GOAT Index

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Gianluigi Buffon: the case for the GOAT

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    Gianluigi Buffon: the case for the GOAT

    Goalkeeper · Italy · Born 28 January 1978, Carrara, Italy · Career 1995–2023

    Commanding, athletic goalkeeper with superb reflexes and leadership. Played for Parma, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain over a career of nearly three decades, and captained Italy.

    Career highlights

    Why Gianluigi Buffon could be the GOAT

    Buffon has a strong claim to be the greatest goalkeeper of the modern era. He conceded only two goals at the 2006 World Cup, one an own goal and one a penalty, and was elite for over 20 years. His longevity and consistency are unrivalled among keepers.

    What fans say

    Gianluigi Buffon is #16 of 30 in the fan ranking, with a 1–2 head-to-head record from 82 Men's football votes. See the full Men's football GOAT ranking

    Gianluigi Buffon head to head

    How the ranking works. Every head-to-head vote is a result, like a game. The standings use a Bradley–Terry model, the same idea behind chess ratings: beating a highly rated legend counts for more than beating a long shot. Ratings are shown on a chess-style scale centred on 1500.

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      Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under the licenses listed. Each links to its source page.