The COVID-19 pandemic saw France Football cancel the 2020 edition of the Ballon d'Or, but instead the magazine has elected to select a number of historic award winners, including the best referee of all-time prize, which has gone to Pierluigi Collina.
Wednesday saw the 10 best referees named, and the Italian topped the standings after a career where he was so authoritative and so good at his job that his fame went beyond what is expected of a mere official.
"When it comes to referees, his is the first name that comes to mind, right from his debut to 1977 until his retirement in 2005, Collina wrote the history of football," France Football editorial explained.
You have to ask which other referee has ever made the front cover of a football video game as Collina did with Pro Evolution Soccer 3 released in 2003. That itself is a testament to his popularity and skill.
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Legendary referee Pierluigi Collina names the 1999 Champions League final between Bayern and Manchester United as best moment in his career. He relived the moment Ole Gunnar Solskjear snatched victory from the Bavarians. "It was the last two minutes, I saw the Bayern players on the bench preparing to celebrate the title, the fans were happy in the stadium with their team being crowned the Champions League title. “Suddenly, Manchester scored two goals in two minutes and reversed the score. I will never forget how the English side were bursting with great noise as if they were lions roaring, while there was funeral silence in the Bayern stands. “The man United players were celebrating their second goal hysterically when I saw a Bayern player completely hopelessly fall to the ground and he was feeling great disappointment. I approached him and found nothing to say to him except, “Get up and fight you still have twenty seconds!!. “At that moment, I saw the true face of football, death and life in one stadium, people celebrating madly and people desperate to death !! ”
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No doubt.. He can give better judgment than VAR.