The top-scorer in the current Italy squad may come as a surprise to many – captain Giorgio Chiellini.
The Juventus centre-back will win his 100th cap against Portugal tonight, exactly 14 years to the day since he made his debut.
The top-scorer in the current Italy squad may come as a surprise to many – captain Giorgio Chiellini.
The Juventus centre-back will win his 100th cap against Portugal tonight, exactly 14 years to the day since he made his debut.
Chiellini is one of the few experienced players in Roberto Mancini’s squad, as only he and Leonardo Bonucci can boast more than 40 games for the Azzurri.
More surprisingly though, the defender is also the top goalscorer among the current squad.
Chiellini has scored eight times in his 99 caps so far, most recently in the 1-1 draw with Macedonia in October last year.
Incredibly that makes him the top-scorer in the current squad, with Ciro Immobile behind him on seven, albeit in 34 caps.
After that comes fellow defender Leonardo Bonucci with six goals in 83 games, and Lorenzo Insigne with four goals in 29.
Alessandro Florenzi is the only other player in the squad to have scored more than once, and no-one other than Cristiano Biraghi, Marco Verratti and Jorginho has scored for Italy.