Alessandro Del Piero was born on November 9, 1974, in Conegliano, Veneto, Italy. He grew up in a sports-loving family, and his father was a former amateur football player. Del Piero began playing football at a young age and joined the youth team of San Vendemiano at the age of seven.

Did you know? As a child, Del Piero started out as a goalkeeper before switching to playing as a forward.

In 1982, Del Piero joined the youth academy of Padova, where he stayed for three years before joining the youth team of Juventus in 1987. He made his professional debut for Juventus in 1993 and quickly became one of the key players for the team. He spent 19 seasons at Juventus, making over 700 appearances and scoring more than 290 goals.

Del Piero also played for the Italian national team, making his debut in 1995. He played in three World Cups (1998, 2002, and 2006) and helped Italy win the 2006 World Cup, scoring a crucial goal in the semi-final against Germany. He retired from international football in 2008, having scored 27 goals in 91 appearances for Italy.

After leaving Juventus in 2012, Del Piero played for a few more years for Sydney FC in Australia and Delhi Dynamos in India before retiring in 2015. He has since become a TV pundit and also runs a football school in his hometown of Conegliano. In 2013, he published his autobiography, "Giochiamo ancora" ("Let's play again" in English).

Did you know? He is a fan of American football and has attended several NFL games in the United States.

As a businessman, Del Piero has his own fashion brand called "No.10" which features clothing, accessories, and fragrances and also owns his own wine business, "Ale Wine."

Off the pitch, Del Piero is also known for his philanthropic work and has been involved in various charitable organizations over the years including being an ambassador for UNICEF: Del Piero has been a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 2005 and has participated in various charity events for the organization.

Did you know? Del Piero has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: In 2013, Del Piero was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to football.

He is also a licensed airplane pilot and has even flown himself to some of his matches. He is married to Sonia Amoruso, and they have three children together.

Honours and Career highlights

1. Winning the FIFA World Cup with Italy in 2006.
2. Winning six Serie A titles with Juventus.
3. Scoring 290 goals for Juventus in 705 appearances, making him the club's all-time leading scorer.
4. Winning the UEFA Champions League with Juventus in 1996.
5. Winning the UEFA Super Cup with Juventus in 1996.
6. Winning the Intercontinental Cup with Juventus in 1996.
7. Winning the Coppa Italia with Juventus four times.
8. Winning the Italian Super Cup with Juventus five times.
9. Winning the Golden Foot award in 2007.
10. Winning the Serie A Footballer of the Year award twice (1998, 2008).
11. Being named in the UEFA Team of the Year three times (1996, 1997, 2008).
12. Being named in the FIFPro World XI three times (1997, 1998, 2008).
13. Being named in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players in 2004.
14. Being inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
15. Being named an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2006.

Did you know? He is also a licensed airplane pilot and has even flown himself to some of his matches.

A sure sign of a legend is when he garners such admiration from his peers, so here are 10 quotes about Alessandro Del Piero

"Del Piero is a born champion. His class and his charisma are on another level." - Zinedine Zidane

"Del Piero is one of the greatest Italian players of all time. He was a player who made the difference in the most important moments." - Fabio Capello

"Del Piero is the symbol of Juventus. He represents the values of the club, both on and off the pitch." - Giuseppe Marotta

"Alessandro Del Piero is a player that makes you love football." - Arsène Wenger

"Del Piero is one of the most talented players I have ever played with. His vision, his technique, and his finishing were all exceptional." - Pavel Nedvěd

"Del Piero is a legend. He was a player who made the impossible possible." - Gianluigi Buffon

"Del Piero is one of the few players who can create something out of nothing. He's a genius." - Marcello Lippi

"Del Piero is a great champion, a true example for all young people who approach football." - Carlo Ancelotti

"Del Piero is not just a great player, he's a great man. He always put the team first, and that's why he's loved by everyone." - Claudio Marchisio

"Del Piero was a player who could change the outcome of a match with a single moment of brilliance. He was a true artist." - Andrea Pirlo

Did you know? Del Piero has acted in movies and has made cameo appearances including "L'allenatore nel pallone 2" ("The Coach in the Ball 2") and "L'ultimo goal" ("The Last Goal").

The term Legend is often used too easily but in the case of this man it is perfect. His famous quote "Football is not just a game, it's a way of life." sums up the man.

Thanks for all of the moments Alessandro, it was a true pleasure.

We hope you have enjoyed our blog celebrating the brilliance of Alessandro Del Piero and would love to hear your thoughts, memories or how YOU feel about him?

Team Topo