Different Heights, Different Paths, Same Champions League Heroics – Sommer & Donnarumma Take Centre Stage For Inter Milan & PSG | OneFootball

Inter Milan’s Yann Sommer and PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma have taken very different paths to the same Champions League heroics.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, highlight the differences in height and career trajectory between the two keepers.

It would be fair to say that both Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain owe their respective goalkeepers a big part of their place in the Champions League final.

PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was decisive throughout the knockout rounds. He made save after outstanding save to keep out the likes of Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Aersenal.

Then, Inter Milan’s Yann Sommer was no less important to his team.

The 36-year-old put in two excellent showings against his former team Bayern Munich. But then, he really saved his best for the semifinals against Barcelona.

Sommer was the man of the match in a second leg win, even as Inter had conceded three goals.

The Nerazzurri faced many more dangerous chances than that. But Sommer kept the Blaugranas out time and time again, culminating in a miraculous stop on Lamine Yamal in extra time.

Sommer & Donnarumma: Different Pathes To Champions League Heroics

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after teammate Ousmane Dembele (not pictured) scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium on April 29, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The two outstanding keepers in the Champions League this season have taken different paths to get here, though.

As the Gazzetta note, Sommer has had to overcome a relatively short height for his position.

The Swiss is just six feet, quite short for a keeper. However, this has not prevented him from using his athleticism and reaction times to make plenty of remarkable saves for Inter.

Donnarumma, on the other hands, stands at 6’5″. And the Italian international has used his size and reach to great effect throughout this Champions League campaign.

Meanwhile, the Gazzetta also note that Donnarumma was almost predestined for this level.

The former AC Milan keeper was tipped for first team stardom with the Rossoneri at the age of sixteen.

Donnarumma made his first appearance in Serie A at the age of sixteen. And he was seventeen when he made his debut for the senior Italy national team.

Therefore, despite being 26 years of age, Donnarumma is closing in on five hundred senior appearances for club and country.

Sommer, on the other hand, took a little while to reach this level.

The Swiss has always impressed with his shot-stopping ability. However, he only gained a regular starting spot for the Basel first team in his mid-twenties.

From there, though, Sommer has never looked back.