How Good Was Antonio Di Natale - Antonio Di Natale is a striker that reminds us that football is more than just winning trophies. It’s about the raw emotions of those in the stands and how one player can bring a club together like he did with Udinese. The city fell in love with their hero, yet outside of the city he isn’t held with as much love or appreciation. Why? Why isn’t Di Natale recognized as one of the best strikers we have seen in modern Serie A.
Antonio Di Natale’s career is almost unique in a game where attacking players are peaking earlier and earlier. To take three examples, Lionel Messi’s two highest-scoring seasons came aged 24 and 25, Cristiano Ronaldo’s 25 and 28 and Wayne Rooney’s at 24 and 26. Di Natale’s came aged 32 and 34. He has scored more Serie A goals since turning 30 than Filippo Inzaghi, Hernan Crespo or Christian Vieri scored in their entire careers.
In the five seasons between 2009 and 2014 and the ages of 31 and 36, Dee-Natale scored 120 league goals. That total was beaten only by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in European football.