Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics have taken Italy to the Round of 16 of the ongoing UEFA Euro 2024 as the Italians search to become the second team in history to win consecutive European Championships. 

The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper made one save in his team’s 1-0 win against Albania, seven in the 1-0 loss to Spain, and 3 in the 1-1 draw versus Croatia on Monday night.

The three saves he made against the 2018 FIFA World Cup finalists included 5th-minute denial of Luka Sucic who struck a fierce left-footed shot from outside the box and a 54th-minute penalty stop against Luka Modric, even though the Real Madrid midfielder succeeded in scoring against Donnarumma a minute later following a rebound.

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In the end, Italy equalized as the match finished 1-1 and the tournament’s defending champions advance to the knockout stage alongside Spain.

Modric’s goal did not really matter but Donnarumma’s 54th-minute penalty save against one of the best midfielders of all-time and the five-time Champions League winner will rank as one of the best goalkeeping highlights of not only the 2024 Euro, but of the entire European football championship history.

It is true that the tournament has been lighted up by the brilliant displays of certain players such as Jamal Musiala for Germany, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams for Spain, but Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goalkeeping performance for Italy is hard not to rank first.

The former AC Milan custodian was voted best player of the last edition of the European Championship in 2020 and if Italy are able to reach the deeper stages of the 2024 Euro, he stands a big chance of picking the award for the second time.