Former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has shared a heartfelt moment involving Lionel Messi that left him feeling “proud.” The incident took place during the 2015 Champions League final between Juventus and Barcelona at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Barcelona struck first in the fourth minute with a goal from Ivan Rakitic, but Juventus equalized in the 55th minute thanks to Álvaro Morata. Luis Suárez restored Barça’s lead in the 68th minute after Buffon saved a shot from Lionel Messi. Neymar sealed the victory with a third goal in the seventh minute of injury time, ending the match 3-1 in favor of Barcelona.
After the game, Messi approached Buffon and asked for his jersey, a gesture that deeply moved the Juventus legend. Buffon recounted the moment in an interview with TuttoJuve, where he reflected on some of his happiest memories with the Bianconeri.
“Leo made me proud when he asked me for the shirt in the Berlin final and I was 37 years old. When he asked me for the shirt I said to myself, ‘Mamma mia how beautiful you are!,’” Buffon said.
“It was one of the few moments in my life when I felt not uncomfortable but I looked at myself with different eyes. We exchanged shirts.
“At the end of the match, however, we had other problems, not knowing that a few years later, we would have another chance in the final.”
