beIN SPORTS

By Adam Digby (@Adz77)

A brief wave to the supporters chanting his name and a fist-bump with Leonardo Bonucci. After those two small gestures, Gigi Buffon went back to doing what he does best; helping Juventus win matches. That the Italy legend had just passed Serie A’s all-time record for minutes without conceding a goal mattered little in the midst of a Turin derby, his mind focussed firmly on the team collecting three points rather than any personal accolade.

Indeed, while the Bianconeri faithful were celebrating their goalkeeper surpassing the 929 minutes set by Milan’s Sebastiano Rossi, the man himself was far more concerned with the movements of Ciro Immobile and Bruno Peres. Yet the milestone was clearly worthy of further celebration, as these historic moments do not happen on a daily basis, and seeing Buffon write another chapter in his own great story is certainly something to cherish.

Juventus quickly marked the occasion with a new exhibition in the club museum, while the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Petr Cech took to Twitter to express their admiration for the 38 year old icon. The previous mark had stood since 1994, with a teenage Buffon making his professional debut the following year against Rossi’s Milan, defying the odds to deny the all-conquering Rossoneri for 90 minutes. 

Indeed, looking back now, it is somewhat ironic that his career began with a clean sheet against the very man who’s shut out record he would go on to break, but in truth their careers could not be more different. While Rossi bounced around the lower leagues before spending twelve years with Milan and never represented Italy, Buffon was immediately thrust into the limelight with Parma, making his Azzurri debut in 1997 and going on to be the nation’s most-capped player in history.

After lifting the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia with the Ducali, he became the most expensive goalkeeper in the world courtesy of a €53 million switch to Juventus, where he has since won a staggering eight Serie A titles. Remaining with the Turin giants following their 2006 relegation, he also collected a Serie B winner’s medal just twelve months after helping Italy clinch victory at the World Cup.

There have been no end of individual awards either. Named Italy’s Goalkeeper of the Year on no less than ten occasions, Buffon has been repeatedly named to UEFA and FIFA all-star teams while he was runner up to team-mate Fabio Cannavaro for the Ballon d’Or a decade ago. Yet while so many of his peers and rivals – from Oliver Kahn and Francesco Toldo to Iker Casillas and Julio Cesar – have faded, the Juve skipper is arguably performing as well as he ever has in 2015/16.

Still making stunning saves to prevent what appear to be certain goals, he remains one of the best goalkeepers in the World and fully deserves the accolades bestowed upon him. An Andrea Belotti penalty for Torino would bring his streak to an end at an incredible 973 minutes, prompting praise from Coach Max Allegri at his post-match press conference. “Buffon has fully deserved this record,” the Juve boss said. “Going ten matches without conceding is no mean feat. Not only is he an extraordinary player, but a great man.”

Yet as he spoke to reporters shortly after the final whistle, Buffon instead deflected the credit onto his team-mates as if it were a shot from an opposition striker. “I am happy to play in this team and the record belongs to Juventus, not me,” he said in an interview with Mediaset before singling out every player in a post on his Facebook page. 

Those comments included asked for Andrea Barzagli to be cloned and saying that Stephan Lichtsteiner “represents the legs and lungs” of the side. Buffon – who played in midfield as a child – was not finished there however, going on to publish an open letter to the goal he has guarded with such distinction. 

“We’re always opposite and complementary, like the moon and the sun, forced to live together while never being able to touch,” he wrote. “Teammates for life who are denied contact. Over 25 years ago I cast my vote, I swore to protect and guard you, to shield you against your enemies.”

The lengthy ode ended with the ‘keeper saying that he “was 12 when I turned my back on the goal, and I’ll continue to do so as long as my legs, my head and my heart hold out.”

Thankfully for fans of Juventus and Italy there is no sign of that happening anytime soon, although Father Time might be the one man even Buffon cannot deny.