Vincenzo Grifo

Vincenzo Grifo (; born 7 April 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger or attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club SC Freiburg. Born in Germany, he plays for the Italy national team.

Club career Early career Grifo began his footballing career with local youth sides 1. CfR Pforzheim and Germania Brötzingen, before joining 2. Bundesliga side Karlsruher SC in 2011. and saw him make a total of 12 substitute appearances throughout the 2012–13 season, as well as 13 appearances and 5 goals in the Regionalliga. Grifo played a key role in helping the club to win the 2. Bundesliga title and obtain promotion to the Bundesliga, registering 14 goals and 15 assists in 31 league appearances throughout the 2015–16 season.

In his time at Freiburg he scored 20 goals and made 26 assists in 61 league appearances. Later that year, on 27 November, he made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 3–2 defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Return to SC Freiburg On 6 January 2019, Grifo returned to Freiburg on a loan deal until the end of 2018–19 season. On 2 September 2019, he rejoined Freiburg permanently once again, for a reported transfer fee of €7 million. In November 10, 2019, at the end of Freiburg's 1–0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, Grifo was sent off due for violent conduct which was caused by Frankfurt captain David Abraham shoulder-charging Freiburg coach Christian Streich. In the ensuing brawl, Grifo directly targeted and tried to attack Abraham, which ensued in his sending off after a VAR check. On 13 November 2022, he scored his first Bundesliga hat-trick in the first 20 minutes in a 4–1 win over Union Berlin.

On 30 November 2025, Grifo scored his 69th Bundesliga goal for Freiburg in a 4–0 win over Mainz, equaling Nils Petersen's club record in the competition; the latter also held the club's all-time scoring record with 105 goals. Later that year, on 20 December, he scored his record-breaking 70th goal in a 4–3 away win over Wolfsburg. On 7 March 2026, he scored a goal in a 3–3 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, reaching his 105th goal for Freiburg and equaling Petersen's all-time scoring record. Later that month, on 19 March, he found the net in a 5–1 win against Genk in the Europa League round of 16, becoming the club's all-time leading scorer with 106 goals.

International career On 6 September 2013, Grifo earned his first cap for the Italian under-20 team under manager Alberigo Evani, scoring a goal in a 3–3 draw against Switzerland in Lugano. On 14 October 2013, Grifo earned his first call-up to the Italy under-21 side from manager Luigi Di Biagio for Italy's Euro 2015 qualifying match against Belgium.

On 20 November 2018, Grifo made his senior debut for Italy, managed by Roberto Mancini, as a second half substitute during a 1–0 friendly win against the United States in Genk.

On 15 October 2019, Grifo made his first start for Italy in a 5–0 away win against Liechtenstein during a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match.

On 11 November 2020, Grifo scored his first goals for Italy, the first in the first half, and the second in the second half via a penalty shot, in a 4–0 home win against Estonia during a friendly. On 16 November 2022, he scored another brace in a friendly match against Albania.

Style of play Grifo usually plays as a winger on the left flank, despite being naturally right-footed, a position which allows him to cut into the middle and shoot on goal, due to his finishing ability as well as his striking accuracy from distance; a versatile playmaker, he is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, as well as in several other attacking positions, and has frequently been deployed as an outside forward. Considered to be a talented player, he is mainly known for his technique, flair, and dribbling skills, while his vision, range of passing, set-piece delivery, and crossing accuracy make him an excellent assist provider. A dead-ball specialist, he is also an accurate free kick and penalty kick taker.

Personal life Grifo was born in Pforzheim, Germany, to Italian parents; his mother is from Apulia, while his father is from Naro, in the province of Agrigento, Sicily.

Career statistics Club

Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Grifo goal.

Honours SC Freiburg

Individual 2. Bundesliga top assist provider: 2015–16 (11 assists)