Many footballers would hide themselves away after their team was agonisingly eliminated from a major tournament quarter-final on penalties. Not ‘Gigi’.
The 38-year-old Italian goalkeeper is enjoying a few weeks’ break after helping his country to the last eight of Euro 2016. Buffon had a fine tournament but endured the ignominy of diving over Germany’s game-clinching penalty.
Sure, it hurt like hell but Buffon held his head as high as he could and saluted the Italian fans that had urged him on. He was one the first, too, to embrace the triumphant Germans and wish them all the best. It was exactly what he did after witnessing Ireland’s heroics in Lille:
This is one of the 17,864 reasons why we love 'Gigi' so much #ITA https://t.co/oo1NLNWK7I
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 25, 2016
The following day, with Italy heading home, he embraced those same fans outside the team hotel. It was a beautiful moment.
The classiness has continued on Buffon’s vacation as he played football with local children at the coastal town of Marina di Massa, near Pisa.
What a legend – Spends his vacation time playing in a match with local kids ! #Buffon – thanks to @addictedtoJu34 pic.twitter.com/4cBs7y36fs
— Juvefc.com (@juvefcdotcom) July 14, 2016
Still catching the crosses and distributing with aplomb. Not in bad shape at all either.
Buffon plays keeper on vacation with some fans. Absolute legend. What a beauty. #RoleModel pic.twitter.com/fsSxNJxkei
— NotizieDegliAzzurri (@GliAzzurriNews) July 14, 2016
As the tweet declares, the man is a real role model for the next generation of Italian footballers.
