international Giovanni Solinas (born 1968) Pietro Paolo Virdis (born 1957) Gianfranco Zola (born 1966), former Italian international Horse racing Andrea Atzeni (born 1991) Giovanni Atzeni (born 1985) Andrea Degortes known as Aceto Gianfranco Dettori Ice hockey Luca Sbisa Modern pentathlon Mario Medda (1943–1981) Motor racing Clemente Biondetti, Formula One racing driver Domenico Brigaglia (born 1958), motorcycle racer Omar Magliona (born 1977), racing driver Giovanni de Riu (1925–2008), racing driver Simone Sanna (born 1978), motorcycle racer Rowing Francesco Cossu (1907–?) Tennis Alessandro de Minicis (born 1963), retired Religious figures Abraham da Cagliari (8th century AD), Rabbi Ottorino Pietro Alberti (1927–2012) Archbishop Salvatore Alepus (1503–1568), Archbishop Luigi Amat di San Filippo e Sorso (1796–1878), Cardinal Antiochus of Sulcis (died c. 110 AD), Christian martyr Hilary the Deacon (mid-4th century) Ilario Cao Nicholas Congiato (1816–1897), Jesuit, President of Santa Clara University Justa, Justina and Henedina, Christian martyrs Luigi De Magistris, Cardinal Giovanni Melis Fois, Prelate of Roman Catholic Church Saint Ephysius (250–303), Christian martyr Eusebius of Vercelli Saint Gabinus (4th century AD), Christian martyr Pope Hilarius (died 468), Pope St. Ignatius of Laconi (1701–1781) Saint Lucifer (4th century AD), Bishop of Cagliari Antonia Mesina (1919–1935), Martyr Carlo Mario Francesco Pompedda (1929–2006), Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura for the Roman Curia Riccus (13th century), Archbishop Elisabetta Sanna(1788–1857) Maria Gabriella Sagheddu (1914–1939), Saint Beatus Pope Symmachus (6th century AD), Pope Joseph Toronto (1818–1883), Mormon missionary Aloysius Varsi (1830 -1900) Francesco Zirano (1565–1603), member of the Order of Friars Minor, beatified in 2014 Notable people of Sardinian descent Ettore Pais (1856–1939), historian with Sardinian ancestry Gustavo Piga (born 1964), economist Ambra Medda (born 1982), designer Orazio Satta Puliga (1910–1974), car designer Italo Calvino (1923–1985), writer candidate for Nobel Prize in Literature with Sardinian ancestry from mother side Cecilia Maria de Candia (1853–1926), writer (Sardinian ancestry from father side) Goffredo Mameli, patriot and poet, creator of the Italian anthem (born in Genoa by Sardinian father) Éric Cantona (born 24 May 1966), French actor and football player with Sardinian ancestry Donatella Damiani (born 1958), Sardinian from father side Bruce Kirby (1925-2021)), American actor, Sardinian ancestry Bruno Kirby (1949–2006), American actor, Sardinian ancestry Christopher Meloni, American actor, father from Sardinia Fernanda Montenegro (born 1929), Brazilian actress, with Sardinian ancestry from mother's side Sean Penn, American actor, Sardinian from mother side Bruno Putzulu, French actor, Sardinian ancestry Stefano Satta Flores, Sardinian