“Paolo Maldini, 126 times on the National team. Thanks”. An entire page of the Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera newspapers dedicated to the National team champion: the FIGC and president Abete gave their praise to the former captain in this way.
The statistics and records of Paolo Maldini have already made football history: 126 times on the National team, from his debut in Yugoslavia-Italy (1-1) on March 31, 1988 to the 2002 World Cup, which marked his good-bye to the National team.
The FIGC purchased a page of the two newspapers and put his picture on them saying “Paolo Maldini, 126 times on the National team. Thanks” and a list of all the 126 matches played by the defenders who now shares the record of presences with the national team with Fabio Cannavaro, who tied his record with the Confederations Cup.
A nice gift that was “given” to him not by coincidence, on June 30th, the day of expiration of every player in football. President Abete, would have liked to thank Maldini with a friendly match played in grand style, but the player preferred not to after what happened with the Milan curve during his good-bye match, an episode that left him bitter.