Buffon named ‘The Best’ goalkeeper of 2017

Buffon picked up the award at a swanky ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday after beating off competition from Keylor Navas (Real Madrid) and Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich).

Despite being nearly 40, ‘Gigi’’ was the man chosen by a host of former goalkeepers and outfield stars including the likes of Vitor Baia, Jorge Campos, Hernán Crespo, René Higuita, Patrick Kluivert, Thomas N'Kono, Angelo Peruzzi, Peter Schmeichel, David Seaman, Mark Schwarzer and Pascal Zuberbühler.

Buffon becomes the first goalkeeper to win the award, which wasn’t present at last year’s ceremony.

There is little left to say about Buffon that people do not already know. The award is given based on sporting merit between November 2016 and July 2017, during which time the Italian won the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia, lost in a Champions League final and went 600 minutes without conceding in Europe’s premier club competition.

Buffon is a living legend of European football, with many considering him to be the best goalkeeper in history. This award would be yet another one to add to his collection as we move into what many fear will be his last season as a professional, though the Champions League continues to evade him.