. The greatest Italian World Cup captain of the modern era!
Tomorrow: #14 — Stay tuned for the next defensive legend!
