Gianluigi Buffon Receives Special Award From UEFA President

Gianluigi Buffon inspired football lovers around the world (Instagram/@gianluibuffon).

JAKARTA - The Italian legend, Gianluigi Buffon, received a special award from UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin. The trophy was also named the 2024 UEFA Presidential Award.

Buffon won the title because of his long life and inspiring determination for football fans around the world.

Ceferin handed over the award directly to Buffon at the 2024/2025 Champions League first phase draw event at Monaco on Thursday, August 29, 2024, WIB night.

This award recognizes the extraordinary achievements, professional excellence, and personal quality that should be imitated. Only a few, if any, goalkeepers remained at the top of the game during Buffon.

The former Juventus goalkeeper's appearance was extraordinary and consistent throughout his stunning 28-year playing career.

"Gianluigi Buffon is a player I have admired since he first appeared as a charismatic young goalkeeper for Parma in the mid 90s."

"In addition to his impressive presence among goalposts, his long life and determination have inspired football fans around the world."

"The extraordinary cross-generational consistency may make many people believe that maintaining the top position is easy."

"The fact that he chose to join his club to Serie B during his heyday, despite the interest of top clubs around the world, shows a lot."

"Buffon is also one of the first athletes to openly discuss mental health and depression, helping to raise awareness about this issue in professional sports," UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said on the UEFA website.

Buffon has 176 international appearances with the Italian national team. The 46-year-old is the goalkeeper with the most appearances of all time, the player with the most appearances in the history of the Italian national team, and the European player with the fourth most appearance of all time.

He peaked his career in 2006 when he played an important role for Italy who won the World Cup in Germany.

Buffon claimed a record 10 Serie A titles, the 1998/1999 UEFA Cup, six Coppa Italia trophies, and one Ligue 1 during the club's career from Parma to Juventus and returned to Turin. Then, he spent a short period at Paris Saint-Germain among his travels.

Gigi Buffon has a habit of making extraordinary saves in the final. Filippo Inzaghi could be a witness when determining the Champions League champions 2003) or Dani Alves (2015 Champions League).

Buffon is known to be getting better with age. He won the Champions League Best Goalkeeper award at the age of 39 years 2017 after Juventus reached their second final in three years.

Buffon finally hung up his gloves about a year ago. He ended his career in the same place when he started in November 1995 with Parma.

"That's all, guys! You give me everything. I give you everything. We do it together," Buffon said announcing his retirement.

UEFA Presidential Award Winner

1998: Jacques Delors (European Commission/France)1999: Not getting a 2000 award: Guy Roux (France)2001: Juan Santisteban (Spain)2002: Sir Bobby Robson (England)2003: Paolo Maldini (Italy)2004: Ernie Walker (Scotland)2005: Frank Rijkaard (Netherlands)2006: Wilfried Straub (Germany)2007: Alfredo Di Stefano (Spain)2008: Sir Bobby Charlton (England)2009: Eusebio (Portugal)2010: Raymond Kopa (France)2011: Gianni Rivera (Italy)2012: Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)2013: Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)2014: Josef Masopust (Republic Ceska)2015: Not getting the 2016 award: Not getting the 2017: Francesco Totti (Italy)2018: David Beckham (England)2019: Eric Cantona (France)20202020: Didier Drogba (Patai Gading)2021: Simon Kjaer and the medical team Copenhagen Euro 202020 (Denmark)2022: Arrigo Sacchi (Italia)2023: Miroslav Klose (Germany)2024: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)