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Not Messi, Not Ronaldo: Buffon’s Pick for the Best Player He’s Ever Faced

The former Italian goalkeeper talked about his career and highlighted the player who impressed him the most

By Luis Antonio Zamora

The former Italian goalkeeper talked about his career and highlighted the player who impressed him the most
The former Italian goalkeeper talked about his career and highlighted the player who impressed him the most

The former Italian goalkeeper talked about his career and highlighted the player who impressed him the most, surprisingly, neither Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo nor Argentina's Lionel Messi.

Gianluigi Buffon is a legend of world soccer and his career has been truly exceptional. Here is a summary of his career:

Gianluigi Buffon: A legend under the three posts

Buffon is considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time, thanks to his skill, reflexes and longevity. His career has been marked by his leadership, his ability to stay focused and his passion for soccer.

Beginnings at Parma:

Buffon started out at Parma Calcio, where he made his professional debut in the mid-1990s.

He quickly stood out for his talent and maturity, which allowed him to establish himself as the team's first-choice goalkeeper.

With Parma, he won the UEFA Cup in 1999, among other titles.

Juventus: His great home:

In 2001, Buffon signed for Juventus, where he became an icon and captain of the team.

With Juventus, he lived moments of glory and also of great difficulty, such as the relegation to Serie B in 2006 due to the Calciopoli scandal.

Despite everything, Buffon always remained loyal to the club and was instrumental in its return to Serie A and in the rebuilding of the team.

With Juventus, he won numerous Serie A titles, Italian Cups and Italian Super Cups.

A brief stint in Paris:

In 2018, after a long career with Juventus, Buffon decided to change of scenery and signed for Paris Saint-Germain.

Although his time at PSG was short, he managed to win Ligue 1.

Return to Juventus and farewell:

In 2019, Buffon returned to Juventus, where he played his last seasons as a professional footballer.

In 2021, he announced his retirement from professional soccer.

Italian national team:

Buffon was a mainstay of the Italian national team for many years.

He made his debut with the national team at the age of 17 and played in five World Cups.

He was captain of the Italian national team that won the World Cup in 2006.

Legacy:

Buffon is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the history of soccer.

His elegant and confident style of play, combined with his leadership, made him a reference for many young goalkeepers.

His record and longevity place him among the great legends of world soccer.

Gianluigi Buffon and Neymar Jr. are two iconic figures in world soccer, albeit in very different positions. Despite this, their careers crossed paths at some key moments and Buffon has on several occasions expressed his great admiration for the Brazilian's talent.

What is the relationship between Buffon and Neymar?

On-field rivalry: During their respective careers, both Buffon and Neymar have been the protagonists of great matches and clashes. Buffon, as a goalkeeper, has had to deal with Neymar's talent and skill on several occasions.

Mutual respect: Despite being rivals on the pitch, both players have shown great respect for each other. Buffon has praised Neymar's qualities on numerous occasions, highlighting his technical ability, vision and ability to unbalance games.

Coincidence at PSG: For a brief period, both players coincided at Paris Saint-Germain. This experience allowed them to get to know each other beyond the field of play and strengthen their relationship.

Why does Buffon admire Neymar so much?

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