Francesco Acerbi Biography: From Wife's Lawyer to Cancer Survivor + Stats

BiographyFrancesco AcerbiFootball Player

Name:Francesco

Last Name:Acerbi

Date of Birth:February 10, 1988

Place of Birth:Viterbo, Italy

Occupation:Footballer

Position:Center Back

Marital Status:Married

Wife:Claudia Scarpari

Children:2 daughters

Personal Life and Heritage of Francesco Acerbi

Francesco Acerbi, known as Francesco Acerbi in English, is an Italian professional footballer born on February 10, 1988, in Viterbo, Lombardy, Italy. He plays as a center back and currently is a member of Inter Milan.

Acerbi, who has been playing at the top level of Italian football for many years, is currently in the news due to his performances in matches and some controversies related to his behavior on the field, attracting media and fan attention.

Biography of Francesco Acerbi — Francesco Acerbi Biography

Acerbi’s Family

Francesco Acerbi was born into a family of five in the Lombardy region of Italy,and is the second child. His father, Roberto, who passed away in 2012, greatly influenced his personality and football path. Despite serious illnesses, Roberto faced challenges bravely, which motivated Francesco to become stronger.

Francesco has said many times that he played for his father, not just for himself. His mother, Silvia Buzio, was always supportive, especially during tough times of illness and depression. He has an older sister named Sabrina and a younger brother named Federico.

Francesco Acerbi’s Wife

Francesco Acerbi married Italian lawyer Claudia Scarpari in early 2025. Claudia has played a supportive role in both his personal life and career. During his fight with depressionand illness, Claudia’s presence as a strong supporter helped him overcome life’s challenges.Francesco Acerbi and Wife’s Children

They have two daughters named Vittoria (born September 2021) and Nala (born August 2023).

Francesco Acerbi with his wife and children

In 2013, when he had just joined Sassuolo, Francesco was diagnosed with a tumor during pre-season medical examinations. He immediately underwent surgery and returned to play after some time.

However, in December of the same year, his doping test was positive. Further investigations revealed that cancer recurrence caused an increase in hormone levels in his body, not the use of banned substances. As a result, he underwent chemotherapy and returned to the field in September 2014.

Acerbi later said this experience was a turning point in his life and gave him renewed motivation to continue his football career.

Francesco Acerbi’s National Matches

From 2014 to November 2023, Francesco Acerbi has worn the Italian national team jersey 34 times. He made his debut on November 18, 2014, in a friendly against Albania.

He played an important role in Euro 2020, which Italy won. He also participated in two consecutive UEFA Nations League tournaments (2021 and 2023), helping the team achieve third place. His last national match was on November 20, 2023, against Ukraine.

Francesco Acerbi at Inter Milan

Francesco Acerbi, the Italian center back, has played for several teams throughout his career and has scored some goals despite his defensive role.

He started his career in 2006 with Pavia, then played for teams like Reggina, Chievo, Milan, Sassuolo, Lazio, and Inter Milan. He has excelled at Milan and has played a key role in the recent successes of this team.

By May 2025, Acerbi had scored a total of 32 goals in club competitions.

Among his important goals is the 93rd-minute goal in the UEFA Champions League semi-final match against Barcelona, which equalized the game at 3-3 and helped Inter advance to the final.

Based on the dates of Acerbi’s transfers to various teams, you can see his development and impact in different clubs over time.

Acerbi’s Club Honors