Gianluigi Buffon’s story about Lionel Messi asking for his shirt after the 2015 Champions League final is a beautiful moment of mutual respect between two of football’s greatest. Buffon, at 37 years old, recognized the significance of the gesture from Messi, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in the history of the game. It’s not only a mark of admiration but also a reminder of the shared history and the many emotions that come with being a part of such high-stakes matches.
It’s also interesting how Buffon reflected on it as a moment where he saw himself in a new light—after such a long and successful career, to have Messi, a footballing icon, request his shirt, must have been a humbling yet proud moment.
The 2015 final was a tough one for Buffon and Juventus, but the respect between him and Messi shines through. It’s poetic that they later had another chance to face off in a final (even though it was a tough one for Buffon, again!). Do you remember watching that game?
