Antonio Di Natale
A loyal, late-blooming goal machine for Udinese, he became one of Serie A's most consistent and lethal strikers, twice winning the Capocannoniere.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Italian footballer·Birthday: October 13·Generation X
Biography
Antonio Di Natale's career is a testament to loyalty and relentless self-improvement. After modest beginnings at Empoli, he found his true home at Udinese in 2004. There, he evolved from a speedy winger into a predatory, intelligent central striker. His peak came surprisingly late; in his thirties, he became the undisputed king of Udine, racking up goals with a mix of technical finesse and explosive finishing. He twice claimed the Serie A top scorer award, turning down lucrative moves to giants like Juventus to stay with the smaller club that believed in him. Di Natale's story isn't one of galactic superstardom, but of a profound connection with a city and a club, where his goalscoring prowess made him a folk hero and one of Italy's most respected forwards.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Antonio was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Antonio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Antonio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Serie A Capocannoniere (top scorer) award in back-to-back seasons (2009–10 and 2010–11).
- Scored 191 Serie A goals for Udinese, making him the club's all-time leading scorer.
- Earned 42 caps for the Italian national team and represented Italy at UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
- Recorded over 100 career assists, highlighting his playmaking ability alongside his goal scoring.
Did You Know?
He turned down a transfer to Juventus in 2010 to remain loyal to Udinese.
Before professional football, he worked in his father's furniture factory.
He is known for his distinctive goal celebration, pointing both index fingers to the sky.
“Udine is my home. Here I became a man and a footballer.”
