Pierluigi Collina in his prime: The world's greatest referee's legacy

Pierluigi Collina is a name that has become synonymous with uncompromising refereeing and absolute authority on the football pitch. During his prime, which spanned the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Italian referee was named the world's best referee five times in a row by the IFFHS. His iconic bald head and piercing stare struck fear into the hearts of even the most famous footballers, including Zinedine Zidane and Roy Keane. Collina officiated the 2002 World Cup final between Brazil and Germany, which Brazil won 2-0. He also took charge of the 1999 Champions League final, where Manchester United completed their historic comeback against Bayern Munich. His decision to award a penalty in the Euro 2000 final between France and Italy for a handball by Alessandro Nesta is still debated today, but Collina was always known for his courage and independence. After retiring in 2005, he became the head of the referees' committee for FIFA and UEFA, continuing to influence the development of football rules. In 2011 he was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the United States. After retiring from active refereeing, Collina became a financial consultant and also worked as a technical consultant for a major bank. Collina is often referred to as a living legend and continues to be a respected figure in world football.