Who Is Fabio Cannavaro? Age, Biography and Wiki
Fabio Cannavaro, born on September 13, 1973, is a renowned Italian footballer who has left an indelible mark on the world of sports. At 51 years old in 2025, Cannavaro is celebrated not only for his incredible defensive skills on the pitch but also for his influential presence off it. He captained the Italian national team to victory in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and was awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year in the same year, solidifying his status as one of the greatest defenders in football history.
Read more about Fabio Cannavaro on his Wikipedia page
| Occupation | Footballer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 13, 1973 |
| Age | 51 Years |
| Birth Place | Naples, Italy |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | Italy |
Popularity
Fabio Cannavaro's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Standing at an impressive height of 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in), Cannavaro was known for his agility and strong physical presence during his playing days. While his professional career has concluded, his maintained fitness regime keeps him active and healthy. Although specific weight details are not publicly disclosed, Cannavaro's athletic build reflects his dedication to staying fit.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Fabio Cannavaro is married to his long-time partner, Giorgia Palmas. The couple has been together for several years and has two children, reinforcing the importance of family in Cannavaro’s life. Known for his private nature regarding personal relationships, Cannavaro maintains a low profile regarding his family life, focusing primarily on his career and parenting.
His mother worked as a maid, while his father was a bank clerk. His father also played football for provincial side Giugliano. He has an elder sister named Renata and a younger brother named Paolo, also a professional footballer.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Fabio Cannavaro’s net worth is estimated to be around $60 million, primarily accumulated through his successful football career, endorsements, and business ventures. His earnings peaked during his football career, and he continues to earn through various sponsorship deals and his role as a football manager.
Career, Business and Investments
After retiring from professional football, Cannavaro transitioned into coaching, taking on roles in various leagues and demonstrating his tactical knowledge of the game. In addition to his coaching career, Cannavaro has invested in several businesses, including sports academies that focus on training the next generation of football stars. His keen sense for business has allowed him to build a sustainable post-football career.
A centre-back, he spent the majority of his career in Italy. He started his career at Napoli before spending seven years at Parma, with whom he won two Coppa Italia titles, the 1999 Supercoppa Italiana, and the 1999 UEFA Cup.
After spells at Inter Milan and Juventus, he transferred (along with manager Fabio Capello) from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2006, with whom he won consecutive La Liga titles in 2007 and 2008. He returned to Juventus for one season in 2009–10 and retired from football in 2011 after a stint at Al-Ahli.
Social Network
Fabio Cannavaro is active on various social media platforms where he engages with fans and shares insights into his life. With a significant following on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, Cannavaro utilizes these channels to promote his ventures, share memories from his illustrious career, and connect with young athletes. His social media presence plays a crucial role in shaping his brand and maintaining relevance in the public eye.
As a youngster, Cannavaro played for a team from Bagnoli before being quickly spotted by the scouts of Napoli, his hometown and favourite childhood team. Cannavaro initially served as the club's ball boy and would often watch his idols Diego Maradona and Ciro Ferrara play.
He later joined the club's youth team, initially playing as a midfielder like his idol Marco Tardelli, before the team's youth coach switched him to the role of centre-back.
He gained a reputation when, in a training session at Napoli, the young Fabio produced a strong sliding challenge on Maradona, who was then the undisputed star of the club, to dispossess him. The rough challenge angered teammates and staff at Napoli.
However, Maradona himself defended the promising player and encouraged him to play the way he wanted, and reportedly congratulated Cannavaro by giving him his boots as a souvenir after the training session.
Education
Fabio Cannavaro's educational background is closely tied to his footballing career. While little is publicly known about his formal education, he has emphasized the importance of discipline, hard work, and continuous learning throughout his life. Cannavaro's dedication to self-improvement is evident in his current success both on and off the pitch.
Along with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, Cannavaro played each minute of every match in the tournament for Italy, completing 211 passes and winning 16 challenges.
Even with usual defensive partner Alessandro Nesta out due to injury, the Italian defence kept a record five clean sheets and conceded only two goals throughout the entire tournament: an own-goal against the United States and a Zinedine Zidane penalty in the final against France.
Cannavaro's leadership and marshalling of the Italian defence throughout their march to the final earned him a place in the All-Star Team at the end of the competition (awarded by FIFA's Technical Study Group) alongside six other Italian teammates: Gianluigi Buffon, Francesco Totti, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Luca Toni and Gianluca Zambrotta.
He was runner-up in the race for the Golden Ball, finishing behind French counterpart Zinedine Zidane; it was a close contest with Zidane polling 2012 points to Cannavaro's 1977.
Cannavaro was also awarded the 2006 Ballon d'Or and the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year for his performances throughout the season and at the World Cup, also being named to the FIFPro World XI and the UEFA Team of the Year.
