Cristiano Ronaldo's brace in Turin may have gone some way to ending Gianluigi Buffon's last shot at winning the Champions League, yet the Italian stopper had a lengthy embrace with the forward at the full-time whistle and even took his shirt.
After the final whistle, the World Cup winner embraced every single Los Blancos player, but he saved the longest hug for Ronaldo, his nemesis for the evening.
Despite the Portuguese forward all but crushing Buffon's dreams, he respects how talented a footballer he is and he recognises the unique nature of Real Madrid's star.
Buffon intimated to MARCA on the eve of the match that he had a dream of winning the Champions League in his last season as a professional, which will now be incredibly difficult to achieve with the Turin club heading to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu 3-0 down and without the suspended Paulo Dybala.
Nonstain
148
Buffon will forever keep Christiano Ronaldo Shirt in a life save. It is a sign of Respect.
Yuki016
128
Buffon, you are still great goalkeeper, but Cristiano Ronaldo is out of this world footballer.
Arvinmessifan
103
Don’t worry Buffon, trophies don’t define a person.
edahsam
24
Buffon: Don't tell anybody what happened about that bicycle kick. Ronaldo: What happened? Buffon: I allowed it in. Ronaldo: Hahahaha, why did you allow it in? Buffon: Is it not clear to you? my age is telling on me, I have to retire.. Ronaldo: Sure you have to, but you should have done the retirement before facing my bicycle kick disgrace.. Buffon: No no no no, Its not a disgrace to me, I wanted to play against you so I can take your shirt home with me to tell my children never to come close to the wearer of this shirt whenever he is in the field of play.