Pirlo led Milan in minutes played for the 2006 – 07 season with 2,782 across 52 appearances , as he went on to win his second UEFA Champions League title with Milan , also helping his team to a fourth-place finish in Serie A , and another Coppa Italia semi-final . In the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Manchester United , Pirlo set up Seedorf 's goal , as Milan progressed on to the final . In the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final in Athens , Pirlo assisted Inzaghi 's first goal from a free kick , helping Milan to defeat Liverpool 2 – 1 , avenging their 2005 final defeat in Istanbul . During the 2007 – 08 season , Pirlo won his second UEFA Super Cup with Milan , assisting Milan 's second goal in the final , and winning the '' Man of the Match '' award ; he also contributed to the club 's first ever FIFA Club World Cup title in 2007 , once again setting-up Milan 's second goal in the final . In October 2007 , he was nominated for the 2007 Ballon d'Or , the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year , and the 2007 International Federation of Football History & Statistics ( IFFHS ) World 's Best Playmaker Awards , but they were all won by Milan teammate Kaká , as Pirlo placed 5th in the Ballon d'or , 7th in the FIFA World Player of the Year , and 2nd in the World 's Best Playmaker Awards . Despite a strong start , Milan suffered a dip in form during the second half of the season , finishing the league in fifth place , failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League ; Milan also suffered eliminations in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League and the Coppa Italia that season . The following season , Milan managed a second-place finish in Serie A , alongside Juventus , and behind local rivals Inter , whilst they were eliminated in the round of 32 of the UEFA Cup , and the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia
2007 Ballon d'Or
2007 Ballon d'Or
Andrea Pirlo