Leader, Visionary, Legend...



"Form is temporary, class is permanent", its an old saying, and Andrea Pirlo is a living embodiment of it. At 33 years of age, was deemed too old to contribute to the squad by former club AC Milan at the end of the 2010-11 season, and was released. Snapped up by a gleeful Juventus, Pirlo proceeded to lead the struggling squad to an unprecedented league winning run, where they went unbeaten in all their 38 league games. Andrea Pirlo, playing 37 of them. Such is his power. In a world, ruled by the awe inspiring flair of the Messi's and the Ronaldo's, Andrea Pirlo's quiet genius, has probably gone under-appreciated. Possibly, THE best deep lying playmaker of his generation, that included stalwarts of the game like Partick Vieira, Pep Gaurdiola, Paul Scholes. Andrea Pirlo, with his quiet determination, and oodles of creativity, has gone about his job in the most professional and graceful manner over the years, inspiring a whole new generation of footballers. And even today, at this prime age, when most of his peers are moving over to the highly lucrative pastures of America and oil sponsored Chinese and Russian clubs for a last gasp before retirement, this man continues to lead a tainted nation to its glory years of old. An inspiring role for the team in this years Euro Championship, ending in heartbreak in the hands of the much superior Spanish side, Pirlo has once again, grabbed eyeballs, reminding the world that there is more to football than just Messi and Ronaldo. And as always, he has done it in his own style, that was once, very aptly put by Marcello Lippi, "Pirlo is a silent leader. He speaks with his feet."

Perhaps this was the last time we saw him don the national jersey, perhaps there there will be more to come from him, but whatever he does, we can only stop and gaze at the brilliance of it. Its very easy scoring 50 goals in a team where you are surrounded by stars against much inferior opposition, it is infinitely more challenging to drag a team, burdened under a cloud of allegations and negativity and lead it to dizzying heights of success, almost single-handedly. If there was ever a time to honour one of the greatest's of the game, for his dedication and passion, for his genius and his hard work, this is it. Andrea Pirlo for the Ballon d'Or please. No player deserves it more.

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