The 30 best players in World Cup history

27. Fabio Cannavaro, Italy

Italy’s finest defensive traditions were kept alive by Fabio Cannavaro, who became his nation’s Claudio Gentile and Antonio Cabrini for the 2000s.

The peak of Cannavaro’s international journey came in 2006. He was the bedrock of an unlikely winner, defining the tournament with his miserly menace.

Cannavaro was a defender teams feared, one no opponent could get around. The center-back was only 5-foot-9, but couldn’t be beaten in the air and refused to yield on the deck.

If a crunching tackle was needed to stop a star forward in full flight, Cannavaro made it. If an interception was needed to interrupt a fluid attack between the lines, Cannavaro was astute enough to make it.

Any time the Azzurri needed a last-ditch block to preserve a lead or keep a clean sheet intact, Cannavaro put himself in the way of danger.

Those heroics ended with a win over France after penalties in the final. They were also rewarded by the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards.

Cannavaro’s World Cup brilliance wasn’t just limited to 2006, though. He started every game in 1998 as Italy reached the quarterfinal in France before losing to the hosts on penalties.

Cannavaro was an ever-present during the group stage 2002, helping Italy reach the last 16, where they were beaten in controversial fashion by co-hosts South Korea.