Position: Defender

Club: A C Milan

Birthdate: 19 Mar 1976

Int'l caps: 78

Int'l goals: 0

Int'l debut: v Moldova, Oct 1996

His life

WORLD Cup-winning centre-back who recently announced his retirement from international football. Regarded as one of the most composed defenders in the world and a recent Champions League winner with AC Milan.

Nesta, noted for his tackling ability, game-reading skill and pace, grew up in the Cinecitta district of Rome. It was reported that he joined his first club after his older brother, Fernando, was advised to take up a sport to help alleviate a back problem. Nesta apparently threw a tantrum until his father agreed to take him to the club as well.

He shone from a young age and caught the eye of Roma but his father, a Lazio fan, wanted him to join their rivals.

He did so and, subsequently, came through the Lazio ranks, representing Italy at Under-15 and Under-16 levels along the way.

At 16, he started training with the senior squad and had a brush with infamy after a training-ground collision with Paul Gascoigne that left the club's star with a broken leg.

Nesta was soon in the first team and, in 1996, featured in the Italy side that won the European Under-21 Championship, a tournament in which he was named the best defender.

Full international recognition soon followed.

A year later, he was made Lazio captain and the club went on to win the Coppa Italia in 1998, with Nesta scoring in the final win over AC Milan. That victory was swiftly followed by defeat in the Uefa Cup final, but in the following seasons, Nesta was to taste glory in the Cup Winners' Cup, the Coppa Italia again and the Serie A title.

Financial problems meant Lazio could not hold onto Nesta after 2002 and he moved to AC Milan. The move could hardly have gone better, as Milan won the Champions League and Coppa Italia in his first season and the Serie A in 2004.

Another Champions League final appearance came in 2005 followed by a successful World Cup campaign last year. Nesta's involvement was actually curtailed after the group stages due to injury.

His strife

Nesta has been one of the world's finest defenders. However, he has not always had the best of luck on the international front. ln almost every major tournament, he has been struck down with injury. Finally, citing tiredness, he announced a decision to retire from international football and concentrate on club commitments in August.

His partner

Nesta married Gabriela Pagnozzi, the daughter of journalist, author and CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) general secretary Raffaele 'LeIIo' Pagnozzi, in May. The pair had both civil and religious ceremonies on separate days. She was working at the Italian football headquarters at the time of the 1998 World Cup and met Nesta after he was injured in the tournament. They have a daughter, Sofia.

His drive

Nesta likes Ferraris and has owned several in his time but, recently, admitted that they were too fast tor him. To compensate, he also has a Volkswagen Golf cabriolet.

One to remember

Nesta won his second Champions League title with Milan last season as he and his team-mates achieved redemption - and revenge - for their 2005 final defeat to Liverpool. Remarkably, the sides met again in this May's final in Athens and Milan, despite being outplayed for large spells, won 2-1 with two goals from Filippo Inzaghi.

One to forget

Yet the scars of 2005 will still take some time to heal. Milan led 3-0 at half-time in Istanbul but, somehow, contrived to throw the game away. Liverpool hit back early in the second half and went on to win on penalties.