At age 33, Italian defender Andrea Pirlo is having one of the best years of his historic career.
He was a member of the Juventus side that went 30 plus games without a loss in the Serie A and put up three goals and a stunning 13 assists in the 2011-12 season of the Italian League. He also led them to the 2012 Italian League title.
However, his success did not end there as he made his presence felt at the 2012 Euro Cup. He set up the only goal Spain allowed in the entire tournament and was a mastermind behind Italy's tremendous run to the final. During the process he scored one goal and added two assists. One of his defining moments in the tournament was the Panenka goal in the penalty shootout against England in the quarter finals.
He has gotten the 2012-13 season off to an equally dominant start with three goals and three assists and already has three assists in five UCL matches.
Biggest Moment of the Year: As captain of Italy's national team, he helped lead the highly underrated side all the way to the final.
Chances at Top Three Placement: He could be a sure fire candidate to be in the top three after his terrific performance in the Euro 2012. At age 33, he might not get another shot and it could sway some voters to give Pirlo an opportunity to finish out his career with an honorable mention.
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