Fabio Quagliarella

Fabio Quagliarella closed out his playing days with a flourish few forwards ever match. In the 2018–19 Serie A season, the Sampdoria striker scored in eleven consecutive league games, a feat previously achieved only by Gabriel Batistuta, and finished the campaign with 26 goals to claim the Capocannoniere as the league’s top scorer. That remarkable run made him one of the oldest players ever to finish as the leading marksman in Italy’s top division, underlining his longevity and sharpness in front of goal.

He was also named Serie A’s best forward that year, capping a late-career peak that had begun the season before with 19 league goals. His consistency at an age when most attackers had long since slowed down drew admiration across the football world, and his elegant striking technique became a hallmark of his game.

Beyond the statistics, Quagliarella collected a series of honours in the closing chapters of his career. He received the 2017 Premio Gentleman Fairplay in recognition of his conduct on the pitch, and in 2018 he was awarded the Scirea Career Award, a prize named after the great Italian defender that celebrates both sporting merit and personal integrity.

Together, these achievements cemented his reputation as one of the most respected Italian forwards of his generation.