Gianluigi Buffon is all class.
Whether it’s rushing to congratulate Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane for the Republic of Ireland’s victory over his own country at Euro 2016 or embracing the Germany team that had just beaten him on penalties in the tournament’s quarter-finals or simply enjoying a kick-about with local children at the coastal town of Marina di Massa while on his holidays, the man is nothing but class.
And the Juventus and Italy legend displayed a familiar thoughtfulness while on international duty this week.
As he led his teammates out for Thursday’s friendly tie with France, he was quick to notice the fact that the French national anthem La Marseillaise was being jeered by a section of the Italian supporters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ2OLtv3I8Y
Not willing to stand by embarrassed, Buffon promptly intervened, lifted his hands above his head and influenced a round of applause for the anthem.
His teammates followed suit and, before long, the boos were drowned out by the cheers brought about by the man, the myth, the legend known as Gianluigi Buffon.
Sportsmanship and respect in football is such a wonderful thing to see, even if it should be the bare minimum of what we should expect from professionals. Few players set an example quite like the Italian shot stopper.