Giovanni ("Gianni") Rivera (born 18 August 1943 in Alessandria) is an Italian former football midfielder, mostly a deep-lying playmaker, who was awarded the Ballon d'Or, one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, in 1969. He played the majority of his career with Serie A side A.C. Milan. Internationally, he represented Italy, 60 times scoring 14 goals, at four World Cups (1962, 1966, 1970, and 1974) as well as being part of the first Italian side to win the European Football Championship in 1968. He currently is a Member of the European Parliament for the Uniti nell'Ulivo party and has been appointed as the President of the educational youth sector by the FIGC for the Italy national football team, along with Roberto Baggio and Arrigo Sacchi under head coach Cesare Prandelli. He's considered one of the best ever.