Football legends Cesc Fabregas and Gianluigi Buffon locked horns on the pitch yesterday for the Serie B fixture between Como and Parma, and we’re here to tell you how they got on.
The pair requires little in terms of an introduction, they’ve both had incredibly successful careers, which saw them turn into absolute icons of the game.
Fabregas, known for wearing a ‘magic hat’, grew to fame at Arsenal as a youngster thriving under Arsene Wenger.
His intelligent passing, slick dribbling, and wonderful vision instantly caught the eye of fans, and the Spaniard quickly turned into a fan favorite at the Emirates.
A successful spell at Barcelona followed for the 35-year-old, who then returned to the Premier League in Chelsea colors.
The World-Cup winning midfielder provided a whopping 111 assists during his time in England, which is second to only Ryan Giggs across the league’s history.
As for his opponent on the night, Gianluigi Buffon is arguably the greatest goalkeeper the game has ever seen, while being amongst Football’s ultimate ‘one-club men’.
The Italian was Juventus’ first-choice keeper for nearly 2 decades, which speaks volumes about his consistency and ability.
509 appearances and 10 Scudettos later, the 45-year-old left Juventus for former club Parma in 2021.
And in 2022, Fabregas joined Serie B outfit, Como, setting up an inevitable clash between the duo, one that fans had eagerly been waiting for.
For some additional context, last night’s game was their first meeting since the 2012 Euros, during which the Spaniard managed to score against Buffon.
To further enhance the occasion, both players were the appointed captains for their sides, they were spotted beaming widely as they exchanged pleasantries before kickoff.
How did Fabregas and Buffon fare against each other?
For those hoping that the pair rolled back the years, we have some unfortunate news. Despite their eternal class and talent, the duo’s age has caught up with them.
Fabregas, now 35, and Buffon, now 45, are certainly not in their physical prime, and naturally, that has taken a toll on their performance.
During the game, the Spaniard was hooked off before half-time after picking up an injury, while Buffon had a relatively poor evening.
Parma lost the game 2-0, and unfortunately, Buffon was partly to blame for both goals.
The opener saw him concede from a poor angle, while the second came after the Italian failed to push away a deflected shot.
The second goal in particular displayed how age has impacted Buffon’s reflexes, as the Italian would’ve comfortably palmed the ball away during his prime years.
Nevertheless, seeing the 2 legends share the pitch was still a heartwarming moment. And the duo even reposted their meeting on Instagram.
The two could possibly share the pitch again next season, although this hinges on Buffon and Fabregas remaining in Serie B.
