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Pio Esposito joins elite list of Italian greats with goal against Luxembourg
Arjun Pillai | June 4, 2026 10:26 AM CST

Inter forward Francesco Pio Esposito has etched his name alongside Italian football legends by becoming only the third player to score more than three goals for the senior Italy national team before turning 21, following in the footsteps of Giuseppe Meazza and Gianni Rivera.

The young Inter striker struck the decisive goal in Italy’s 1-0 victory over Luxembourg on Wednesday, further underlining his rising status within the Azzurri setup.

According to statistics shared by Opta, Esposito joins an exclusive group of Italy internationals who achieved this scoring feat before their 21st birthday. The only two players to have done so previously were the legendary Meazza and Rivera, both of whom left an indelible mark on Italian football history.

Giuseppe Meazza remains Inter’s all-time leading scorer and Italy’s second-highest goal-getter, with 33 goals in 63 appearances for the national side. He was a key figure in Italy’s back-to-back FIFA World Cup triumphs in 1934 and 1938, and also lifted the Serie A title three times with Inter.

Gianni Rivera, a central figure in Italian football during the 1960s and 70s, scored 14 goals in 60 appearances for Italy. A Milan icon, Rivera won two European Cups—now known as the UEFA Champions League—and three Serie A titles with the Rossoneri. He also lifted the European Championship trophy with Italy in 1969, cementing his status as one of the country's most elegant playmakers.

Esposito, who will celebrate his 21st birthday on June 28, has already made a strong impression at club level, scoring ten goals in 48 competitive appearances for Inter this season. His form has translated to the international stage, where he has netted four times in his first eight matches for the national team.


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