According to a traditional Chinese saying, even the longest feast must break up at last. So no matter how great of a player you are, perhaps even as great as Paolo Maldini, the day for you to say goodbye will arrive sooner or later.

Maldini needs no individual award to prove his greatness. But maybe FIFA or UEFA should invent a lifetime contribution award in his honor.

Last Sunday, the San Siro stadium witnessed Milan's home defeat by Roma. Nevertheless, few cared much about the result, as it was Rossoneri Team Captain Paolo Maldini's last home appearance.

It was an emotional scene when Maldini took a lap of honor around the San Siro stadium at the game's end. The Rossoneri fans waved Maldini scarves and Roma players even came back on the field, wearing T-shirts with the words “Thank you, Maldini" written on them.

Finally, the captain embraced every teammate and every member of the club, some of whom were shedding tears.

A great legend is coming to the end. Maybe it's time to review Maldini's illustrious career to see what kind of a player we are going to miss.

On January 20, 1985, a tall, chiseled, 16-year-old left back made his debut for Milan when he came on as a half-time substitute for the injured Sergio Battistini in a game against Udinese. It was his only league appearance of the year, but he was in the starting lineup the following season.

Since that game, Maldini has left a series of unbelievable and untouchable records. Holding a record of 901 official appearances for the Rossoneri, he is the most capped player for the Italian national team, with 126 caps.

Maldini has participated in eight UEFA Champions League finals and raised the trophy five times during the course of his career, more than any other active player.

In addition to these records, Maldini is well-known for his loyalty and great character, which have made him the symbol of Milan. He spent his entire club career at Milan, very rare for players at his level. His modest personality and leadership influence have earned him great respect, both on and off the field.

"There are great players and there are world-class players. Then there are those who manage to go beyond that term. Paolo is the perfect example. He is the symbol of Milan," Juventus and Italy striker Alessandro Del Piero said of Maldini.

You can truly judge Maldini's greatness by the testament of those who performed alongside him. Del Piero's testimony makes Maldini one of the greatest players to ever put on a pair of cleats.

Maldini has achieved all a player could ever get at club level. Compared to his outstanding success in this division, his international career is not so glamorous, yet still commendable. He participated in four world cups from 1990 to 2002, and four European Cups from Euro 1988 to Euro 2000. After Italy was eliminated in the 2002 World Cup Round of Sixteen, Maldini retired as Italy's most capped player, although still trophy-less from an international competition. He spent more than half of the sixteen years he played internationally as a team captain, and wore the armband a record of seventy-four times.

One of the best defenders to have ever played the game…captain of the greatest club over the last 20 years…holder of seven Serie A trophies and five UEFA Champions League titles…yet the Rossoneri captain has never won the FIFA World Player of the Year award or the European Footballer of the Year award, the Ballon d'Or.

Hristo Stoichkov was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 1994. That year, Maldini, whose Milan side thrashed Stoichkov's Barcelona team during the European Cup final, only ended up in third place for this award.

Ridiculous? Yes, but that's the nature of today's game. The goal scorers are always more eye-catching than the defenders. Defenders have always been overlooked when it comes to handing out this 54-year-old prize.

Maldini needs no individual award to prove his greatness. But maybe FIFA or UEFA should invent a lifetime contribution award in his honor.

(China.org.cn by Xiang Bin, May 31, 2009)