3 players who have lost in 3 UEFA Champions League finals

#3 Gianluigi Buffon

Buffon, the legendary goalkeeper of Juventus, remains one of the greatest footballers never to win a Champions League medal. He was signed by Juve from Parma in 2001, and played there for 16 seasons, as he made 656 appearances for Juve.

However, he could not win the Champions League for them even after playing in the final on 3 occasions.

Juve met Milan in the final of the 2002-03 season after a memorable semifinal win against Real Madrid. Buffon was brilliant in the away match against a brilliant Real side, and kept Juve in the tie via a wonderful display.

However, Milan beat Juve on penalties at the final in Manchester. Buffon again got his chance 12 years later as Juve met Barcelona at the final in Berlin. However, a great Barca team consisting of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta beat them 3-1 in an entertaining finale.

Juve were again unlucky to come up against a dominant Real Madrid side inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos in the 2016-17 season, losing 1-4 in the final.

The likes of Ronaldo, Isco, and Karim Benzema wreaked havoc on the strong Juve defence, and Buffon’s dream remained unfulfilled.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.