Marco Borriello
A journeyman striker with a model's looks and a poacher's instinct, he led the line for Italy's biggest clubs and earned a national team call-up.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Italian professional footballer·Birthday: June 18·Millennials
Biography
Marco Borriello's football life was a classic Italian tale of talent, travel, and tenacity. A product of the AC Milan youth academy, the striker spent years on loan at various Serie A clubs, searching for a permanent home where his physical presence and sharp finishing could flourish. He found it at Genoa, where a 19-goal season in 2007-08 earned him a return to Milan and, ultimately, a debut for the Italian national team. Borriello possessed a strong aerial game and a striker's knack for being in the right place, which made him a valuable asset for top sides like Roma and Juventus, though he often served as a capable deputy rather than an undisputed starter. His career path took him to nearly a dozen Italian clubs, embodying the life of a modern football nomad who always carried a genuine goal threat wherever he went.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Marco was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Marco Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Marco's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored 19 goals in the 2007-2008 Serie A season for Genoa, earning a recall to the Italian national team.
- Won the Serie A title with AC Milan in the 2010-2011 season.
- Earned 7 caps for the Italian national team, making his debut in 2008.
Did You Know?
He has a large collection of tattoos and has worked as a model, appearing in fashion magazines.
He played for both major Milan clubs, starting his career at AC Milan and having a brief stint with Inter Milan late in his career.
He scored a hat-trick for Genoa against his former club, Reggina, in 2008.
“I always gave everything on the pitch, with my heart and my strength.”
