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Take a bow Andrea Pirlo!

Cape Town - Footballers they come and they go but once a generation there is one who stands above all others.Just one. His name is Andrea Pirlo.

Andrea Pirlo is truly a phenomenal football player. He is a giant of the modern game, a player who reinvented the deep lying midfield play-maker role.

From Pele to Garrincha, via Gazza and Maradona and every other footballer in between, Pirlo stands a cut above...

Today is the great man's birthday!

Pirlo is one of a kind - his luscious locks, he smoldering personality and a free kick that can reduce a fan to tears...

Here are just three (of a possible three million) examples that prove Andrea Pirlo is just incredible:

1. THAT Panenka Penalty - watch from 4.30 to see how Pirlo rolls. Nothing more to say.

2. He is so much man.

Rumours circulated before the SWC 2014 group game against England that Pirlo trained alone. In a wine farm. We don't believe it, or do we?

The man's name is Andrea, he has perfect hair and still is THE most respected player in the Italian team. A true gem...

3. He has a way with words. And freekicks. And probably women too.

Okay definitely women too.

"Take someone like (Parma striker) Antonio Cassano. He says he’s slept with 700 women but he doesn’t get picked for Italy any more. Can he really be happy?” - Andrea Pirlo on Antonio Cassano

Read Project Babb's Ode to Pirlo HERE!

Follow Sport24's Wade Pretorius on Twitter: @wadepretorius

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