“He should have won five Ballons d’Or,” says legendary goalkeeper Gigi Buffon

Sincerity has always been a hallmark of Gianluigi Buffon, one of the reasons he is so beloved, alongside his immense talent. Of course, that ability was usually just more frustrating for opposing strikers and fans. The 46-year-old former goalkeeper, now an executive with the Italian national team, is releasing his autobiography today in Italy, titled “Cadere, rialzarsi, cadere, rialzarsi” (“Falling down, getting up, falling down, getting up”).

To mark the occasion, he gave an extensive interview to Corriere della Sera reflecting on his career. Here are some snippets.

“There’s something masochistic about goalkeepers. The fields of my youth were the same as in the 1970s: the penalty area was as hard as concrete. You can recognize old goalkeepers by their scarred hands, aching sides, and the countless times they’ve fallen to the ground, bleeding. I only ever had one agent, Silvano Martina, and I chose him because his hands were covered in scars, goalkeeper’s hands.”

Madness:

“There’s something a little crazy about me. Goalkeepers talk to themselves, to their gloves. And above all, I’ve got a good dose of insolence. Without it, I wouldn’t have survived. Try making your Serie A debut at 17, with Parma leading the table, tied on points with AC Milan.”

First match:

“I remember the looks from Weah, Boban, Costacurta, Baresi... Suddenly, I felt a pat on my shoulder. It was Paolo Maldini encouraging me. He had debuted as a kid too, so he knew what it meant. I’ve never forgotten that gesture. Maldini wasn’t just an extraordinary footballer – he has the two qualities I admire most: loyalty and courage.”

Rivals:

“I remember a forward from Benfica who deliberately stamped on my hand. It hurt like hell. He looked at me without the slightest intention of apologizing. But, I swear, I can’t recall his name. If I saw him again, I’d have two words for him. I forget negative people.”

Best opponent:

“It’s hard to pick. I played against three generations: Zidane, Ronaldo, Messi, Cristiano, Iniesta... Choose one? Neymar. For the player he is and the person he is, he should’ve won five Ballons d’Or.”

Champions League:

“Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017 were the best teams of the last 20 years. And in 2003, I lost the final to Shevchenko’s Milan.”

Depression:

“At the end of 2003, after two straight Scudetti, I hit a low point. I felt an emptiness inside me, started sleeping badly, and had panic attacks. During a Juve-Reggina match, I had an anxiety attack on the field. I couldn’t breathe and thought I couldn’t play. Ivano Bordon, our goalkeeping coach, told me I didn’t have to play. I looked at our backup, Chimenti – a great friend – and thought this was a pivotal moment. If I didn’t go back out, I might never play again. I returned, made a decisive save, and we won 1-0. But the problem didn’t go away. Dr. Agricola confirmed it: depression.”

Recovery:

“I rejected medication because I was afraid of dependency. They suggested I find new passions outside football, and I discovered painting. There was a Chagall exhibit in Turin, and I spent an hour mesmerized by a simple painting: Chagall holding hands with his wife, Bella, while she floated above him. I came back the next day, and the cashier told me it was the same exhibit. I replied, ‘I know, I just want to see it again.’”

Mistakes:

“I had a complex about not finishing school, and two masseurs egged me on to get a fake diploma. It was incredible naivety, and I paid for it.”

On fascism and that number 88:

“I had no idea the number 88, which I wore, was associated with ‘Heil Hitler.’ To me, it just meant having ‘four balls.’ I’m not a fascist or racist. I named my first son Louis Thomas after my childhood idol, Thomas N’Kono. I was the only European to attend his farewell match in Cameroon, and it’s a beautiful memory.”

End of career and that special song:

“I turned down the national team when Di Biagio asked me to return to help Donnarumma adjust. The media and social networks said I didn’t want to make room, that I was too old. It was clearly orchestrated, maybe by an agent. Gravina offered me a farewell match, but I refused. Gasperini told me that with him at Atalanta, we would’ve won the Champions League.

“Pirlo convinced me to stay at Juve. Then, I got an offer from Barcelona as a backup goalkeeper, and I liked the idea of playing with Messi after Cristiano. But one day, driving past the Parma toll booth, I heard a song I hadn’t heard in 10 years: Jovanotti’s ‘Bella.’ It felt like a sign to end where it all began.”

On Messi and Cristiano:

“After the 2015 Champions League final, Messi put a hand on my back and said, ‘Gigi, shall we swap shirts now?’ The greats are never arrogant. As for Cristiano, we always had a great relationship. I saw in him a powerful strength but also a deep vulnerability tied to his father’s absence and the tough path he had to navigate.”

Totti:

“He was my true partner along the way. A bit insolent, with his Roman accent, two years older than me. I met him on the Under-16 national team. We clicked immediately. He’s a thoroughbred, someone you just have to love and protect.”

Gambling:

“It was my weakness. For some, it’s a vice; for me, it was adrenaline. But I never did anything illegal. I was never investigated because I never bet on football – only tennis and American basketball. Now I go to the casino two or three times a year, but I don’t feel the need anymore.”

On Cassano and Balotelli:

“With Cassano, we always got along. During a month-long training camp, he was the perfect teammate – he brought energy and filled the voids. But I told him, ‘Over a full season, I don’t know if I could handle you’ (laughs). As for Balotelli, he lost his focus on being the champion he had the potential to be. Seeing him at 34 trying again with Genoa moves me.”

Zidane in the 2006 final:

“I called the referee because I was afraid Materazzi wouldn’t get up. I had just stopped a Zidane header that felt like a cannonball – it nearly broke my hand. Thirty seconds later, I realized the red card for our strongest opponent was an advantage, no doubt.”

Coaches:

“I had drill sergeants who pushed players to their limits: Scala, Capello, Conte. And psychologists who calmed players down: Ancelotti, Allegri.”

On Capello:

“I played an extraordinary match, and he called me in to watch the tape. He said, ‘Gigi, this isn’t good enough.’ That really hurt.”

On Allegri:

“Compared to Conte, who scolded us nonstop, Allegri seemed like an angel. Once, he just wrote a number three on the board and said, ‘You’re three times better than the opponent. Now go win.’”

On Lippi:

“He was a mix. After the disaster at the World Cup in South Africa, he said, ‘It’s not your fault; it’s mine for being so stupid to call you up.’”

On Conte:

“When I heard he was going to Napoli, I said, ‘The Azzurri will finish first or second this year.’”

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