Gianluigi Buffon could not keep back again the tears as he attended Italian icon Gigi Riva’s funeral on Wednesday.
Riva handed absent at the age of 79 on Monday, and 30,000 people collected in Cagliari to pay back their respects to the well-liked previous striker just two times later on.
Supporters held up scarves and waved flags to honour Riva on an psychological celebration.
Italy’s most-capped player Buffon, who manufactured 176 appearances for his state and received the Planet Cup in 2006, acted as a single of the pallbearers and was visibly psychological as he carried Riva’s coffin.
Fellow World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro also carried Riva’s coffin, whilst present Cagliari manager Claudio Ranieri and Gianfranco Zola, who completed his participating in vocation at the Italian club, were being in attendance.
Gianluigi Buffon was in tears at the funeral of nationwide hero Gigi Riva on Wednesday
Buffon was a single of the pallbearers at the funeral following Riva passed away on Monday
Fellow Earth Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro also aided Buffon have the coffin
Present-day Cagliari supervisor Claudio Ranieri attended the funeral to spend his respects
A selection of the current Cagliari squad also went to the funeral to celebrate the existence of a club and nationwide hero.
Riva expended 13 yrs at Cagliari in between 1963 and 1976, foremost the side to their only Serie A title in 1969-70.
The club retired his No 11 shirt in 2005 – the 1st time this experienced been performed in their historical past.
He was offered with the shirt by Rocco Sabato, the previous holder of the jersey, at an official ceremony at Cagliari’s household floor, Stadio Sant’Elia.
In spite of very last actively playing for Italy back in 1974, he remains his nation’s finest goalscorer just after scoring 35 ambitions in just 42 caps.
Gianfranco Zola set on a courageous experience as he attended Riva’s funeral
Some of Cagliari’s present-day squad, together with striker Andrea Petagna (pictured), attended the funeral
Thirty-thousand folks showed up to celebrate the daily life of a Cagliari and Italian hero
He was aspect of the staff that gained the 1968 European Championship and then lost the 1970 Environment Cup remaining to a Pele-influenced Brazil in 1970.
The late 1960s and early 1970s observed Riva at his peak, as he finished as the Serie A best scorer 3 occasions in 4 seasons among 1966 and 1970, although ending next in the Ballon d’Or in 1969 and third the adhering to calendar year.
Riva remained involved in the national team set up soon after his retirement, doing the job as a crew manager in between 1988 and 2013.
Throughout this time period, Italy received their fourth Globe Cup in 2006, with Cannavaro and Buffon each starring in the match prior to going on to finish 1st and second in the Ballon d’Or, respectively, that year.