Italian · Palermo, Italy · Born 12 August 1990Supremely talented but unpredictable Italian striker whose brilliance and controversy made him one of football's most fascinating characters.
Mario Barwuah Balotelli was born in Palermo, Italy on 12 August 1990 to Ghanaian immigrants and was raised by an Italian foster family. He burst onto the scene at Inter Milan before joining Manchester City in 2010 for £24 million. His power, technique and finishing were exceptional, and he scored 30 goals in 80 appearances, including the famous assist for Sergio Agüero's title-winning goal in 2012. His off-field antics and disciplinary issues became legendary. He later played for AC Milan, Liverpool, Nice, Marseille, Brescia and others. He earned 36 caps for Italy and scored in the Euro 2012 semi-final against Germany.
Scoring crucial goals in Italy's run to Euro 2012 final
He set off fireworks in his bathroom, revealed a 'Why Always Me?' shirt after scoring against Manchester United, and once went to visit a women's prison 'because he was bored.'
Did You Know?How They Played
Powerful striker with excellent finishing, strong in the air, known for penalty taking
Lasting Impact
Talented but controversial striker whose career was defined by off-field incidents as much as his goals
Career Honours
- Premier League 2012
- FA Cup 2011
- Serie A 2010
- Copa Italia 2x
- Coppa Italia 2010
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inter Milan | 2007–2010 | 86 | 24 | #9 |
| Manchester City | 2010–2013 | 326 | 14 | #28 |
| AC Milan | 2013–2014 | 138 | 4 | #28 |
| Liverpool | 2014–2016 | 85 | 4 | #28 |
| Lumezzane | 2007–2007 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Nice | 2016–2019 | 73 | 43 | — |
| Marseille | 2019–2021 | 51 | 17 | — |
| Brescia | 2019–2020 | 5 | 2 | — |
| Monza | 2020–2021 | 14 | 3 | — |
| Adana Demirspor | 2021–2022 | 35 | 18 | — |
| FC Sion | 2022–2023 | 25 | 18 | — |
 Italy | — | 36 | 14 | — |
Italian Athletes