Gianluigi Buffon was a professional soccer player.
The team captain of an association football team , sometimes known as the skipper , is a team member chosen to be the on-pitch leader of the team : it is often one of the older or more experienced members of the squad , or a player that can heavily influence a game . Gianluigi Buffon . He has been named the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year a record eleven times . The Golden Foot award is an international football award , given to players who stand out for their athletic achievements ( both as individuals and team players ) and for their personality . The Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year ( Migliore portiere ) was a yearly award organized by the Italian Footballers ' Association ( AIC ) since 1997 to 2010 as part of the Oscar del Calcio awards , given to the goalkeeper who has been considered to have performed the best over the previous Serie A season .