Levi Rothermund
Louis Buffon: Gianluigi’s Son Shines for Czech Republic with Two Hat-Tricks
Louis Buffon, son of Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon, is making waves in his own right. The 17-year-old has scored two hat-tricks for the Czech Republic U19 team, showcasing his talent and potential.
Born in Torino, Buffon chose to represent the Czech Republic at the youth level due to his mother’s heritage and the increased opportunities it offered. His father, Gianluigi Buffon, Italy’s record appearance holder, supported his decision.
“My mother was of course very happy, but my father was also excited because it was my first nomination for the national team. He also advised me to do so because that’s where I can develop myself best as a player.”
Buffon’s recent performances have been remarkable. He scored a hat-trick against Azerbaijan and provided an assist before netting another hat-trick against Northern Ireland. He is currently the joint-top scorer in the U19 European Championship qualifiers and has also captained the Czech youth team.
Despite his father’s illustrious career with Italy, Buffon’s decision to play for the Czech Republic has proven beneficial. He even played against Italy U19 in a 2-1 defeat in September.
Aniello Luciano, an Italian football expert at Transfermarkt, praised Buffon’s talent. “Despite being the son of one of Italy’s most famous footballers, Buffon junior remains relatively unknown even after his professional debut in the cup and in Serie A with Pisa,” Luciano said. “He’s very talented, he is a striker capable of attacking depth, both centrally and on the wing, but also of building the game, almost as a number 10. Buffon is very agile, but also strong and he’s glacial in front of goal.”
Buffon’s future remains an open question. While he has thrived with the Czech Republic, his potential could see him reconsider his international allegiance. “It is not a definitive choice because the FIFA regulations still allow him to change his allegiance,” Luciano added. “Much will depend on his development and whether Italy will take him into consideration in the future, if he fulfils his potential.”