Key Takeaways
- Gianluigi Buffon suffered a severe panic attack during the warm-up before a Juventus match against Reggina in February 2004
- Goalkeeping coach Ivano Bordon calmed the keeper by telling him he was not forced to play, giving him the choice to step down
- The Italy international was later diagnosed with depression after months of sleep problems and negative thoughts
Italian football icon Gianluigi Buffon has shared details of a frightening panic attack that nearly forced him to retire from the sport. The incident happened in February 2004 before a Serie A evening fixture between Juventus and Reggina.
The Turin club sat six points behind the league leaders with thirteen matches left to play. The mood around the team was negative despite recent success in the Coppa Italia. Days earlier, Juventus had lost heavily to Roma but had beaten Inter Milan in a penalty shootout to reach the cup final.
Buffon recalls feeling unwell during his pre-match routine on a cold, wet winter evening. The stadium was half-empty, and the music playing over the speakers seemed like distant background noise. After putting on his gloves and standing in goal, the keeper found it difficult to breathe. He felt dizzy and experienced a painful tightness in his chest and stomach.
Goalkeeping coach Ivano Bordon noticed that something was seriously wrong. Buffon initially tried to hide his condition but eventually asked Bordon to prepare reserve goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti because he felt unwell. When Buffon tried to speak, his words came out confused and unclear.
Bordon remained calm and told Buffon he did not have to play. He gave the player ten minutes to walk around the pitch and decide for himself. This simple permission to choose helped release the pressure Buffon felt. He was no longer worried about having to explain why he might miss the game.
The veteran goalkeeper walked alone on the turf for several minutes. He told himself that he only needed to survive ninety minutes and could then quit football forever if necessary. This thought helped him gain control. When he saw Chimenti warming up, he felt a rush of adrenaline that eased his breathing for a short time.
Buffon decided to play. He completed the brief remaining warm-up and returned to the pitch feeling slightly better. The adrenaline helped him perform, and he made several important saves. These included a difficult stop from a free-kick and a remarkable one-handed block against Reggina playmaker Ciccio Cozza when he was clean through on goal. Juventus won the match one-nil.
The following day, Buffon understood he could not continue relying on adrenaline to get through matches. News of the incident had spread, and teammates asked questions he found difficult to answer. He had been struggling with sleep for two months, waking with negative thoughts about disappointing his family and supporters.
He eventually spoke with team doctor Riccardo Agricola. During these conversations, Buffon described feeling stretched out and unable to stand properly. Agricola suggested the problem might be depression. Buffon realised he needed professional help to manage his mental health and continue his career.
If you are struggling with mental health issues, please seek help from local medical professionals or support services available in your area.