Pierino Prati

A hat trick in a European Cup final is not a footnote, and Pierino Prati’s three goals against Ajax in 1969 remain the sharpest proof of how dangerous he could be at his peak. Left footed, mobile and technically clean, he was not a static centre forward waiting between centre backs, but an attacker able to move across the line, shoot early, combine with Rivera and attack the box from slightly changing angles. Milan used that flexibility beautifully in the late 1960s, when his pace, finishing and tactical intelligence added depth to a side already rich in technique. He could play as a striker or wide forward, giving coaches both scoring instinct and movement away from the central lane. Prati was not as long lasting as the very greatest Italian forwards, and injuries reduced some continuity, but his best football had elite sharpness. A fluid left footed finisher, decisive on the largest stage and more complete than the label of occasional goalscorer suggests.