Gianluigi Buffon - The legend in pursuit of elusive Champions League glory
As Barzagli, Pirlo and Buffon walked out onto the soil of Olympiastadion in Berlin to play the Champions League final against Barcelona, it evoked sweet memories of the fairy tale ending of the 2006 World Cup. It was on this ground that against all odds, the Azzurri reached the pinnacle of world football and won the FIFA World Cup in 2006.
Buffon once said, "I think every one of us has a destiny. I think destiny gives you signs and little shoves. And then it’s up to you to interpret those and decide whether to follow a destiny or not."
In yet another instance of a team succeeding in the face of adversity, Juventus reached the finals of the Champions League and we thought this really was destiny for Buffon. Champions League glory after a patient wait of over two decades in an otherwise illustrious club and international career would have been a proud moment. That well deserved happy ending to the beautiful story of a legend, a cult hero not just for the Old Lady faithful, but for millions of football fans all over the world.
Buffon would have related the fourth-minute opener from Rakitic to Zidane's seventh minute Panenka in the 2006 World Cup final. Perhaps he would have hoped against hope for history to repeat itself.
But it simply was not meant to be. Juventus were overpowered by the mighty Barcelona as the Catalans ran riot. We can only guess how much Buffon would have missed defensive stalwart Giorgio Chiellini, a man with whom he shared a great understanding on the field.
Buffon could only shake his head in pain as Rakitic, Suarez and Neymar put the ball past him. Having turned 37 this year, age is surely catching up with the Italian, but he gave everything he had against the unstoppable Catalans.
That one-handed save in the early stages of the game against Alves ensured that Juventus were still in the game. In the second half, he produced yet another brilliant save to deny the committed Suarez. But he could only helplessly watch as the rebound from Messi's shot was put into the open net by Suarez.
As the game ended, the cameras zoomed onto the teary eyed Pirlo being consoled by Paul Pogba. Twitter exploded with tweets in support of the midfield genius - a man loved by every football fan.
However, Pirlo is a man whose trophy tally is not shy of the European crown and has achieved it all in his career. In 2003, when Pirlo's Milan won the Champions League against Juventus, Buffon was on the losing side.
Buffon has overcome a lot of adversity to reach the top again
Despite the heroics of their goalkeeper in the penalty shoot-out, Juventus lost the tie 3-2. Buffon was said to have gone into depression following the defeat and had to take the help of a psychologist to overcome the situation. That loss at Old Trafford was a wound that never healed, just like his craving for European glory.
Three years later, Italian football went through a state of mixed emotions. The Calciopoli scandal rocked the foundations of club football and Juventus were eventually relegated to Serie B. However, that did not deter Buffon, who would go on to make a decision that would make him one of the most respected players in European Football.
He was at the peak of his career and could simply have followed the path of Thuram, Ibrahimovic, Vieira, Zambrotta and Cannavaro and looked for pastures new. But he stayed with the club and vowed to bring them back to Serie A. Now that's what is a shining example of loyalty.
The resilient Buffon was a key player as the Azzurri lifted their fourth World Cup. He returned from international duties with his head held high and then gracefully set on to take up the bigger challenge of bringing the Old Lady back to supremacy. It was a project that had been in the running for 9 years. A process that required the senior players to patiently wait for their moment. And wait he did, without complaining once.
How likely is it that you get to see the world's best goalkeeper playing in a league like the Serie B? How often do you see a World Cup winner voluntarily moving away from the limelight and work silently towards an objective? Therein lies the simplicity of this man, who believed winning trophies with Juventus was his destiny.
His efforts did not go in vain as the Bianconeri slowly climbed up the ladder and went on to win 4 back-to-back Scudetti from 2011 to 2015. He has always remained a true captain, and on the field is a vocal organiser of the resilient Juventus and Italy defence. In the dressing room, he is a charismatic personality and has managed to retain these values throughout his 20-year career.
Buffon has been named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year a record 9 times. He is the only goalkeeper to be awarded the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award (2003). He has the most number of caps for the Italian national team and the most number of clean sheets in a World cup edition, along with the most number of clean sheets for Italy. He also has the most number of clean sheets in Serie A. and to this date remains the most expensive goalkeeper of all time.
You can come up with all sorts of superlatives to define this living legend. For some, he's one of the best goalkeepers ever. For some others, he is the best. But as the curtain falls on the 2014-15 season, it only offered disappointment and a growing fear that he will retire without the coveted Champions League. A case of so near yet so far, truly.
Hope still exists for all football fans, as he has declared that he wants to play for three more years. It is clear that Buffon simply isn't going to give up on his Champions League dream. Maybe he will write that final chapter of his story and finish off in style. Maybe hiss destiny has just been delayed by a matter of two or three years.