The 1997/98 season saw Juventus win the title, finishing the season with 74 points, 5 points ahead of Inter Milan, who were led by the prolific Brazilian striker Ronaldo in his first season in Italy. Juventus, managed by Marcello Lippi, showcased a strong squad featuring key players such as Alessandro Del Piero, Zinedine Zidane, and Filippo Inzaghi. Udinese were the surprise packet of the year, with Oliver Bierhoff scoring 27 Serie A goals!
1998 sees us move towards the end of the Italian Golden Era, there was still a huge list of top players to pick from.
Let’s get into the top 10!
The Panini Calciatori 1997-1998 Album
10 – Cristian Zenoni Rookie Sticker – #11
Cristian Zenoni, another fullback, and this time operating on the right side. During his career, he was recognised for his defensive solidity, work rate, and ability to contribute to the attack when needed.
In the 1997/98 season, Zenoni had a breakout season, getting experience in the Serie A. It was season on harsh lessons as Atalanta were relegated. Zenoni would stay on at Atalanta until 2001 where he signed for AC Milan. The following season, he signed for Juventus as he lacked game time. His time at Juventus was of a backup player, only featuring 37 times in 2 seasons. Despite this, he won 2 Serie A titles! After moving on from Juve, he saw consistent game time at Sampdoria and Bologna.
Zenoni finished his career with 2 caps for Italy and 2 Serie A titles! Another left field choice but a solid career in the Italian top flight.
9 – Oliver Bierhoff – #355 – Rookie Sticker from Panini German Football Bundesliga 1987/88
Oliver Bierhoff was a forward known for his physical presence, aerial ability, and danger in and around the box. He primarily played as a center forward and was deadly in the air, as well as his ability to hold up the ball and bring his teammates into play. He used his height and strength to his advantage, often outmuscling defenders and winning aerial duels.
The 1997/98 season was a career best for Bierhoff as bagged a ridiculous 27 goals, winning the golden boot – ahead of the likes of Ronaldo, Baggio, Batistuta and Del Piero! Bierhoff’s ability to find the back of the net, particularly with his head, was instrumental in his impressive goal tally. It was an amazing season for Udinese they finished a very unexpected third! Following Bierhoff’s season, he signed for AC Milan and won the title, scoring 19!
Biehoff had an amazing career scoring 212 goals and winning a Serie A title with Milan and a European Championship with Germany. Particularly noteworthy as he was the scorer in the final! A really nice sticker representing his Bierhoff’s best ever season!
8 – Alessandro Del Piero – #165 – Rookie Sticker from Panini Calciatori 1992/93
Alessandro Del Piero was known for his exceptional technical skills, creativity, and goal-scoring ability. He primarily played as a forward and was renowned for his elegant playing style and deadly accuracy in front of goal.
One of Del Piero’s greatest assets was his ability to create and score goals. He possessed a keen eye for goal and had a lethal shooting technique. His shooting accuracy, combined with his ability to generate power and swerve on the ball, resulted in a wide array of stunning goals throughout his career. Whether it was a precise placement into the corner of the net or a spectacular long-range strike, Del Piero had a knack for finding the back of the net in critical moments.
The 1997/98 season saw Del Piero at his peak! He was unstoppable and terrorised defenders with his technique and danger in front of goal. He scored 21 Serie A goals, leading Juve to the title, and 10 in the Champions League helping Juve to the final. Unfortunately, we wouldn’t get to see this Del Piero ever again as the following season he suffered a major injury. On return he was still class, but not quite the player he was! This season he won the Italian footballer of the year. A top sticker!
7 – Ivan Helguera Rookie Sticker – #308
Ivan Helguera was a Spanish central defender who joined AS Roma for the 1997-1998 season. His time at the club was relatively brief, spanning one season. Although he was a talented and versatile player, his stint at Roma did not see him make a significant impact. He appeared in a limited number of matches and struggled to secure a regular starting position. Following the 1998-1999 season, Helguera moved on to Espanyol.
The following season he would join Real Madrid and become a key player for the Spanish giants! He featured for Madrid over 200 times over 8 seasons and won 3 La Liga titles and 2 UEFA Champions League titles!
He finished off his career as Valencia and retired at the end of the 2008/09 season. Capping for Spain 47 times, Helguera was a quaility defender and this is a really cool rookie sticker! I had no idea his rookie was at AS Roma!
6 – Massimo Ambrosini Rookie Sticker – #369
Massimo Ambrosini was a midfield enforcer, was known for his tenacity, versatility, and leadership qualities. He was a dynamic and hard-working player who could excel in various midfield positions, including defensive midfield and central midfield. Ambrosini was strong, could tackle, and had excellent positional awareness. He had a commanding presence in midfield, often breaking up opposition attacks with well-timed tackles and interceptions. Ambrosini’s relentless work rate and determination made him a crucial defensive shield for his team.
The 1997/98 season saw Ambrosini get crucial game time for his development. He was at Vicenza on loan from AC Milan, and featured 27 times in the Serie A. The following season he returned to Milan and was in and around the first team for 15 seasons!!
For Milan, he played a massive 489 times, winning 4 Serie A titles and 2 Champions league titles! A really big career for one of AC Milan’s great servants. A really top rookie sticker!
5 – Marco Materazzi Rookie Sticker – #512
Marco Materazzi, was an extremely aggressive defender, know for his physicality, hard tackling, and aerial ability. One of Materazzi’s notable strengths was his physicality. Standing tall, he possessed great strength and used it to his advantage in aerial duels and physical battles with opposing strikers. Materazzi was a commanding presence in the box and excelled in winning headers. Additionally, he had excellent positioning and timing, allowing him to make crucial interceptions and tackles.
In the 1997/98 season, it was early in Materazzi’s career. While plying his trade in the Serie B, he established himself as a key figure in the team’s defence. In 2001 he would sign for Inter Milan, where he would go onto have immense success! For Inter, he played 10 seasons, winning 5 Serie A titles, 4 Copa Italia’s, a Champions League title and a World Cup!
In 2021 he was inducted into the Inter Milan hall of fame! But, more infamously, he will be remembered for being on the end of a Zinedine Zidane headbutt in the World Cup Final! Materazzi was definitely one to divide opinion. Whether you love him or hate him – this is a great rookie sticker!
4 – Gianluca Zambrotta Rookie Sticker – #38
Gianluca Zambrotta, a versatile and technically gifted player, was known for his adaptability and consistent performances throughout his career. He primarily played as a full-back or wing-back but was also capable of operating as a midfielder or winger when required. Defensively, Zambrotta was disciplined and reliable. He possessed good pace, which enabled him to track back quickly and recover defensively. His positional awareness allowed him to anticipate the opposition’s moves, making timely interceptions and tackles. Zambrotta’s attacking contributions were equally impressive. He had excellent dribbling skills and the ability to take on opponents in one-on-one situations. His crossing ability was a notable asset, delivering accurate and inviting crosses into the box.
In the 1997/98 season, Zambrotta was a rising talent and had recently joined Bari. His first season in the Serie A, he played 27 times and quickly caught the attention of top-flight clubs, leading to a move to Juventus in 1999. Zambrotta would have success at Juve, Playing 7 seasons and winning 2 Serie A titles. Following Juve’s relegation, Zambrotta signed for Barcelona, where he spent 2 seasons before signing for AC Milan – where he spent 4 seasons, retiring in 2012.
Zambrotta is one of the great fullbacks of his generation! 98 caps for Italy and a World Cup title! A fantastic rookie sticker!
3 – Andrea Pirlo – #80 – Rookie Sticker from DS Pianeta Calcio 1996/97
Andrea Pirlo is one of the greatest ever deep lying midfielders and is renowned for specialising in the regista role. Pirlo’s playing style was shaped by his calmness on the ball and his ability to dictate play from deep midfield positions. He had excellent ball control and rarely seemed rushed or pressured when in possession. His vision and awareness allowed him to identify passing lanes and execute accurate long-range passes to switch play.
One of Pirlo’s greatest strengths was his ability to play incisive through balls and deliver precise set-pieces. He had a superb range of passing, capable of splitting defensive lines and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. Pirlo’s passes were often executed with finesse and creativity. Furthermore, he was deadly on the freekick, often scoring bangers from various positions!
Pirlo’s performances in the 1997/98 season for Brescia demonstrated his growing influence in midfield. He featured 29 times and signed for Inter Milan the following season. In 2001 he would sign for AC Milan and the world would learn who Pirlo is! He spent 10 very successful years at AC Milan before moving to Conte’s Juventus, where he would spend 4 seasons before finishing his career off in the MLS.
Pirlo has a long list of silverware including 6 Serie A titles, 2 Champions league titles and a World Cup! Pirlo is the benchmark for a creative deep lying midfielder and has left an amazing legacy. This sticker, although not his rookie, marks his first Calciatori sticker, and is an amazing sticker!
2 – Zinedine Zidane – #164 – Rookie Sticker from Panini FOOT 1991/92
Zinedine Zidane, widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, is known for his elegance, technical ability, vision, and creativity on the field. His playing style combined grace, intelligence, and exceptional skill, making him a formidable presence in midfield. Zidane was known for his close ball control, dribbling skills, and ability to maintain composure under pressure.
In the 1997/98 season, Zidane had an absolute blinder for club and country! He had a remarkable campaign, contributing significantly to his team’s successes. Juventus won the Serie A title, were runners up in the Champions League Final, and he won the World Cup with France, scoring 2 goals in the final!
Zidane’s exceptional performances in the 1997/98 season earned him numerous accolades, including the 1998 Ballon d’Or! His skill, influence, and impact on the game during that season showcased his unrivalled ability! Although this sticker is far from his rookie, given all that he achieved this year, it deserves the number 2 spot!
1 – Ronaldo – #144 – Rookie Sticker from Panini Voetbal 1994-1995
Ronaldo, “Il Fenomeno,” was a striker widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history and potentially the greatest ever striker! Ronaldo’s greatest asset was his exceptional pace, which allowed him to leave defenders trailing in his wake. His explosive acceleration, combined with his agility and quick footwork, made him a nightmare for opposing defences to handle. Technically, Ronaldo was a marvel to watch. He had outstanding ball control and dribbling skills, almost always leaving defenders stumped. Ronaldo’s close control, combined with his quick change of direction, made him virtually unstoppable in one-on-one situations. All this combined with his clinical finishing made him a truely terrifying player to come up against.
In the 1997/98 season with Inter Milan, Ronaldo was at the peak of his powers! He scored 34 goals in all competitions (25 in the Serie A). Furthermore, he won the 1998 World Cup Golden Ball (Player of the Tournament), scoring 4 goals!
Unfortunately, much like Del Piero, this was the last we ever saw Ronaldo at this level. The following season, he suffered a horrific knee injury and upon returning, was never the same player. Its kinda hilarious as he was still better than everyone else, averaging 20 goals a season, but he never was that player we saw before the injury – a player with blistering pace and epic dribbles.
2 World Cup titles and 2 Ballon d’Or awards, Ronaldo was something special! Here marks a sticker representing Il Fenomeno at the peak of his powers! What a sticker it is!
Final Word
The top three places unusually don’t hold any rookie stickers! Individual seasons and some historical content dictated these top spots. As for the set, we saw an impressive list of defensive rookies – which is a nice change!
I can definitely see some room for a few arguments. Let me know what you think by commenting below or messaging me on instagram.
Thanks for reading!
