Buffon names best footballer he played with and will ‘never forget’ Maldini’s gesture | OneFootball

Italy legend Gigi Buffon ‘will never forget’ what Paolo Maldini did before his Serie A debut and insists Neymar is the best footballer he played with and ‘should have won the Ballon d’Or five times.’

Former Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gigi Buffon released an interview with Corriere della Sera, talking about his career and personal life.

He was one of the best goalkeepers of all time – if not the best – and made his Serie A debut with Parma against table leaders Milan when he was just 17.

“Inside the tunnel, I looked into the eyes of Weah, Boban, Costacurta, and Baresi,” said the ex-keeper, now serving as Italy’s Delegation Chief.

Buffon names best footballer he played with and will ‘never forget’ Maldini’s gesture

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“At some point, somebody gave me a pat on the shoulder. It was Paolo Maldini who encouraged me. He also debuted in Serie A as a teenager and knew what it meant. I will never forget that gesture. He was an immense footballer, and he has two qualities I admire the most: loyalty and courage.”

Buffon retired in 2023, aged 45. He played against some of the best footballers of all time but struggled to pick the best one.

“I played with three generations of footballers,” he said.

“How can I say it? Zidane, Ronaldo, Messi, CR7, Iniesta…”

However, the journalist insisted, so Buffon ultimately named one of his ex-teammates at PSG.

“Neymar [was the best]. He should have won five Ballon d’Or for the player and the person he is.”

Buffon is a 2006 Italy World Cup winner and the player with the most Serie A appearances, 657, ten more than Maldini.