A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, in particular a supercharged internal combustion engine, by means of a turbocharger provided with a turbine and with a compressor; the internal combustion engine further comprising an intake manifold and a number of cylinders, connected to the intake manifold and where the air mass trapped in each cylinder for each engine cycle is adjusted by means of a respective throttle intake valve; the control method comprises the steps of: - determining the total target torque (C i_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine; - determining a target number (Waobj) of active cylinders to be controlled, in use, for injection and combustion, wherein the target number (Ws) of active cylinders is any number from 0 to the number of cylinders 3; - determining a number (Ws) of inactive cylinders which are in use controlled to intake the most air as possible according to the target number (Waobj) of active cylinders to be controlled for injection and combustion; - determining a target pressure (Pobj) of the intake manifold that is such as to guarantee the total target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine; and - controlling the throttle valve to adjust the target intake manifold pressure (Pobj) so as to guarantee the target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine by means of the target number (Waobj) of active cylinders to be controlled, in use, for injection and combustion; the method is characterised in that the step of determining the target number of cylinders to be controlled in use for injection and combustion, wherein the target number (Waobj) of active cylinders is any number comprised between 0 and the number of cylinders, comprising the sub-steps of: - determining a temporary number (Watemp) of active cylinders to be controlled in use for injection and combustion as a function of the engine point; - determining the spark advance efficiency which should be actuated by means of the temporary number (Watemp) of active cylinders in order to guarantee the total target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine; and - determining, as a function of the spark advance, the target number (Waobj) of active cylinders which should be actuated by means of the temporary number (Watemp) of active cylinders to guarantee the total target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine. - determining the total target torque (C i_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine; - determining a target number (Waobj) of active cylinders to be controlled, in use, for injection and combustion, wherein the target number (Ws) of active cylinders is any number from 0 to the number of cylinders 3; - determining a number (Ws) of inactive cylinders which are in use controlled to intake the most air as possible according to the target number (Waobj) of active cylinders to be controlled for injection and combustion; - determining a target pressure (Pobj) of the intake manifold that is such as to guarantee the total target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine; and - controlling the throttle valve to adjust the target intake manifold pressure (Pobj) so as to guarantee the target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine by means of the target number (Waobj) of active cylinders to be controlled, in use, for injection and combustion; - determining a temporary number (Watemp) of active cylinders to be controlled in use for injection and combustion as a function of the engine point; - determining the spark advance efficiency which should be actuated by means of the temporary number (Watemp) of active cylinders in order to guarantee the total target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine; and - determining, as a function of the spark advance, the target number (Waobj) of active cylinders which should be actuated by means of the temporary number (Watemp) of active cylinders to guarantee the total target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine.