At age 39, Alessandro Diamanti has still got it.
The Italian maestro added to his incredible highlight reel on Saturday afternoon, scoring one of the great goals in Isuzu UTE A-League history, lobbing Socceroos goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne from 40 yards out to give Western United a 1-0 win over Sydney FC.
Diamanti’s goal went viral online, particularly on the former Italian international’s own Instagram page – with a number of football and sporting superstars commenting their appreciation for the goal.
Former Azzurri teammate Mario Balotelli, told him he’s ‘still got it’ – with Diamanti cheekily responding to his comment by telling the former AC Milan striker to come join him down-under in the A-Leagues!
Italian internationals Angelo Ogbonna, Antonio Candreva and Alessandro Florenzi, along with 2022 World Cup-winning attacker Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez as well as ex-United teammates Besart Berisha and Scott McDonald also expressing their admiration.
Reactions ranged from “che giocatore meraviglioso” (what a wonderful player, in Italian) from veteran striker Leonardo Pavoletti, to Italian tennis star Fabio Fognini praising his “piedino” (foot).
Greater Western Sydney Giants gun Stephen Coniglio also commented a diamond emoji which translates to Diamanti in Italian.
The goal was so good that Italian legend Christian Vieri, who was also tagged in it by former Azzurri striker Marco Borriello, re-posted his it on his own Instagram page.
It’s fair to say Diamanti’s goal did exactly what his mantra of ‘POI BO’ aims to do – with his strike spreading smiles and positive vibes here and abroad.
