Matteo Pessina Cavaliere OMRI (born 21 April 1997) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie B club Monza, whom he captains, and the Italy national team.

Coming through the youth system, Pessina started his career at Monza. He joined AC Milan in 2015, who sent him on loan to Lecce, Catania and Como. In 2017, he moved to Atalanta, and was loaned out twice to Spezia and then Hellas Verona. Pessina became a starter for Atalanta upon his return from loan in 2020. He returned to his hometown club Monza in 2022 and was made club captain.

Pessina represented Italy internationally at under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels, before making his senior debut in 2020. He was part of Italy's squad at UEFA Euro 2020, where he scored two goals to help his side win the competition.

Born in Monza, Italy, Pessina began his youth career at local club La Dominante aged five. In 2007, aged 10, Pessina joined Monza's youth sector. He made his senior debut for Monza on 2 October 2013, in a Coppa Italia Lega Pro game against AlbinoLeffe.

Pessina was made a permanent member of the first team in the 2014–15 season; he made his league debut on 6 January 2015, in which he also scored a goal, against Pro Patria. Pessina finished the season with three goals in 20 appearances in the regular season of the Lega Pro, as well as three goals in two games in the relegation play-outs, won against Pordenone.

Despite avoiding relegation, Monza was forced to restart from the Serie D due to a bankruptcy: Pessina became a free agent, and was signed by AC Milan on 30 June 2015.

Pessina was promptly sent on loan to Lecce in the Lega Pro in August 2015. During the 2015–16 season, Pessina was used infrequently: he only made one appearance in the Coppa Italia Lega Pro and three in the league.

In January 2016, the loan was interrupted and Pessina was loaned out to Catania. Even in his second loan spell, he was used infrequently, playing only one league game in the second half of the season.