Italian Football 'Suffering' As Fewer Players Competing In Top League, Says Roberto Baggio

Former Italian football star Roberto Baggio said Italy's national team is“suffering” due to the declining number of Italian players competing in the country's top league, a trend he believes has contributed to the team's recent failures to qualify for the Fifa World Cup.

Speaking at the World Sports Summit alongside his daughter Valentina and former Italy captain Alessandro Del Piero, Baggio said the strong identity and structure that once defined Italian football have weakened over time.

“In my time, much more Italians were playing in the league. Now, much less, and this is probably the biggest reason why we are failing now,” he said. Baggio explained that when Italy played in the World Cup in the 90s, there was a team structure.

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Italy qualified for the upcoming Fifa World Cup. However, it missed the previous 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which, according to Baggio, is because there are less Italian players in the league. When Baggio played for the Italian national team during the 1994 World Cup, he was crowned one of the world's best players, according to the sporting body.

Baggio was nicknamed“Il Divino Codino” (The Divine Ponytail) for his striking low ponytail. He suffered many injuries early on in his career but made a comeback during the 1994 World Cup. He led his team to the final but ultimately lost to Brazil on penalties. Over the years, Baggio became a household name in football.

During the panel session, his daughter Valentina recalled how, even long after her father retired, football legends and fans from around the world continued to show him admiration and respect. She said his influence went beyond trophies, highlighting his passion, resilience, and lasting impact on the sport.

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