Fiorentina forward and Italy international Alberto Gilardino (pictured) took the No 1 spot in the FTBL ranking of Italian players after this week’s Champions League group stage games with a tally of 160.21 points.

Gilardino scored one of the goals in the 5:2 drubbing of Hungary’s Debreceni VSC at the Artemio Franchi Stadium last Wednesday to overtake Sampdoria’s Giampaolo Pazzini (140.53 points).

The Italy international is now in 12th position in our world ranking of forwards. He remains 15 rating points from a spot in the top 6 of the world ranking. He faces a daunting plank of 23 rating points to beat in his next game.