AC Milan, with 19 Scudetti and 7 Champions League titles, is one of the world’s most successful clubs. As such, several prolific strikers have worn the iconic red and black jersey through the years, from legendary goal-scorers of yore to modern-day maestros.
Prolific goalscorers who have left a lasting mark on the beautiful game adorn the Rossoneri’s rich history, with most of them also impacting the fantasy sports and betting realms appreciated by so many cacciaviti and other fans.
This article will highlight some of the celebrated strikers who have positively impacted Milan’s prestigious history. There have indeed been many and it is especially worth pointing out now, with the Rossoneri expected to look for a striker for the future this summer.
Gunnar Nordahl (1949–1956)
Swedish striker Nordahl preceded sports betting and fantasy football by several decades but demands his place among Milan’s most prolific strikers. As one of the Rossoneri’s earliest goalscoring legends, Nordahl set Serie A ablaze with five Capocannoniere (Serie A’s leading scorer) titles during his seven-year tenure at the club.
In total, Gunnar Nordahl scored 210 Serie A goals in only 257 league appearances while also netting 43 goals in his 33 caps for Sweden. Had fantasy football existed then, Nordahl would have been a consistent points magnet with his clinical finishing.
Marco van Basten (1987–1995)
The name van Basten is synonymous with footballing elegance and lethal finishing. In 1987, Dutchman Marco van Basten joined Milan, becoming an integral part of the club’s success. His flair, technical brilliance and acrobatic goals marked a dominant era for Milan, helping the club to four Scudettos in his seven full seasons.
Marco van Basten found the net 90 times in 147 Serie A games for the Rossoneri. He also netted 24 times in 58 appearances for a successful Dutch national team before injury curtailed his career at only 28. With fantasy football invented by Italian journalist Riccardo Albini in 1990, van Basten was an early points scorer with an exceptional eye for goal.
Filippo Inzaghi (2001–2012)
‘Superpippo’ Filippo Inzaghi is a Rossoneri legend known for his predatory instincts and goal-scoring tenacity. A true poacher, Inzaghi had an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time, constantly eluding opposition defenders. While Inzaghi was at the club, Milan won two Serie A titles and was runner-up on two other occasions.
Filippo Inzaghi’s predatory instincts resulted in 73 league goals in just over 200 Serie A appearances, with the striker sought-after in fantasy football, which was growing in popularity. The Italian striker also scored 25 times in 57 international matches.
Andriy Shevchenko (1999–2006)
The Ukrainian etched his name into Milan’s history books with his prolific performances at the club. Shevchenko was a fan favourite with his versatility and lethal finishing, as he collected two Serie A winners medals. Shevchenko returned for a brief loan spell in 2008/09, which served as a final farewell to his beloved cacciaviti.
Shevchenko scored 127 times in 190 Serie A games in his seven years at Milan while not managing any goals in his 18 league matches while on loan. He also scored 48 goals in 111 Ukraine internationals. As a fantasy footballer, Shevchenko was in constant demand as he could score from various positions on the pitch.
Zlatan Ibrahimović (2010–2012, 2019–2023)
The enigmatic and charismatic Ibrahimović’s powerful presence significantly impacted AC Milan’s performances during his two spells there. Ibrahimović proved that age is just a number during his latter tenure, consistently finding the net despite being in his early forties. Of the Swede’s 76 goals in 125 Serie A appearances, 34 came in only 64 games from 2019-23.
Ibrahimović remains one of fantasy football’s highest point scorers due to his goalscoring consistency in every league he’s played in. With 62 goals included in his 122 caps, the enduring striker remains Sweden’s highest international goalscorer.
