Parma goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon became the oldest player ever to take the pitch at the San Siro with his start for the Emilians in yesterday evening’s Coppa Italia round of sixteen tie against Inter.
This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who note that the World Cup winner surpassed former Nerazzurri and Lazio keeper Marco Ballotta for the record.
Prior to yesterday evening, the record for the oldest player to play at the San Siro was perhaps unsurprisingly already held by a goalkeeper.
Ballotta had been in goal for Lazio in a goalless draw with Inter in 2008, and had been 44 years and 13 days of age at that time.
However, Buffon has surpassed Ballotta for the record by nearly a full year with his start against the Nerazzurri yesterday, which was the former Juventus captain’s fiftieth career appearance at the stadium for club and country.
Buffon took to the pitch at the age of 44 years, 11 months, and 13 days, although he was not able to use his experience to lead his team to the next round despite at least one genuinely world-class save which did not show signs of his advancing years.