Position: Defender

Born: 19.03.76

Club: AC Milan

The 2006 World Cup will be Alessandro Nesta's sixth major championship in a career that spans back to Euro 96.

In England he failed to make an appearance but by 1998 he was part of the Italy side that reached the quarter-final of the World Cup with injury ending his involvment at the end of the group stages.

It was at Euro 2000 though that Nesta established himself as one of the finest defenders in the world.

The Italy side was just moments from winning the tournament but a strike in the last minute and a golden goal meant France lifted the trophy.

On a personal level though Nesta had demonstrated his strength and excellent perception and it was these qualities that convinced AC Milan to pay Lazio upwards of £20million for the player.

The defender had been at Lazio since he was nine and was part of the European Cup Winners' Cup side in 1999.

Nesta was held in such affection by the club's fans that they staged a mass protest on the streets of Rome against his sale.

However, it failed and the Biancocelesti's loss was Milan's gain. Nesta has since won the Champions League, Scudetto, European Super Cup and Coppa Itallia while wearing the red and black stripes.

He missed out on a second Champions League winner's medal in 2005 when he was at the heart of the defence that capitulated to Liverpool so badly in Istanbul.

His season may have ended on a down note but his consistency marks him out as one of the most reliable defenders in world football.