- Gigi Riva’s funeral took place on Wednesday after his death at the age of 79
- Gianluigi Buffon was left in tears as he acted as one of the pallbearers
- Fabio Cannavaro, Claudio Ranieri and Gianfranco Zola were also present at the funeral
Gianluigi Buffon couldn’t hold back the tears as he attended the funeral of Italian icon Gigi Riva on Wednesday.
Riva died on Monday at the age of 79 and just two days later 30,000 people gathered in Cagliari to pay their respects to the popular former striker.
Fans held up scarves and waved flags in honor of Riva in an emotional occasion.
Buffon, Italy’s most capped player who made 176 appearances for his country and won the World Cup in 2006, acted as one of the pallbearers and was visibly emotional as he carried Riva’s coffin.
Fellow World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro also carried Riva’s coffin, while current Cagliari manager Claudio Ranieri and Gianfranco Zola, who ended his playing career at the Italian club, were in attendance.
Gianluigi Buffon was in tears at the funeral of national hero Gigi Riva on Wednesday
Buffon was one of the pallbearers at the funeral after Riva died on Monday
Fellow World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro also helped Buffon carry the coffin
Current Cagliari manager Claudio Ranieri attended the funeral to pay his respects
A number of members of Cagliari’s current squad also attended the funeral to celebrate the life of a club and national hero.
Riva spent thirteen years at Cagliari between 1963 and 1976, leading the side to their only Serie A title in 1969-70.
The club retired his number 11 shirt in 2005 – the first time in their history this had been done.
He was presented with the shirt by Rocco Sabato, the last holder of the jersey, during an official ceremony at Cagliari’s home ground, Stadio Sant’Elia.
Despite last playing for Italy in 1974, he remains his country’s leading goalscorer, having scored 35 goals in just 42 caps.
Gianfranco Zola put on a brave face as he attended Riva’s funeral
Some of Cagliari’s current squad, including striker Andrea Petagna (photo), attended the funeral
30,000 people showed up to celebrate the life of a Cagliari and Italian hero
He was part of the team that won the European Championship in 1968 and then lost the 1970 World Cup final to Pele-inspired Brazil.
Riva reached his peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s, finishing as Serie A’s top scorer three times in four seasons between 1966 and 1970, while finishing second in the Ballon d’Or in 1969 and third the following year.
Riva remained involved in the national team’s set-up after his retirement, working as team manager between 1988 and 2013.
During this period, Italy won their fourth World Cup in 2006, with Cannavaro and Buffon both starring in the tournament before finishing first and second respectively in the Ballon d’Or that year.