Record-Breaking Juventus Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon Writes Open Letter to Goal

Fresh from making Serie A history and crafting a heartfelt message to each and every one of his Juventus team-mates, legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon took to Twitter to pen another poem on Monday.

The 38-year-old broke Serie A's record for most minutes without conceding during Sunday's derby with Torino, a streak that would eventually be ended by Andrea Belotti after 974 minutes.

And on Monday, he posted a poetic tribute to the goal behind him on social media (as translated by Italian football writer James Horncastle [h/t Independent]):

"

I was 12 when I turned my back on you, denying my past to guarantee you a safe future.

I went with my heart

I went with my instinct

But the day I stopped looking you in the face is also the day that I started to love you

To protect you

To be your first and last line of defence.

I promised myself that I would do everything not to see your face again. Or that I would do it as little as possible. It was painful every time I did, turning round and realising I had disappointed you.

Again

And again.

We have always been opposites yet we are complementary, like the sun and the moon. Forced to live side by side without being able to touch. Team-mates for life, a life in which we are denied all contact.

More than 25 years ago I made my vow: I swore to protect you. Look after you. A shield against all your enemies. I’ve always thought about your welfare, putting it first even ahead of my own.

I was 12 when I turned my back on my goal. And I will keep doing it as long as my legs, my head and my heart will allow.

"

Does anyone else feel short-changed that Jamie Vardy didn't produce something similar after breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy's scoring record earlier this season?

[Independent]