Gianluigi Donnarumma
A goalkeeping prodigy who became a national hero by saving the decisive penalties to win Italy the European Championship.
Born 1999 (age 27)·Italian footballer·Birthday: February 25·Generation Z
Biography
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s story is one of precocious talent meeting immense pressure. At just 16, he was thrust into the starting role for AC Milan, his towering frame and unnerving calm belying his age. For years, he was the last line of defense for a storied club in transition, his saves often the difference between points gained and lost. His career-defining moment arrived not in club colors, but for his country. During Italy's triumphant Euro 2020 campaign, his penalty-saving prowess, particularly in the final against England, cemented his status as a national icon. This high-stakes success paved the way for a high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain, where he continues to guard the net with the same formidable presence that has made him a cornerstone for both club and country.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Gianluigi was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gianluigi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Gianluigi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the UEFA European Championship in 2021, earning Player of the Tournament honors.
- Became AC Milan's youngest-ever starting goalkeeper in Serie A at 16 years and 242 days.
- Received the Yashin Trophy in 2021, awarded to the world's best goalkeeper.
- Captained the Italy national team, leading them to qualify for the 2024 UEFA European Championship.
Did You Know?
His agent is Mino Raiola, who also represented stars like Zlatan Ibrahimović and Paul Pogba.
He stands 6 feet 5 inches tall (196 cm).
He made his Serie A debut in October 2015, saving a penalty in a 2-1 win.
His older brother, Antonio Donnarumma, is also a professional goalkeeper who has been his teammate at both AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
“I have always liked challenges, and the bigger they are, the more I like them.”
