Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon in tears at Gigi Riva’s funeral
- Gigi Riva’s funeral was held on Wednesday following his passing on the age of 79
- Gianluigi Buffon was left in tears as he acted as one of many pallbearers
- Fabio Cannavaro, Claudio Ranieri and Gianfranco Zola additionally attended the funeral
Gianluigi Buffon couldn’t maintain again the tears as he attended Italian icon Gigi Riva’s funeral on Wednesday.
Riva handed away on the age of 79 on Monday, and 30,000 folks gathered in Cagliari to pay their respects to the favored former striker simply two days later.
Fans held up scarves and waved flags to honour Riva on an emotional event.
Italy’s most-capped participant Buffon, who made 176 appearances for his nation and gained the World Cup in 2006, acted as one of many pallbearers and was visibly emotional as he carried Riva’s coffin.
Fellow World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro additionally carried Riva’s coffin, whereas present Cagliari supervisor Claudio Ranieri and Gianfranco Zola, who completed his enjoying profession on the Italian membership, have been in attendance.
Gianluigi Buffon was in tears on the funeral of nationwide hero Gigi Riva on Wednesday
Buffon was one of many pallbearers on the funeral after Riva handed away on Monday
Fellow World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro additionally helped Buffon carry the coffin
Current Cagliari supervisor Claudio Ranieri attended the funeral to pay his respects
Numerous the present Cagliari squad additionally went to the funeral to rejoice the lifetime of a membership and nationwide hero.
Riva spent 13 years at Cagliari between 1963 and 1976, main the facet to their solely Serie A title in 1969-70.
The membership retired his No 11 shirt in 2005 – the primary time this had been finished of their historical past.
He was introduced with the shirt by Rocco Sabato, the final holder of the jersey, at an official ceremony at Cagliari’s dwelling floor, Stadio Sant’Elia.
Despite final enjoying for Italy again in 1974, he stays his nation’s biggest goalscorer after scoring 35 objectives in simply 42 caps.
Gianfranco Zola placed on a courageous face as he attended Riva’s funeral
Some of Cagliari’s present squad, together with striker Andrea Petagna (pictured), attended the funeral
Thirty-thousand folks confirmed as much as rejoice the lifetime of a Cagliari and Italian hero
He was a part of the crew that gained the 1968 European Championship after which misplaced the 1970 World Cup ultimate to a Pele-inspired Brazil in 1970.
The late Nineteen Sixties and early Seventies noticed Riva at his peak, as he completed because the Serie A prime scorer thrice in 4 seasons between 1966 and 1970, whereas ending second within the Ballon d’Or in 1969 and third the next 12 months.
Riva remained concerned within the nationwide crew setup after his retirement, working as a crew supervisor between 1988 and 2013.
During this era, Italy gained their fourth World Cup in 2006, with Cannavaro and Buffon each starring within the event earlier than happening to complete first and second within the Ballon d’Or, respectively, that 12 months.
