The Top 10 – Panini Calciatori 1999-2000

Alessandro Nesta was renowned for his elegant yet effective defensive style. As a central defender, he was celebrated for his exceptional positioning, tactical intelligence, and composure under pressure. Nesta combined physicality with a refined technical ability, excelling in one-on-one situations and aerial duels. His reading of the game allowed him to intercept passes and make crucial tackles with precision.

In the 1999-2000 Serie A season, Nesta was a key figure for Lazio as he formed a partnership with Sinisa Mihajlovic in central defence. His solid defensive performances were instrumental in Lazio’s successful campaign, where they won the Serie A title. Nesta’s leadership and ability to organise the backline, contributed significantly to Lazio’s defensive stability and overall success during the season.

In 2002 Nesta would sign for AC Milan and have an incredible career on top of his successes at Lazio.

Pavel Nedved was known for his dynamic and versatile playing style. As a midfielder, he combined exceptional technical skill with a high work rate. He was renowned for his dribbling, powerful shooting, and ability to make incisive runs into the attacking third. Nedved’s versatility allowed him to contribute both defensively and offensively, often functioning as a box-to-box midfielder.

During the 1999-2000 Serie A season, Nedved helped Lazio to the title with impressive performances off the left wing. His contributions included scoring important goals and providing vital assists. His energetic performances and ability to drive the team forward were instrumental in securing the Serie A title for Lazio.

In 2001 Pavel signed for Juventus and became a club legend in his 8 seasons there. The highlight of his career would come in 2003 as he won the Ballon d’Or. Nedved finished his Serie A career with 3 league titles, 2 being with Juventus.

Hernan Crespo was known for his sharp instincts and clinical finishing ability as a striker. He can be described as a poacher, combining excellent positioning with a natural goal-scoring instinct. Crespo’s strength in the air, technical skills, and ability to make intelligent runs behind defences made him a constant threat.

In the 1999-2000 Serie A season, Crespo was a pivotal player for Parma as they finished 5th in the league ahead of the likes of Roma and Batistuta’s Fiorentina. His goal-scoring prowess was instrumental in their successful campaign, as he finished the season as the third top scorer in the league with 22 goals. Crespo’s contributions, including his decisive goals and consistent performances, saw him sign for Lazio, the following season where he would have his career best season in terms of goal output.

Crespo went on to play for many big clubs in his career including: AC Milan, Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Genoa. One of the iconic strikers of his generation.

Sinisa Mihajlovic was renowned for his formidable presence as a central defender and his exceptional set-piece ability. Mihajlovic had a powerful and accurate shot from distance, especially in free-kick situations. He is widely known as one of the greatest ever dead ball specialists.

During the 1999-2000 season, Mihajlovic was a revelation for Lazio. Under new manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson, he was converted into a center back, having previously played as a left back or left winger. Forming a partnership with legendary defender Alessandro Nesta, his defensive skills and experience contributed to Lazio’s strong backline. Furthermore, he was dangeroud from set-pieces, scoring 6 goals from centerback.

One of the iconic players of the Serie A, having played for Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter. Although he is no longer with us, we will never forget his incredible free-kicks and the success he had on the field.

Juan Sebastian Veron was known for his exceptional vision, passing ability, and technical skill as a central midfielder. He combined creativity with a commanding presence in midfield, often dictating the tempo of the game with his precise distribution and long-range passing. Veron was a complete midfielder and the 1999-2000 saw some of his best football.

During the 1999-2000 season, Veron signed for Lazio from Sampdoria in a huge money move! He was crucial in their title run, dominating the midfield, scoring 8 goals. His playmaking abilities were central to the team’s success, as he orchestrated the midfield with his vision and creativity. He turned out to be an inspired signing and was an important part of Sven-Göran Eriksson’s and Lazio’s system.

In 2001 Veron signed for Manchester United, and for whatever reason it just didn’t work out for him. After stints at Chelsea and Inter Milan, he decided to move back to his boyhood club, Estudiantes. This took many by surprise as he was spending arguably his prime years in the Argentinian division. I guess a similar situation as Riquelme who moved back to Boca, sometimes players choose passion over ambition.

Alberto Gilardino was known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability, positioning, and clinical finishing as a striker. He had a knack for being in the right place at the right time, often converting chances with composure. Gilardino’s technical skills, combined with his aerial ability and strong work ethic, made him a consistent and reliable forward.

In the 1999-2000 Serie A season, Gilardino was at the early stages of his professional career, playing for Piacenza at the age of 17! Despite his youth, he showed promise with his performances, scoring 3 times in the Serie A. Although he didn’t have a breakout season in terms of goals, his potential was evident, and this period served as a crucial development phase in his journey to becoming one of Serie A’s notable strikers in later years.

His best football came at Parma, where he scored 56 goals in three seasons between 2002-2005. The following year he would sign for AC Milan and score 44 goals over 3 seasons. Furthermore, in this period he won the World Cup with Italy, with many remembering his famous assist to Del Piero against Germany in the semi final.

He had a bit of a nomadic career in his later years, and after spending 4 seasons with Fiorentina scoring 49 goals, he played for: Genoa, Bologna, Guangzhou Evergrande (China), Palermo, Empoli, Pescara and Spezia.

A top player in his prime and a nice rookie sticker!

Antonio Di Natale was known for his incredible technical skill, and sharp goal-scoring instincts. As a forward, he combined a keen sense of positioning with precise finishing and an ability to make clever runs behind defences. Di Natale had the ability to create magical moments from nothing and has a very impressive highlight reel!

During the 1999-2000 Serie B season, Di Natale played for Empoli. He only scored 6 goals and was still working on his trade. Di Natale was a late bloomer in his career and probably started playing his best football around 2008. He is now conisidered an Udinese legend, scoring 227 goals.

He spent 12 season with Udinese playing until the age of 38! It is very interesting to think that he started playing his best football around the age of 31. 188 of his 300 career goals came after the age of 30! It goes to show, you can never write of a player off! A quality rookie sticker and an icon of the game.

Antonio Cassano was known for his exceptional dribbling, creativity, and flair as an attacking player. Usually deployed as a striker or second striker, his style was shaped by quick, incisive movements, close ball control, and a knack for creating scoring opportunities. Cassano’s ability to take on defenders and deliver precise passes made a dangerous player. Furthermore, Cassano was capable of scoring magical goals from nothing, and like Di Natale, has a very impressive highlight reel.

In the 1999-2000 Serie A season, Cassano played for Bari breaking into the team at 17 years old! Despite Bari’s struggles that season, Cassano provided the fans something to be happy about. His creative play and flair on the ball earned him recognition as one of Italy’s brightest young talents.

In 2001 Cassano signed for Roma and played arguable his best football, earning himself a move to Real Madrid 2005. Perhaps famous in Madrid for the wrong reasons as he fell out of love with football and gained a lot of weight. Post Madrid, he signed for Sampdoria and his career had a resurgence. He would go onto play for Inter Milan, AC Milan, Parma and then finish his career again at Sampdoria.

Perhaps one of those “what if” players, but nonetheless had a fantastic career. A really top rookie sticker!

Luca Toni was known for his powerful and physical playing style as a striker and his prolific goal scoring. He combined height and strength with excellent heading ability, a strong presence in the penalty area, and a clinical finishing touch. Toni’s movement, aerial prowess, and ability to hold off defenders made him a formidable target man and a prolific goal scorer. We all know this mans trademark celebration and that makes this an epic sticker on its own!

During the 1999-2000 Serie B season, Toni played for Treviso. His performances were marked by his goal-scoring ability, bagging 15 goals. Toni’s name would become known in Italy following his transfer to Palermo. In two seasons he scored 51 goals and earned him a move to Fiorentina. In his first season with Fiorentina, he scored an incredible 31 Serie A goals!

He would eventually earn a move to Bayern Munich, where he won 2 Bundesliga titles. After Bayern, he bounced between Serie A clubs: Roma, Juventus, Genoa, again Fiorentina, and ending his career with Hellas Verona. A top striker and a World Cup winner’s medal holder (2006). A very very big rookie sticker.

Andriy Shevchenko was a legendary striker known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability, speed, and technical skill on the ball. He combined a keen sense of positioning with powerful finishing, making him a constant threat in the box. Shevchenko’s quickness and precise movement allowed him to create and score opportunities, while his strength and work ethic made him effective both on and off the ball.

In the 1999-2000 season, Shevchenko signed for AC Milan, and what a signing it was! He had n incredible season, showcasing his prolific goal-scoring ability by finishing as the league’s top scorer with 24 goals! His performances were a key highlight for Milan, even though the team finished the season in 3rd place. S

Shevchenko would spend 7 seasons at Milan before leaving for Chelsea. After his time at Chlesea, he was loaned back to Milan for 1 season before moving back to Ukraine with Dynamo Kiev. Shevchenko is one of AC Milan’s greatest ever strikers, scoring 175 goals for the club and winning Serie A and UEFA Champions League titles. Furthermore, he won the 2004 Ballon d’Or! He could be considered Ukriane’s greatest ever player with 111 caps and 48 goals. And for sure he is the greatest ever Ukrainian footballer post the USSR!

A legendary striker and a legendary sticker! It makes the number 1 spot despite not being a rookie sticker. The fact that it is his first with AC Milan makes this a very strong sticker!

Andriy Shevchenko Rookie Sticker True Rookie Sticker

The collection: https://www.laststicker.ru/cards/sticker_the_best_1998/