Gianluigi Donnarumma's meteoric rise has continued with the Italy goalkeeper scooping the coveted Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2020.
The 22-year-old showed just why he is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world as he steered the Azzurri to victory over England on Sunday night, while he was sensational throughout the tournament as a whole
Donnarumma denied Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka as Italy triumphed in the shootout having been largely untroubled throughout the match, with the exception of Luke Shaw's early strike.
Remarkably, the shot-stopper featured more than any other player at Euro 2020 with 729 minutes played.
He started each of Italy's games and played every minute bar the closing seconds of the group-stage victory over Wales, when manager Roberto Mancini handed Salvatore Sirigu a late cameo.
Italy cruised through Group A with a 100 per cent record and without conceding a goal, kicking off the tournament in style with a 3-0 victory over Turkey at Stadio Olimpico.
A 3-0 win over Switzerland and a 1-0 victory over Wales followed, and it was not until extra-time in the last-16 clash with Austria that Donnarumma conceded for the first time.
Italy went on to concede one goal in each of their subsequent games, with an impressive performance against Belgium advancing them to the semi-finals.
Donnarumma was once again central to Italy's hopes, saving Alvaro Morata's penalty as the Azzurri knocked out their bitter rival to reach the final. He also played a key role in the build-up to Federico Chiesa's goal with his quick thinking to launch an attack.
The AC Milan academy graduate is currently a free agent after his contract at San Siro expired last month.
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He has already racked up an astonishing 251 appearances at club level and is expected to join Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal now Euro 2020 has finished.
Donnarumma's performances at the tournament drew praise from former Inter Milan and Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga, who highlighted the youngster's vast achievements at his tender age.
"This Italy have five leaders: the two charismatics, [Leo] Bonucci and [Giorgio] Chiellini, the tactical one who is Jorginho and the fictional one, [Lorenzo] Insigne," Zenga told La Gazzetta dello Sport .
"And then the calm leader, Gigio (Donnarumma), because he gives everyone security. He is the one who gave the feeling of greater reliability.
"Compared to me, who made my debut in Serie A at 23, he has a great advantage. He is 22 years old, he already has more than 200 games with Milan, he has played the cups, he is playing a European Championship as a starter and he is about to play with PSG."
