“Incredible”: Donnarumma at the summit at 22

“That's unbelievable, I don't even know if it's really true,” enthused the 22-year-old, who once again became a hero with two saved shots in Italy's dramatic 3-2 penalty shoot-out win in the European Championship final against England became the match winner.

After the wild cabin party, he posed on social media smiling happily with the silver European Championship trophy. “Proud to have given all the Italians a smile and to have experienced many magical nights together with our extraordinary fans,” wrote the keeper, who was the first goalkeeper to be voted player of the tournament and, at just 22 years old, has already celebrated one of the greatest possible successes in football has. “We have been exceptional, we are super happy. “It’s an incredible thing,” he enthused. Mancini enthuses Donnarumma only conceded four goals in the entire tournament; against England, as before in the semi-final against Spain, he was a hero with saved shots. “I was sure he would save a penalty. He is the best goalkeeper in the world," praised Mancini, while the "Gazzetta dello Sport" named him the "penalty magician": "In the penalty shootout he is once again the invincible goalkeeper." “This is just the beginning for me” Gianluigi Donnarumma The European Championship title is said to have been only the first peak of his career for the 1,96 meter tall goalkeeper. “I still have to improve, this is just the beginning for me,” said Donnarumma, who is about to move to Paris Saint-Germain after the end of his contract with AC Milan and will be Italy's new football generation at the next big tournaments want to lead. The Italian media already sees him as a candidate for election as world footballer. “Put his signature on the European Championship title and present himself as a wall. Heroic,” enthused Tuttosport the day after the triumph. Buffon as a role model Donnarumma follows in the tradition of great Italian goalkeepers such as Dino Zoff and Gianluigi Buffon. The 33-time national player still doesn't see himself on the same level as his childhood idols, even if they do Journal of Sport already wrote: “Zoff, Buffon and...Donnarumma.” In any case, the current Squadra Azzurra grabbed the record of 1169 minutes without conceding a goal at this tournament, Zoff's old record was surpassed. Gianluigi Donnarumma was able to celebrate after winning the European Championship. © APA/afp / LAURENCE GRIFFITHS

“Gigione is the strongest of all, he is number one,” said Donnarumma cautiously when asked about his role model Buffon. At the same time, he also added: “Let’s see how far I can make it.” Title predecessor Buffon already sent congratulations on social media: “What an extraordinary team!”

The now 43-year-old Italian record national player was also the one who accompanied Donnarumma in the early days of his career - at least as a role model on posters on the wall of the children's room. At the age of 13, Donnarumma left his home town of Castellammare di Stabia near Naples, and a year later he signed his first professional contract with AC Milan. This was followed by his debut in Serie A at the age of 16 and the first game in the national jersey at the age of 17. Five years later he has now reached his goal - at least on the first of his young career.

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“Incredible”: Donnarumma at the summit at 22

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