Legendary Buffon to receive 2024 UEFA President’s Award

Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon will receive the 2024 UEFA President’s Award, handed to him by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin during the Champions League draw.

That huge event will take place on Thursday August 29 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, where for the first time the Champions League will have a new one-table format including 36 teams.

The President’s Award is given to recognise outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities.

Ceferin pays tribute to Buffon

“Gianluigi Buffon is a player I’ve admired since he first emerged as a young, charismatic goalkeeper for Parma in the mid-nineties,” said Ceferin on the official UEFA website.

“Beyond his commanding presence between the posts, his longevity and determination make him an inspiration to football fans worldwide.

“His remarkable consistency across generations might lead many to believe that staying at the top is easy. The fact that he chose to follow his club to Serie B during his prime, despite being sought after by top clubs around the world, speaks volumes.

“Buffon is also one of the first athletes to openly discuss mental health and depression, helping to raise crucial awareness of this issue in professional sports.”

The goalkeeper was part of the Italy squad that won the 2006 World Cup, during his record 176 international appearances, making him the most capped goalkeeper of all time, the most capped Italy player and the fourth-most capped European player ever.

He also won 10 Serie A titles – although Juventus would count them as 12 – the 1999 UEFA Cup with Parma, six editions of the Coppa Italia and the Ligue 1 trophy at Paris Saint-Germain.

Buffon finally concluded his 28-year career back where it started at Parma last year and is now on Luciano Spalletti’s Italy staff.