Diego Rizzi - The Alien | Petanque Player Profile

The Alien Who Landed in Pétanque

Diego Rizzi, born September 20, 1994, in Bordighera on Italy's Ligurian coast, is the most decorated Italian player in pétanque history and one of the sport's all-time greats. Now 31 years old, Rizzi lives in Vallecrosia on the Italian Riviera, just a stone's throw from the French border - a fitting home for someone who bridges the two greatest pétanque cultures in the world. Known universally as "L'Alieno" (The Alien), a nickname given to him by childhood friends who were amazed by his seemingly supernatural skill with boules, Rizzi has amassed five world championship titles, co-holds the world record in precision shooting, and has claimed 46 Italian national championship titles across youth and senior categories. He competes for Fréjus International Pétanque (FIP) in France, playing alongside elite teammates like Dylan Rocher and Stéphane Robineau.

His story is the stuff of sporting legend: a boy who first picked up boules at the age of three, introduced to the game by his father, won his first world title at just 14, and went on to become the player who broke French dominance at the highest level of competition.

Career Overview

Diego Rizzi's journey began almost before he could walk. At age three, his father placed boules in his hands, and the boy took to the game with a preternatural intensity. By the time most players are discovering pétanque in their teens, Rizzi had already spent over a decade perfecting his craft. The results came astonishingly early. In 2009, at just 14 years old, he travelled to Monastir, Tunisia, and helped Italy defeat France 13-6 in the Youth Triplette final to claim his first world championship gold. Two years later, in 2011, he added a Youth Tir de Précision world title to his collection.

The transition to senior competition only sharpened his edge. Rizzi became a dominant force in European championships, winning the Tir de Précision title in 2015, the Tête-à-tête in 2018, and then pulling off a remarkable double in 2019 - taking both the Triplette and Tir de Précision golds. In 2022, he added European Tête-à-tête and Doublette titles to his collection. He also starred at U23 level, winning Triplette titles in 2014 and 2015, along with Club titles in those same years.

His senior world championship breakthrough came in 2022, when he and partner Alessio Cocciolo claimed the Doublette gold. In 2024, Rizzi captured the Senior Triplette world title in Dijon, France. Then, in September 2025 at the iconic Villa Borghese in Rome, he completed his collection by winning the Senior Tête-à-tête crown, defeating Madagascar's Joseph Ramnointiaray 13-8 in the final - the day after his 31st birthday. Five world titles in total: two youth, three senior.

Beyond the world stage, Rizzi proved he could conquer French domestic competition too. In 2023, he partnered with Dylan Rocher to win the French Championship Doublette in Quimper. In 2024, he helped Fréjus International Pétanque win the French Championship by team.

In March 2026, Rizzi reached another milestone by winning the PPF Grand Final (Passion Pétanque Française) alongside his Fréjus teammates Dylan Rocher and Stéphane Robineau. This victory further solidified his status as one of the most dominant shooters currently active on the professional circuit. Then, on 19 July 2026, he added a third French national crown, teaming with Rocher and Catherine Jeanroy to win the Championnat de France Triplette Mixte in Nice, beating Michel Loy's team 13-0 in a one-sided final.

Playing Style and Technique

Diego Rizzi is a tireur (shooter) of extraordinary caliber, and the nickname "L'Alieno" captures the otherworldly quality of his game. His shooting technique is built around a distinctive "translation" motion - a smooth, linear delivery where great shoulder stability allows for repeatable accuracy at high velocity.

The numbers back up the eye test. At the 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, Rizzi scored 67 points in precision shooting - a co-world record that remains one of the most impressive feats in the sport's history.

Equipment

Diego Rizzi plays with the Boulenciel RD - a signature model bearing his initials developed in close collaboration with the brand. These are typically carbon steel boules with a very soft temper (110 kg/mm²), designed to "stick" on impact and maximize the chances of a carreau.

Achievements and Honors

• World Champion: Singles (2025), Triplette (2024), Doublette (2022)
• PPF Grand Final Winner (2026)
• Co-world record holder: 67 points in precision shooting
• 46 Italian national championship titles
• French Doublette Champion (2023) and French Triplette Mixte Champion (2026)
• Nicknamed "L'Alieno" (The Alien)

Legacy

Diego Rizzi has fundamentally altered the landscape of international pétanque. Before his emergence, the idea of an Italian player consistently dominating the French circuit seemed far-fetched. Rizzi has made it reality. At just 31 years old in 2026, he has already secured his place among the all-time greats, and with his integration into the elite tier of French club pétanque at Fréjus, his influence on the sport continues to grow.