The extraordinary career of Paolo Maldini: A fresh-faced 16-year-old Maldini makes his Rossoneri debut in a 1-1 draw against Udinese on 20 January 1985
He lands the first of his five European Cups, alongside legends Roberto Donadoni, Ruud Gullit and Angelo Colombo, with a 4-0 win over Steaua Bucharest at the Nou Camp in 1989
The first of his 126 Italy caps comes against Yugoslavia in 1988, but the first disappointment of a trophyless international career followed with a semi-final defeat to Argentina on home soil in the 1990 World Cup
Pre-match underdogs ahead of the 1994 Champions League final, Milan produce a 4-0 demolition of Barcelona to clinch third European title - the club had sealed their third successive Scudetto earlier in the year
Maldini watches as Roberto Baggio misses his spot-kick and Italy become the only side to lose a World Cup final on penalties. Franco Baresi and Daniele Massaro, also unsuccessful, are to his right
Father Cesare Maldini, who also represented AC Milan and Italy, coaches the national side to another shoot-out defeat, this time to hosts France, in the quarter-finals of the 1998 tournament
Maldini comes close to lifting the European Championship in 2000, but Sylvain Wiltord's 90th-minute strike sends the game into extra time where David Trezeguet scores a golden goal
Maldini opens the scoring after 51 seconds in his seventh European final against Liverpool in 2005, but he is again denied by an unlikely comeback
But aged 39, he returns to take revenge with a 2-1 win over the Merseysiders in Athens in 2007
Married to model Adriana Fossa, Maldini has turned down all offers to leave the club where he has spent his entire career
72,681 are in attendance as Milan fans bid farewell to their captain in his 901st appearance for the club and final game at the San Siro, a 3-2 defeat against Roma
Maldini's send-off is marred by a banner displayed by the club's Ultra fans. �Thank you, Skipper. On the pitch you were an infinite champion, but you failed to show respect towards those who made you rich,� it reads
David Beckham is among the starters as Maldini leads Milan out for the final time agaisnt Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence
The Rosseneri secure a 2-0 victory, a result which confirms their automatic qualification for next season's Champions League, although Maldini will be absent
But the Maldini legacy could continue at the club with Paolo's 12-year-old son Christian a star in the youth set-up
What are these?
Print Sponsor
E-mail this to a friend 
Bookmark with:
What are these?