Juventus and Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon named a former Manchester United superstar among the six toughest players he faced in his prolific playing career.
Gianluigi Buffon is widely regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers of all time and enjoyed a remarkable career at both club level and on the international stage.
The 43-year-old Italian etched his name in the history books across his two spells with Juventus, with Buffon hoovering up the major silverware with the Old Lady.
The former Juventus and Italy star lifted 10 Serie A titles, a Serie B trophy and five Coppa Italia during his time with the Turin-based outfit.
Buffon made a whopping 685 appearances for Juventus either side of a brief spell with Paris Saint-Germain, with the Italian lifting a Ligue 1 trophy with the club.
The former Italy international kicked off his professional playing career at Parma before returning to the Italian side for a second spell ahead of his retirement.
Buffon also enjoyed incredible success with Italy and the Juventus legend, who was capped 176 times, lifted the 2006 World Cup in his international career.
Buffon names six-man list and toughest player
During his legendary career on the pitch, Gianluigi Buffon crossed paths with Manchester United and Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
The World Cup winner would link up with Cristiano Ronaldo as a teammate after he returned to Juventus in 2019, with the United legend signing for the club in 2018.
Ronaldo left Real Madrid and completed a sensational move to Juventus, with the former United star enjoying a superb spell in Italy’s top-flight league.
During his time at the Old Lady, the 39-year-old Portuguese forward lifted two Serie A titles and a Coppa Italia before he returned to Old Trafford for a second spell.
Speaking to Gianluca Di Marzio, Buffon was asked about the ‘strongest’ player he played against and namechecked Ronaldo in his six-man list.
However, the former Juventus and Italy No 1 surprisingly picked Neymar as his toughest opponent, with Buffon believing that he should have won five Ballon d’Ors.
“I played with three generations, how can I say it? [Zinedine] Zidane, Ronaldo [R9], [Lionel] Messi, CR7, [Andres] Iniesta […],” Buffon said.
“But if I have to choose one, I’d say Neymar. For the player and the boy he is, he should have won five Ballon d’Ors.”
Buffon talks Messi and Ronaldo
Buffon also opened up about his admiration for Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and United legend Ronaldo after seeing different sides to the two iconic players.
“Champions League final in 2015. Half-time. I felt a hand on my back: ‘Gigi, shall we swap shirts now?’ It was Messi,” he said.
“The truly great never put on airs. With Cristiano, on the other hand, I have always had a wonderful relationship: confidences, judgments on the new talents.
“I saw in him a great strength and also a fragility, linked to the absence of his father, to the hard path he had to face.”
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