Topics: Gianluigi Buffon, Roberto Carlos, Italy, Juventus, Serie A
To celebrate the illustrious career of Gianluigi Buffon, we decided to back and watch a catalogue of his greatest ever saves; including that one-handed stop against Real Madrid in 2005.
It was reported on Tuesday night that one of the most decorated goalkeepers in football history will announce his retirement in the coming days.
Buffon, who is one of the few recorded players to have made over 1,100 professional career appearances, has achieved so much in the game.
From holding the record for most appearances by one player in Serie A (657) to being the oldest player to clinch the Scudetto at 42 –– not to mention lifting the 2006 World Cup with Italy.
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He has seen and done it all since making his debut for Parma, aged 17 years and 295 days, in a league game against AC Milan on November 19, 1995.
Over the years, Buffon has made an abundance of world-class saves but for many, the one that stands out most is his one-handed stop from a Roberto Carlos stinger.
Back in 2005, during a Champions League last-16 clash between Juventus and Real Madrid, the Italian shot-stopper kept a clean sheet in a relatively-straightforward 2-0 win for The Old Lady.
Buffon did so, however, after pulling off this save from a trademark Carlos free-kick, which is believed to be one of his most powerful at 140km/h.
As you can see from the footage below, the Brazilian's ridiculously-well-hit effort swerved at the very last second but somehow, Buffon managed to parry the ball away.
Here's how social media reacted to the save.
One fan said: "This is seriously one of the most underrated saves in football history," while another commented: "The power on the shot and to save it with your weak hand is unreal."
A third added: "That would've crippled the forearms of any other goalkeeper."
Buffon, who most recently played in Serie B with Parma, recently revealed that leaving Paris Saint-Germain was the biggest mistake of his life.
"Leaving was the biggest mistake of my life, I gave up €10 million (£8.8m)", he told former Italy teammate Christian Vieri on his podcast.
Buffon added: "They told me that [Alphonse] Areola would play in the Champions League and I didn't accept it. For me, the one who deserves it plays. That's why I returned to Juve.
"Then I regretted it , because Areola was injured and they signed Keylor Navas in his place!"
"[Paris] was the most beautiful experience of my life. I felt like a free man. I quickly learned French, talked to people on the street, visited museums... I had the feeling of playing in a great team."
