Gigi Buffon Is Aging Much Better Than The Rest Of Us
By Ty Duffy
" .@gianluigiBuffon è ora il portiere più imbattibile della storia della @SerieA_TIM. #NumeroUno #Legend #TorinoJuvehttps://t.co/nhWuVtKI5d — JuventusFC (@juventusfc) March 20, 2016 "
Italian legend Gigi Buffon is aging, like a fine wine from his native Tuscany. The 38-year-old Italian broke an Italian record, not conceding a goal for 930 minutes in league play. That’s 15.5 hours or 10.3 matches of time, depending on how one wishes to conceive it.
LEGEND. @gianluigibuffon #TorinoJuve #DerbyDellaMole #NumeroUno pic.twitter.com/k0pxl7GFJE
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) March 20, 2016
Buffon can now chase Danny Verlinden’s European record of 1,390 minutes for Club Brugge in the Belgian League. Brazilian goalkeeper Mazaropi holds the world record, holding a clean sheet for 1,816 minutes. Though, Buffon is playing at a higher level than either.
The sheer span of Buffon’s career has been incredible. He’s having this run now in his 20th full season as a starting goalkeeper in Italy. He made his first Serie A start as a 17-year-old in 1995. He could be European goalkeeper of the year a decade out from his starring performance for Italy at the 2006 World Cup.
Buffon’s play has been vital for Juventus this season. They currently hold a three-point lead over Napoli, fighting to win their fifth-straight Serie-A title.