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Earlier this year, a low-key neighbourhood pizzeria in Melbourne was crowned among the top ten in Asia Pacific. Now, the city’s pizza scene just scored another tick of approval on the world stage. More than a decade after claiming the title of the world’s best pizza maker, hometown hero Johnny Di Francesco (and founder of 400 Gradi) has been recognised again for his craft – ranking as the fifth best pizza maker in the world for 2026 in an annual global comp.
It’s a big, doughy deal: the Campionato Mondiale della Pizza in Parma, Italy, is widely regarded as the Olympics of pizza making, drawing the planet’s best pizzaioli (pizza makers) to battle it out across everything from classic Neapolitan styles to gluten-free and freestyle acrobatics.
For Di Francesco, the return to competition was years in the making. After previously taking out the world’s number one title, he stepped back from the circuit to focus on building his Gradi Group empire across Melbourne. That hiatus made this comeback all the more special for him, his team, and Melbourne’s pizza enthusiasts.
“Having made pizza since I was 12, my passion for pizza and cooking has only intensified over time,” he said. “Being named fifth in the world is an incredible honour… I was anxious and excited to see what the outcome would be, and I’m so thrilled to still be considered among the top five.”
Known affectionately as ‘Mr Pizza’ around town, Di Francesco has long been one of Melbourne’s most decorated culinary exports. His approach is rooted in traditional Neapolitan techniques – no surprise, given his family hails from Naples, the spiritual home of pizza. That dedication to authenticity has also earned him a heavyweight title off the competition floor: here in the Southern Hemisphere, he’s been crowned the Australasian Principal of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, a Naples-based body committed to protecting the craft of true Neapolitan pizza around the world.
The World Pizza Championship itself is less a contest and more a celebration of obsession – a high-stakes, flour-dusted arena that celebrates technique, tradition and creativity. And while Di Francesco didn’t reclaim the number one crown this time, landing in the global top five after more than a decade away is a seriously impressive flex.
You can check out the full list of winners (and plan your global pizza pilgrimage accordingly) over here.
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