Born on October 11, 2001, Daniel Maldini is about to celebrate his 23rd birthday while making his mark with the Italian national team. He has become the standout player in the Azzurri camp for several reasons, starting with his legendary surname. If Maldini secures his place at the top, it would complete an extraordinary story in football history: three generations of Maldinis excelling at the highest level, from grandfather Cesare to father Paolo, and now Daniel.
The second reason for the spotlight on Maldini is his technical prowess. He is a fast winger with an excellent sense for goal and a knack for making well-timed runs into the box without the ball—an invaluable skill in an era where many players in his position only play to the ball without attacking open spaces. Daniel’s strong decision-making and game vision have helped him step out of his father’s shadow, particularly over the last year. At AC Milan, where his father Paolo was a top executive, Daniel’s first-team debut was often seen as a family privilege rather than merit. This, however, is a reflection of Italy’s tendency to seek out the negatives rather than recognize talent. Daniel’s skills have recently been praised by his father, who stated, “I never doubted he had extraordinary talent,” and by national coach Luciano Spalletti, who noted in a press conference, “He has many qualities; he’s the kind of player we’ve been missing. He’s got a beautiful, enchanting touch, and he holds his own in duels—once he gets ahead, it’s hard to catch him.”
The third reason Maldini is in the media spotlight is that he plays up front, and the Italian national team is in desperate need of heroes in attack. Whether as a winger, attacking midfielder, second striker, or even a center forward, Italy’s forward line is far from the standard set by the greats who have worn the Azzurri shirt in the past.
This is why so much hope is also being placed on Italy’s new No. 9, Mateo Retegui, who has Italian roots but was born abroad. The theme of naturalized players has long been part of Italy’s football history, from the six who helped win the World Cup in 1934 and 1938 to Mauro Camoranesi, a key player in the 2006 victory. Retegui is the 50th naturalized player to wear the Azzurri jersey, and with his seven goals in the first seven league matches of the season, he is currently the top Italian scorer eligible for national team selection. Now, more than ever, it’s essential and justified to rely on him.
