Stephan El Shaarawy

Il Faraone. The Pharaoh. Stephan El Shaarawy earned his nickname through his Egyptian heritage — his father is Egyptian, his mother Swiss-Italian — and it has stuck because it suits him perfectly: there is something regal and timeless about the way he plays.

Born in Savona in 1992, El Shaarawy announced himself to Italian football with a stunning first half of the 2012-13 season at AC Milan, finishing as Serie A's top scorer at Christmas and winning the Best Young Revelation award. Injuries frustrated his peak years at Milan, and his career took him to Monaco, then Roma (the first time), then briefly to China. But he came back to Rome, and Rome came back to him.

He plays on the left flank, cutting inside onto his stronger right foot — a movement so sharp and familiar to Olimpico regulars that they begin to rise from their seats when they see him receive the ball in that position. He is not the quickest player in the squad, but his low centre of gravity, his dribbling technique, and his understanding of space make him genuinely difficult to stop. At 32, he is the elder statesman of Roma's forward line, a third captain, and one of the club's most beloved players of the modern era.