Milan Škriniar

Contents

Milan Škriniar (born 11 February 1995) is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains the Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe and the Slovakia national team.

Škriniar began his career in his native Slovakia with Žilina. He also underwent a loan spell at ViOn Zlaté Moravce early in his career. In 2016, Škriniar moved to Italy with Sampdoria, where he would play for a season before joining league rivals Internazionale. Škriniar went on to win one Serie A, two Coppa Italia, and two Supercoppa Italiana titles for the Nerazzurri, eventually becoming the team's captain. He joined French club Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, and Turkish club Fenerbahçe in 2025.

As a youth international, Škriniar represented Slovakia at under-17, under-18, under-19, and under-21 level. In May 2016, at the age of 21, he made his senior Slovakia debut, and was selected for the team representing his country at UEFA Euro 2016. Škriniar later played for Slovakia at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

Club career

MŠK Žilina

Škriniar began his career in the youth structures of Žiar nad Hronom before joining the youth setup of Žilina at 12 years old.[1] He made his official Slovak Super Liga debut for the first team on 27 March 2012 aged 17 years and 49 days, in a match against ViOn Zlaté Moravce. On 23 November 2012, he scored his first goal in the Slovak Super Liga against ViOn during a 4–1 victory.[2]

Škriniar was sent on loan for half a season to ViOn Zlaté Moravce in February 2013 to gain more first-team experience.[3]

Sampdoria

On 29 January 2016, Sampdoria announced the signing of Milan Škriniar on a four-and-a-half-year contract.[4] He made his debut in a 2–1 home victory over Lazio in late April.[5] During the next season Škriniar played a key role for Marco Giampaolo's Blucerchiati, finishing the campaign as the youngest defender to have made at least 35 appearances in Serie A.[6]

Inter Milan

On 7 July 2017, Škriniar completed a transfer to fellow Serie A side Inter Milan signing a five-year contract.[7] The club paid a reported fee around €20 million and also included the striker Gianluca Caprari.[8] The transfer made Škriniar the most expensive Slovak player of all time.[9][10] He was presented four days later and received squad number 37, stating: "It's amazing to think that in 18 months I've gone from the Slovak league to playing for a club like Inter."[11]

Škriniar made his competitive debut for the club on 20 August in the opening matchday of 2017–18 Serie A against Fiorentina as Inter won 3–0 at San Siro.[12] He scored his first Serie A goal later on 16 September against Crotone, the opener in the 82nd minute with a right-footed shot in an eventual 2–0 away win to keep Inter's winning streak.[13] His second of the campaign came in matchday 10 against his former side Sampdoria on 24 October, netting again the opener as Inter won 3–2.[14]

Škriniar was distinguished for his performances in the first part of the season, being one of the best players of the squad.[15][16] He continued with his great performances even in the second part of the season, which proved clinical for the team, which returned to UEFA Champions League after six years.[17]

In the 2018–19 season, Škriniar made his debut in the UEFA Champions League on 18 September in the opening group stage match against Tottenham Hotspur, playing full-90 minutes in a 2–1 comeback win at San Siro.[18] On 2 November 2019, in a Serie A match against Bologna which ended in a 2–1 away win, Škriniar made his 100th appearance in all competitions for Inter, all of them as starter.[19] On 3 November 2021, Škriniar scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 3–1 away win against Sheriff Tiraspol.[20]

In an interview with Slovak football federation website Futbalsfz.sk on 29 January 2023, Škriniar confirmed that he had signed a pre-contract agreement with Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain.[21] Negotiations took place between Inter Milan and PSG to transfer Škriniar during the January transfer window, but they eventually broke down.[22] He was subsequently stripped of the captaincy by manager Simone Inzaghi.[23] In February, Škriniar suffered a lower back injury, which was later revealed to be a lumbar vertebra fracture.[24] He underwent surgery for the fracture in April, missing the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Champions League.[25] In the 2023 UEFA Champions League final on 10 June, Škriniar was left on the bench as Inter was defeated 1–0 by Manchester City.[26]

On 30 June 2023, Inter Milan announced the departure of Škriniar as a free agent at the end of 2022–23 season, after six years with the club.[27]

Paris Saint-Germain

On 6 July 2023, Paris Saint-Germain officially confirmed that Škriniar had joined the club, signing a five-year contract until 30 June 2028.[28] He became the first Slovak to play for the club.[29] Škriniar made his debut in a 0–0 league draw against Lorient at the Parc des Princes on 12 August.[30] On 7 November 2023, Škriniar scored his first goal for PSG in a 2–1 loss against AC Milan in the group stage of the Champions League.[31]

Fenerbahçe

On 30 January 2025, Škriniar joined Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season.[32] On 2 February 2025, he made his Süper Lig debut against Çaykur Rizespor match in a 3–2 home win.[33]

On 31 July 2025, he signed for Fenerbahçe on a four-year contract.[34] The club paid a reported fee of €7 million, not included €3 million in potential add-ons.[35] On 6 August 2025, he captained first time of the team in 2025–26 UEFA Champions League third qualifying rounds first match, a 2–1 away loss to Feyenoord.[36]

International career

Having represented various Slovak youth teams, Škriniar debuted for the senior squad in a friendly 3–1 victory over Georgia on 27 May 2016.[37] He was selected as part of the Slovakia squad for UEFA Euro 2016.[37]

After the international retirement of Ján Ďurica in November 2017, Škriniar took his place as a centre-back partner to Martin Škrtel in the national team, even directing Slovak defence in Škrtel's absences (for example, in a double fixture against Netherlands and Morocco despite his relatively young age, compared to veteran defenders Peter Pekarík and Tomáš Hubočan).[38]

On 27 March 2021, Škriniar scored his first international goal during a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification against Malta, ending in a 2–2 draw.[39] Following the international retirement of national team captain Marek Hamšík, Škriniar was appointed captain of the team in June 2022. National team coach Štefan Tarkovič highlighted Škriniar's leadership qualities during the announcement.[40]

Style of play

Škriniar has been described as a defender who is "a strong tackler who is quick to make clearances".[41] A natural centre-back, he can also be deployed as a defensive midfielder where he also produced outstanding performances with under-21 side.[42] His former youth manager said of him: He [Škriniar] has always been the leader on and off the pitch.[42] He has been described in the media as the successor to former Liverpool icon Martin Škrtel in Slovakia's defensive line.[43] He has also drawn praise from several Italian pundits for his positional sense, as well as his ability in the air, and in one on one situations.[44] newspaper L'Équipe has highlighted Škriniar's high pass and long pass accuracy, his complexity and low injury proneness and imposing figure.[45]

Personal life

Škriniar has been in a relationship with model and a former volleyball player Barbora Hrončeková since 2014. Their daughter Charlotte was born in 2020 and they married in Halič in July 2023.[46] Škriniar is a Roman Catholic.[47]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[48]EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Žilina2011–12Slovak First League201000—30
2012–13Slovak First League1013000—131
2013–14Slovak First League151101[49]0—171
2014–15Slovak First League32632—1[50]0358
2015–16Slovak First League184118[49]0—275
Total77129390109515
Zlaté Moravce (loan)2012–13Slovak First League7000——70
Sampdoria2015–16Serie A3000——30
2016–17Serie A35000——350
Total38000——380
Inter Milan2017–18Serie A38420——404
2018–19Serie A350209[51]0—460
2019–20Serie A320307[52]0—420
2020–21Serie A323403[53]0—393
2021–22Serie A353408[53]11[54]0484
2022–23Serie A210108[53]01[54]0310
Total193101603512024611
Paris Saint-Germain2023–24Ligue 1240106[53]11[55]0321
2024–25Ligue 15000000050
Total290106110371
Fenerbahçe (loan)2024–25Süper Lig163304[49]0—233
Fenerbahçe2025–26Süper Lig2422012[56]02[57]0402
2026–27Süper Lig20006[53]00080
Fenerbahçe total4255022020715
Career total386273137226049532

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Slovakia20167[58]0
201770
201890
201980
202050
202114[59]3
202280
202380
202411[60]0
2025100
Total873
List of international goals scored by Milan Škriniar
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
127 March 2021Štadión Antona Malatinského, Trnava, Slovakia38Malta2–22–22022 FIFA World Cup qualification
230 March 2021Štadión Antona Malatinského, Trnava, Slovakia39Russia1–02–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
314 June 2021Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia41Poland2–12–1UEFA Euro 2020

Honours

Žilina

  • Slovak Super Liga: 2011–12[61]
  • Slovak Cup: 2011–12[62]

Inter Milan

  • Serie A: 2020–21[63]
  • Coppa Italia: 2021–22, 2022–23[64]
  • Supercoppa Italiana: 2021, 2022[65]
  • UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2022–23[66]

Paris Saint-Germain

  • Ligue 1: 2023–24,[67] 2024–25[68]
  • Coupe de France: 2023–24[69]
  • Trophée des Champions: 2023[70]

Fenerbahçe

  • Turkish Super Cup: 2025[71]

Individual

  • Slovak Footballer of the Year: 2019, 2020, 2021,[72] 2022[73]

References

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  2. 2."Žilina vs. Zlaté Moravce 4-1". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
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  39. 39."Milan Škriniar po blamáži s Maltou: Musím zobrať zodpovednosť do vlastných rúk" [Milan Škriniar after the debacle with Malta: I must take responsibility into my own hands]. Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). 28 March 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  40. 40."Máme nového kapitána. Tréner Tarkovič oznámil meno nástupcu Mareka Hamšíka" [We have a new captain. Coach Tarkovič announced the name of Marek Hamšík's successor]. Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). 2 June 2022.
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  48. 48.Includes Slovak Cup, Coppa Italia, Coupe de France, Turkish Cup
  49. 49.[49.2][49.3]Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  50. 50.Appearance with Žilina B in Slovak II. Liga
  51. 51.Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League
  52. 52.Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  53. 53.[53.2][53.3][53.4][53.5]Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  54. 54.[54.2]Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
  55. 55.Appearance in Trophée des Champions
  56. 56.Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances in UEFA Europa League
  57. 57.Appearances in Turkish Super Cup
  58. 58.Two appearances in UEFA Euro 2016
  59. 59.Three appearances and one goal in UEFA Euro 2020
  60. 60.Four appearances in UEFA Euro 2024
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  70. 70."Paris start 2024 with Trophée des Champions triumph!". Paris Saint-Germain. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  71. 71."Turkcell Süper Kupa 2025, Fenerbahçe'nin" (in Turkish). Turkish Football Federation. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
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  73. 73."Video Jeho nadvláda pokračuje: Milan Škriniar štvrtýkrát po sebe ovládol anketu Futbalista roka!". Športky (in Slovak). 20 March 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2024.