MILAN: As Juventus look to end a 21-year-wait for the Champions League title, there are those who believe goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon can end a 54-year wait and be officially crowned the top shot-stopper in Europe.
The rock of a team that recently embellished its growing pedigree with a record sixth consecutive title and record third successive league and Cup double, Buffon, many believe, is in firm contention for the Ballon d’Or.
Given the dominance in recent years of Cristiano Ronaldo, a key threat on Saturday when Juventus meet Real Madrid in Cardiff, and Barcelona nemesis Lionel Messi, such an accolade is not to be underestimated.
Especially when considering the only previous goalkeeper honoured was Russian legend Lev Yashin, in 1963.
Many have come close, including Buffon, who in 2006 finished second to Italy teammate and Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro.
But to match the feats of Yashin, known as the ‘Black Spider’ for acrobatic goalkeeping feats that wowed the beautiful game in the 1960s, is going to take some doing.
AC Milan legend Gianni Rivera, who finished second to Yashin in the 1963 vote, has echoed many in the game who believe Buffon, still in search of an evasive Champions League title, will only get close if Juve are crowned European champions.
“It was a historical first, but it was right to give Yashin his award,” Riverai recently said in an interview with Corriere della Sera. He added: “Buffon deserves to win it for what he’s still doing on the pitch. If he wins the Champions League with Juventus, it will be the crowning glory of what has been an extraordinary career.”
Now 39 and heading towards retirement following the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Buffon remains one of the world’s best.
In a season that has seen Juventus ditch a conservative 3-5-2 formation for a more inventive and attacking 4-2-3-1 in which defensive duties remain a priority, Buffon has been superb.
Especially in Europe, where he defied his years and produced three remarkable stops on his way to seeing Juventus put one leg into the final with a precious 2-0 win over Monaco at the Stade Louis II last month.