Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon bursts into tears as 30,000 people gather to pay their respects at the funeral of the nation’s greatest goalscorer Gigi Riva following his death at the age of 79

Gianluigi Buffon could not hold back the tears as he attended Italian icon Gigi Riva’s funeral on Wednesday.

Riva passed away at the age of 79 on Monday, and 30,000 people gathered in Cagliari to pay their respects to the popular former striker just two days later.

Fans held up scarves and waved flags to honour Riva on an emotional occasion. 

Italy’s most-capped player Buffon, 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 finished his playing career at the Italian club, were in attendance.

Buffon was one of the pallbearers at the funeral after Riva passed away 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 the current Cagliari squad also went to the funeral to celebrate the life of a club and national hero. 

Riva spent 13 years at Cagliari between 1963 and 1976, leading the side to their only Serie A title in 1969-70.

The club retired his No11 shirt in 2005 – the first time this had been done in their history. 

He was presented with the shirt by Rocco Sabato, the last holder of the jersey, at an official ceremony at Cagliari’s home ground, Stadio Sant’Elia.

Despite last playing for Italy back in 1974, he remains his nation’s greatest goalscorer after scoring 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 (pictured), 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 1968 European Championship and then lost the 1970 World Cup final to a Pele-inspired Brazil in 1970.

The late 1960s and early 1970s saw Riva at his peak, as he finished as the Serie A 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 setup after his retirement, working as a 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 going on to finish first and second in the Ballon d’Or, respectively, that year.