Gianluigi Buffon: 'I don't want to be a role model' | OneFootball

During last month’s 2-1 victory over Sampdoria, legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon matched Paolo Madini’s Serie A appearance record of 647 games.

Buffon has made nine appearances in all competitions this season and most recently earned the clean sheet in Wednesday’s 4-0 Coppa Italia rout of Udinese.

Though the soon-to-be 42-year-old isn’t sure when he’ll get the chance to break Maldini’s historic feat, it’s a milestone that will forever make him proud.

“Next week there’s a new set of Coppa Italia games, I don’t think I’ll play on Sunday. Then we’ll have to meet Roma or Parma themselves,” Buffon said before Roma’s 2-0 victory over Parma on Thursday.

“It’s a satisfaction that makes me proud, it’s right to be proud. Life is made of sacrifice and sweat, but also of beautiful and frivolous things.

“I don’t want to be a model for children and people, it’s not my aspiration, I don’t feel the need to educate anyone.

“Many would like you to take on these responsibilities, but the education of a child is up to the parent.

“I can be a food for thought, if a family at the table sees Buffon making 700 appearances in Serie A the father could say: ‘See Buffon, besides the man – whom I don’t know – had the character to suffer at certain times, the ability and humility to improve’.

“I want to be this for my children, but I don’t want to put pressure on them.”

Buffon has made an incredible 665 appearances in a Juventus shirt and has earned an even more incredible 314 clean sheets in that time.