Gianluigi Buffon: Juventus star thanks team-mates after setting Serie A record

Buffon went 974 minutes without conceding a goal

(Getty Images)

Gianluigi Buffon set a Serie A record at the weekend at the grand age of 38 - and made a point of thanking every one of his Juventus team-mates for their part in the record.

The Italian went a stunning 974 minutes before conceding against local rivals Torino as Juventus secured a 4-1 win on Sunday to go six points clear at the top of Serie A.

The former Parma goalkeeper, who has racked up almost 800 club appearances as one of the best ever, last conceded a goal in 10 January against Sampdoria.

The previous record of 929 minutes was held by AC Milan keeper Sebastiano Rossi back in 1994, the season before Buffon made his professional debut.

The Italy captain, who plans to continue playing until the 2018 World Cup, later produced a brilliantly classy thank you to all of his current team-mates for their part in the record.

It read:

"No record belongs to just one person and there are no No 1s outside of a group. So I want to say thank you to …

… Neto for the calmness that he gives to the whole team every time it goes out on to the pitch

… Rubinho, a patient and quiet leader

… Chiello, because #finoallafine [‘until the end’] he never relents

… Alex Sandro because watching him beat his man is always a pleasure

… Barzagli: who needs to be cloned, immediately

… Bonucci, for his head-held-high personality, always at the service of the team

… Rugani, because knowing how to listen is a rare quality

… Stephan, legs and lungs of this Juve

… Evra, if he was not here, we’d need to buy him

… Khedira: the right man, always in the right place

… Marchisio, the only player I know who is coloured black and white

… Pogba, because he does not live football, but invents it

… Hernanes, because every team needs to have its Prophet

… Lemina, simply Juve-worthy

… Padoin, wherever you put him he will be, and be very well

… Asamoah, his desire for football is stronger than any injury

… Sturaro, “fight, fall, get back up and always win”

… Pereyra, because fantasy is the salt of this sport

…. Zaza, born to score from any position

… Morata, there is always a need for him

… Cuadrado, because every time that he sets off he seems to say 'catch me if you can'

… Mandzukic, the first to attack and always the first to defend

… Dybala, if after Thuram, Zidane and Pirlo, the No21 shirt went to him, then there must be a reason

… And to the boss, a winner in pantheon of winners!"