It is rare for global footballing icons to visit Nepal. There have only been a few instances when the legends of the game have graced the mountainous country. The English phenom David Beckham arrived in 2015 for a documentary project and played the beautiful game with local wannabes in Bhaktapur.

The Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda was in Kathmandu in August last year for a game representing Bhutan’s Paro FC. Honda made headlines by calling the Bhadrakali ground ‘a joke’, complaining about the suboptimal training facilities provided to him.

When the Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon, widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers to play the game, arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday, he too touched upon the country’s lack of proper infrastructure.

“I want to see Nepal play in the Asia Cup and the World Cup,” Buffon said amid a continuous shout of ‘Gigi’ by a group of Italy fans in Nepal. “You need to invest in infrastructure, such as stadiums, to push the guys to play football. This is too important. You need to dream big and walk to achieve it. Forca Nepal!”

Buffon, a key member of Italy’s World Cup-winning squad in 2006, is in Nepal with his wife, as the chief guest for the final game of the 3rd KP Oli Cup.

“It was a result of regular effort and communication that we could bring the legend, Buffon, to Nepal,” said Kshitij Thebe, chairperson of the Nepal Youth Federation, organisers of the football tournament. “We are happy to have him here.”

Machhindra FC, winner of the past two editions of the KP Oli Cup, will play against Tribhuvan Army FC to defend their title at Dasharath Rangasala in Kathmandu on Monday.

Buffon, who spoke to journalists at a function organised upon his arrival, said that he was excited to watch the game.

“I am very delighted and thrilled to be in Nepal,” he said. “This is a mystical country and I believe my wife and I will have a great time. I already want to come back here in the future.”

Starting out at Parma, now a Serie B club, in 1995, Buffon, 47, hung up his gloves with a cabinet full of trophies in 2023, when he was playing for the same club he started with, bringing his illustrious career a full circle. During his heyday, he played mostly for Juventus and a year for PSG. Debuting for the national team in 1997, he retired from the national team in 2018 after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup.

“I always loved my job,” said Buffon when asked about his long and consistent career. “My work was very hard because every day, I had to fight to be excellent and improve myself. It is not easy to fight with yourself every day.”

When quizzed who between Messi and Ronaldo would be his pick as a better player, Buffon offered a rather diplomatic reply. “It is not fair to say Messi or Ronaldo or Maradona or Pele,” he said. “I think they all are fantastic players who have a great history in football.”

Buffon was in for a surprise when Hari Napit, a Nepali fan, spoke to him in Italian. “I have been an Italy fan since 1996,” Napit said. “I have been following you [Buffon] for many years. It was my dream to see you and I am happy it got fulfilled.”

In turn, Buffon, too, said it was a dream come true for him to be in Nepal.

Buffon is said to be in Nepal for a couple of days with plans of visiting the mountains, temples, and other attractions.

“Many years ago, I looked at the world map and found Nepal has a unique flag,” he said. “Since then, I have wanted to visit this country. It is a dream come true for me to be here.”