Giuseppe Meazza

Giuseppe Meazza was born on the 23rd of August 1910, in Porta Vittoria, Milan; died on the 21st of August 1979. He was more commonly known as Peppino and was nicknamed “il Balilla” by his older teammate, Leopoldo Conti.

Peppino was the Italy’s most productive goal scorer in the 1930s. His 33 goals in 53 appearances for the national side had been a record until it was beaten by Luigi Riva. Meazza began to be a centre-forward with Inter-Milan in the year 1927 when he was still 17 years old. This was the start of his professional football career.

F.C. Internazionale Milano
• Serie A: 1929-30, 1937-38, 1939-40
• (Runner-Up): 1932–33, 1933–34, and 1934–35
• Coppa Italia: 1939
• Mitropa Cup: (Runner-Up): 1933

A.C. Milan
• Coppa Italia: (Runner-Up): 1942

Italy
• FIFA World Cup: 1934, 1938
• Dr. Gero Cup: 2, 1927/1930, 1933/1935

Meazza was inducted into FIFA Hall of Champions and was also an inductee of Italian Hall of Fame Entrant. He was chosen by IFFHS/FIFA as the second Best Italian player and as one of the best 25 World Players of the 20th Century. He was the Italian national team’s second highest scorer and his record stood still until Gigi Riva tied and eventually broke it on June 19, 1973. Meazza was also one of the first Italians to coach abroad, in which he has coached Besiktas J.K. of Turkey between the years 1947-1948.