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Which Italians played in the most UEFA club games?

It is Republic Day in Italy; join UEFA.com as we celebrate the Italian players who shone brightest in our club competitions.

Filippo Inzaghi with the trophy after Milan's 2005 success
Filippo Inzaghi with the trophy after Milan's 2005 success ©Getty Images

Most appearances by an Italian in the European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League (including qualifying)

140: Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)
125: Gianluigi Buffon (Parma, Juventus)
115: Andrea Pirlo (Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus)
101: Alessandro Nesta (Lazio, AC Milan)
94: Alessandro Costacurta (AC Milan)
92: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)
87: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan)
85: Gennaro Gattuso (Rangers, AC Milan)
85: Filippo Inzaghi (Juventus, AC Milan)
83: Thiago Motta (Barcelona, Inter Milan, Paris)

Top-scoring Italians in the European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League (including qualifying)

'Super Pippo' Inzaghi with Juventus
'Super Pippo' Inzaghi with Juventus©Popperfoto/Getty Images

50: Filippo Inzaghi (Juventus, AC Milan)
44: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)
25: Marco Simone (AC Milan, Paris, Monaco)
17: Sandro Mazzola (Inter Milan)
17: Francesco Totti (Roma)
15: Simone Inzaghi (Lazio)
13: Alberto Gilardino (AC Milan, Fiorentina)
11: Christian Panucci (AC Milan, Real Madrid, Roma)
10: Mario Balotelli (Inter Milan, Man. City, AC Milan, Liverpool)
10: Enrico Chiesa (Parma, Fiorentina)
10: Vincenzo Iaquinta (Udinese, Juventus)
10: Paolo Rossi (Juventus)
10: Christian Vieri (Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan)

AC Milan defensive powerhouse Paolo Maldini
AC Milan defensive powerhouse Paolo Maldini©Getty Images

Most appearances by an Italian in UEFA club competition*

174: Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)
160: Gianluigi Buffon (Parma, Juventus)
139: Andrea Pirlo (Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus)
130: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)
125: Alessandro Nesta (Lazio, AC Milan)
121: Alessandro Costacurta (AC Milan)
117: Giuseppe Bergomi (Inter Milan)
116: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan, Vicenza, Fiorentina)
115: Filippo Inzaghi (Parma, Juventus, AC Milan)
113: Fabio Cannavaro (Napoli, Parma, Inter Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid)

Top-scoring Italians in UEFA club competition*

Alessandro Del Piero in 2008
Alessandro Del Piero in 2008©Getty Images

70: Filippo Inzaghi (Parma, Juventus, AC Milan)
54: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)
38: Alessandro Altobelli (Inter Milan, Juventus)
38: Francesco Totti (Roma)
34: Gianluca Vialli (Sampdoria, Juventus, Chelsea)
33: Marco Simone (AC Milan, Paris, Monaco)
32: Roberto Baggio (Fiorentina, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Brescia)
27: Christian Vieri (Torino, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Lazio, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Monaco, Fiorentina)
25: Enrico Chiesa (Sampdoria, Parma, Fiorentina, Lazio)
25: Giuseppe Rossi (Man. United, Parma, Villarreal, Fiorentina, Celta Vigo)

Italian milestones in UEFA club competition

First Italian side to reach a European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League final
Real Madrid 2-0 Fiorentina (1957)

First Italian side to win the European Cup Winners' Cup
Fiorentina 4-1agg Rangers (1961)

Altafini wins it for Milan

First Italian side to win the European Cup/UEFA Champions League
AC Milan 2-1 Benfica (1963)

First Italian side to win the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League
Juventus 2-2agg Athletic Club (1977, Juventus win on away goals)

Italians who have won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League the most times
5:
Alessandro Costacurta (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007, all AC Milan)
5: Paolo Maldini (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007, all AC Milan)

Marco Ballotta
Marco Ballotta©Getty Images

Notable Italian record-holders
Oldest player to appear in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League
43 years and 253 days: Marco Ballotta (Real Madrid v Lazio, 11/12/2007)

Oldest player to score in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League
38 years and 59 days: Francesco Totti (CSKA Moskva v Roma, 25/11/2014)

Fastest goal in a European Cup/UEFA Champions League final
52 seconds: Paolo Maldini (Milan v Liverpool, 2005)

UEFA Records

Most appearances in UEFA club competition
174: Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)

Most appearances in the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League
96: Giuseppe Bergomi (Inter Milan)

*UEFA club competitions means European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup, European/South American Cup and UEFA Intertoto Cup.