Pio Esposito has the best goals-per-minute ratio in Italy history

Pio Esposito has the best goals-per-minute ratio in Italy history Francesco Pio Esposito hasn’t only scored nine goals in 14 games for the Italian national team, but also holds the best goals-per-minute ratio in the Azzurri’s history. Inter star Pio Esposito currently has the best minutes-per-goal ratio in Italy’s history. MILAN – NOVEMBER 12: Pio Esposito of Italy holds the match ball before a penalty during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and France at San Siro Stadium on November 12, 2026 in Milan. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images) With one goal every 88 minutes at the international level, the 21-year-old has a better record than Enrico Chiesa, who averaged one goal every 91 minutes but scored only seven goals with the Azzurri in his career. The third-ranked player is Julio Libonatti, a former striker with dual Argentine-Italian citizenship who played for the Azzurri from 1926 to 1932 after representing Argentina . Libonatti scored 15 goals in 17 games with Italy, one every 102 minutes. Francesco Pio Esposito celebrates with his brother Sebastiano Esposito during Turkiye vs. Italy in the Nations League (@azzurri) Pio Esposito even has a better scoring rate than two of Italy’s best strikers ever: Luigi Riva and Silvio Piola. Riva, the all-time leading scorer in the Nazionale’s history, netted once every 106 minutes and scored 35 times with the Azzurri, more than any other Italian player. Piola sit third in the best-scorers ranking with 30 goals, one every 103 minutes. Goals-per-minute ratio: the top 5 Italy players Top 5 Italy strikers for goals-per-minute ratio (via Gazzetta), November 14, 2026.