Gianluigi Buffon Admits Next Season Is His Final Chance At Winning The Champions League

Despite suffering more Champions League heartbreak, Gianluigi Buffon has vowed to continue in pursuit of the elusive Champions League winners medal.

Juventus bagged an impressive league and cup double though where hoping to complete the treble by clinching the coveted European prize.

(Watch Buffon enter the field to a heroes reception from the Juventus faithfuls:)

_{Credit: BT Sports}

But Real Madrid proved too much on the night as they defeated the Italian champions 4-1 courtesy of heroics from Cristiano Ronaldo who bagged a brace, scoring either side of the break.

_{Buffon wheels away in celebration after Mario Mandzukic's incredible equaliser. Image: PA}

And as the 39-year-old legendary stopper still has one year left on his contract, he'll remain to see it out while harbouring ambitions of one final crack at the Champions League.

After completing an unwanted hat-trick of Champions League final defeats - 2003, 2015 and 2017, Buffon believes next season is his final chance.

"As far as I am concerned, I have one last chance," Buffon told Sky Sport Italia via ESPN.

_{A dejected Buffon sits on the ground after conceding his sides second goal. Image: PA}

"I still have one more year on my contract, so that means I have one more chance of winning the Champions League."

Confessing that it'll be tough to perform better in next year's campaign which included knocking out Barcelona and AS Monaco.

"Admittedly, it'll be tough to do better than this year, because we could've done something truly incredible this season. Unfortunately, we didn't manage it."

"It's a big disappointment because we thought we did everything we needed to win."

_{Buffon walks past yet another Champions League trophy. Image: PA}

Before detailing his account of the Cardiff showpiece.

"We had a great first half in which we had Real in trouble. It leaves you with an open mouth, the episodes that never went our way. I cannot explain why we played like we did in the second half."

Buffon has suggested that he may retire after the 2018 World Cup, so next season is his last attempt at lifting the trophy which has escaped his grasp.

He's won the World Cup, but will he get his hands on the Champions League next season?

Topics: Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus, Champions League

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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