With a exceptional 29-year profession spanning over 900 matches, 10 Serie A titles with Juventus, and a World Cup victory with Italy, Gianluigi Buffon is a soccer icon. Not too long ago, he shared the title of the participant who gave him probably the most hassle on the pitch, and the selection was stunning: it wasn’t Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
In an interview with the Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, Buffon named Neymar Jr. as probably the most difficult participant he has ever confronted, even going as far as to say the Brazilian ought to have received a number of Ballon d’Or awards.
“It’s exhausting to decide on only one opponent. I performed towards three generations: Zidane, Ronaldo [Nazário], Messi, Cristiano, Iniesta… Select one? Neymar. For the participant and the particular person he’s, he ought to have received 5 Ballon d’Ors,” Buffon defined.
Whereas he singled out Neymar as his hardest rival, Buffon additionally acknowledged the dominance of groups led by Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suárez at Barcelona, in addition to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Actual Madrid. “The Barcelona of 2015 and Actual Madrid of 2017 have been the strongest groups of the final 20 years,” he stated.
Neymar scores for Barcelona towards Juventus on the 2015 UEFA Champions League closing. IMAGO
Neymar’s Ballon d’Or journey
Regardless of being thought of one of the vital proficient gamers of his technology, Neymar has but to assert the Ballon d’Or. His closest makes an attempt got here in 2015 and 2017, ending third behind Messi and Ronaldo. These seasons have been outlined by Champions League triumphs for Barcelona and Actual Madrid, respectively, with Neymar taking part in a starring function in 2015.
see additionally
Benfica star Angel Di Maria claims Lionel Messi is means higher than Cristiano Ronaldo
Buffon on Messi and Ronaldo
Though he didn’t select Messi or Ronaldo because the hardest opponents, Buffon had excessive reward for each legends. “Within the 2015 Champions League closing, I felt a hand on my again—it was Messi. He whispered in my ear, ‘Gigi, we could swap shirts?’ The good ones are by no means conceited,” Buffon recalled of the Argentine celebrity.
As for Ronaldo, Buffon had the distinctive alternative to play alongside him throughout their time at Juventus. “With Cristiano, we all the time had a terrific relationship. I noticed in him a mixture of unbelievable energy and fragility tied to the absence of his father and the robust journey he confronted,” the Italian stated.
Buffon’s legendary profession
From 1995 to 2023, Buffon constructed an illustrious profession, showing in 975 skilled matches and conceding 825 targets—a unprecedented document for a goalkeeper. The Italian collected 28 trophies, highlighted by the 2006 World Cup. Nevertheless, the one title that eluded him was the coveted Champions League.
