Alessandro Nesta was defending distilled to its purest form: an Italian centre-back of impeccable timing, grace and anticipation who seemed to win the ball without ever needing to foul. Positioning and composure were his weapons, and he made the art of stopping strikers look effortless.
He came through at Lazio, captaining the club to a memorable league title, before moving to AC Milan and forming a formidable defensive partnership that underpinned two European Cup triumphs. Injuries could not dim his authority.
A World Cup winner with Italy, Nesta is regularly cited among the finest defenders the game has produced, admired as much for his elegance as his effectiveness.