Marco van Basten

Lore & Background

Van Basten was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992 and won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1988, 1989 and 1992. At club level, he won three Eredivisie titles and the Cup Winners' Cup with Ajax, and four Serie A titles and two European Cups with Milan. With the Netherlands, he won UEFA Euro 1988, earning the Golden Boot with five goals, including a memorable volley in the final against the Soviet Union. He was ranked sixth in the FIFA Player of the Century internet poll, tenth in the European player of the Century election by the IFFHS, and 12th in the IFFHS' World Player of the Century election. He was also voted eighth in a France Football poll of Ballon d'Or winners for Football Player of the Century, and was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list in 2004. In a 2004 Dutch poll, he ranked 25th, second highest for a football player behind Johan Cruyff. In 2007, Sky Sports ranked him first on its list of great athletes with shortened careers.

In Their Own Story

The rain fell softly on the San Siro as the clock ticked past the ninetieth minute. The score was deadlocked, and the air was thick with tension. Van Basten received a loose pass near the edge of the box, his body turning instantly to face the goal. In a single motion, he pulled back his leg, striking the ball with the outside of his boot. It curled impossibly over the goalkeeper's head, dipping just inside the far post. The stadium erupted, not for a mere goal, but for a moment of pure artistry that seemed to suspend time itself.

Reader's Guide

Van Basten began playing at age six for EDO, then moved to UVV Utrecht, and later Elinkwijk. Ajax signed him at 16 for the 1981–82 season; he debuted on 3 April 1982 as a substitute for Johan Cruyff, scoring in a 5–0 win over NEC. He was top scorer in the Eredivisie for four consecutive seasons from 1983–84 to 1986–87, scoring 118 goals in 112 matches. In 1985–86, he scored 37 goals in 26 league matches, including six against Sparta Rotterdam and five against Heracles Almelo, winning the European Golden Boot. He scored the winning goal in the 1987 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final against Lokomotive Leipzig. In total, he scored 128 goals in 133 league matches for Ajax. In November 1986, he scored a famous overhead kick against FC Den Bosch. In 1987, Milan president Silvio Berlusconi signed him along with Ruud Gullit; Frank Rijkaard joined in 1988. In his first season, Milan won the Scudetto, but Van Basten played only 11 matches due to ankle injury. In 1988–89, he won the Ballon d'Or, scored 19 Serie A goals and 32 in all competitions, including two in the European Cup final against Steaua București. In 1989–90, he became Serie A's top scorer again; Milan defended the European Cup, beating Benfica 1–0, with Van Basten assisting Rijkaard's winner. In 1991–92, under Fabio Capello, Milan went undefeated in the league; Van Basten scored 25 league goals, becoming top scorer again. In November 1992, he scored four goals in a Champions League match against IFK Göteborg, including a bicycle kick. In December 1992, he was named FIFA World Player of the Year. His ankle injury recurred against Ancona, leading to a six-month layoff and surgeries. He returned for the end of the 1992–93 season, playing his final match for Milan in the Champions League final loss to Marseille, where a tackle by Basile Boli led to his third ankle surgery. He missed the 1993–94 season and was ordered by his club not to play in the 1994 World Cup. He retired on 17 August 1995. Internationally, he debuted on 7 September 1983 against Iceland. At Euro 1988, he scored five goals, including a hat-trick against England, the winner against West Germany, and a volley in the final against the Soviet Union, also assisting Gullit's opener. He was top scorer and player of the tournament. The Netherlands exited the 1990 World Cup in the second round; Van Basten never scored in World Cup finals. At Euro 1992, th

Did You Know?

• Van Basten scored a spectacular overhead kick for Ajax against FC Den Bosch in November 1986.
• He scored four goals in a Champions League match against IFK Göteborg in November 1992, including a bicycle kick.
• His volley in the Euro 1988 final against the Soviet Union was ranked #21 in a 2002 UK poll of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.
• He was the third player after Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini to win the Ballon d'Or three times.