World Cup 1990: Thomas N'Kono changes the destiny of a boy named Buffon
Thomas N'Kono shone at the 1990 World Cup, so much so that 12-year-old Buffon decided to become a goalkeeper
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We all have a guardian angel, and Gianluigi Buffon's is Thomas N'Kono. The Cameroonian goalkeeper, outstanding at the 1990 World Cup, gained a following and inspired several youngsters, among them the former Juventus keeper. At the time, he was only 12 and played in midfield. But his life was about to change completely that summer. Watching the Cameroonian's heroics opened his eyes. He no longer wanted to play in midfield. From then on, he would be a goalkeeper.
"I was hypnotised by Thomas Nkono. What he did for Cameroon during the 1990 World Cup made me want to become a goalkeeper myself", Bufffon said a few months ago to Canal plus Sport.
Thomas N'Kono, the ultimate tribute
Five years after that "epiphany", Gianluigi Buffon made his Serie A debut with Parma, aged just 17. A career followed that is still going today. Yes, the Italian keeper is still playing, at Parma, the club where he started out. The Italian is also considered one of the best goalkeepers in football history. He can therefore say thank you to Thomas N'Kono.
But the story between the two men did not end there. In 1999, Thomas N'kono decided to organise a testimonial after his retirement. He invited Buffon, who flew to Cameroon to play in a match alongside other Indomitable Lions legends. The fan-idol bond grew stronger, to the point where the Italian keeper named one of his sons in tribute to his idol. Moved by the gesture, N'Kono even says his greatest achievement was persuading that young boy to change position.
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A fantastic run in Italy
At the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Cameroon were not among the favourites. Yet they defied expectations one by one. First, in the opening match, the Indomitable Lions claimed the scalp of Diego Maradona's Argentina, the reigning world champions, thanks to a legendary header from Omam-Biyik. N'Kono's team-mates then beat Romania 2-1 before losing 0-4 to the USSR. But the essential point lay elsewhere. Cameroon became the first African nation to win a World Cup group and reached the round of 16.
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They then went from strength to strength, beating Colombia 2-1 with a brace from veteran Lion Roger Milla (38). Another page of history: Cameroon became the first African country to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. They went on to lose to England 3-2. Yet it is doubtful that defeat tarnishes the run. Thomas N'Kono's side pulled off a remarkable heist, and the keeper has a story to tell his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It just goes to show that football is more than a sport: it is lives intertwining to create others.