Gianluigi Buffon named #UCL goalkeeper of the season
Thursday, August 24, 2017
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Gianluigi Buffon has been named Goalkeeper of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season having helped Juventus to reach last term's final.
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Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon has won the Goalkeeper of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season award.
- Defender of the season: Sergio Ramos
- Midfielder of the season: Luka Modrić
- Forward of the season: Cristiano Ronaldo
This is the first season that UEFA has handed out individual positional awards; they have been introduced to recognise the top goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward in Europe's premier club competition each season. Buffon received the accolade during Thursday's UEFA Champions League group stage draw.
Last season was Buffon's 22nd as a professional. It was another remarkable campaign for the venerable keeper – now 39 – as he won a third consecutive domestic double with Juve and reached another UEFA Champions League final.
DOES BUFFON MAKE YOUR FANTASY TEAM?
The Italian international had conceded just three times until Juve's 4-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the Cardiff showpiece, producing particularly memorable displays against Lyon, Barcelona and Monaco.
Buffon's 2016/17 in numbers
Honours: Serie A, Coppa Italia
UEFA Champions League
Appearances: 12
Minutes: 1080
Clean sheets: 9
Goals conceded: 7
Domestic league
Appearances: 30
Clean sheets: 13
How Buffon was chosen
The jury was composed of the coaches of the 32 clubs in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group stage, together with 55 journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, representing each of UEFA's member associations. The coaches were not allowed to vote for players from their own teams.
Jury members selected their top three players per position, with the first receiving five points, the second three and the third one. The player who received the most points in each category was named the winner.
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