Simply put, Alessandro del Piero is one of the biggest names in Italian and world football, but as his critics are only too keen to point out, the Treviso-born star has yet to fully fulfil the astonishing potential he exhibited in his first few seasons with Juventus FC. Having joined the Turin side after playing only 14 games for Serie B club Padova Calcio in 1993, del Piero quickly became an increasingly essential part of a team whose attacking capabilities at one stage also boasted the mighty triumvirate of Roberto Baggio, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Gianluca Vialli. The young del Piero continued to mature, his dazzling runs and accurate free-kicks helping his team to three UEFA Champions League appearances in succession. The 1997/98 Champions League campaign saw him score a record-breaking ten goals. However, following a knee injury, which kept him out of the game for much of the 1998/99 season, del Piero struggled to recapture his best form. As a result, he now needs to win over his critics in the national team, some of whom still hold him responsible for Italy’s sensational defeat to France in their semi-final match at EURO 2000™, when, less than fully fit, he squandered a glorious scoring opportunity. Del Piero has also represented his country at EURO 96™ and the 1998 FIFA World Cup, after making his international debut in 1995 against Estonia.