 Maldini participated in his first 1990 FIFA World Cup in 1990 on home soil, appearing in all seven Italy matches.He helped Italy to win five consecutive games and was a starting member of the defence that kept a FIFA World Cup record of five consecutive clean sheets.The Italian defence eventually conceded an equalising goal in the semi-final match against Carlos Bilardo's Argentina, after going a World Cup record total of 518 minutes without conceding.