Gianluigi Donnarumma said it was an "indescribable emotion" after he became the youngest goalkeeper to debut for Italy.
Donnarumma, 17, played the second half of the Azzurri's 3-1 friendly defeat to France in Bari on Thursday night.
And the AC Milan keeper replaced current Italy No. 1 Gianluigi Buffon in a symbolic half-time switch that many believe will become permanent once the Juventus player retires after the 2018 World Cup.
"It's stupendous, an indescribable emotion -- I'm extremely emotional," Donnarumma told RAI television. "I thank coach [Giampiero] Ventura for giving me this opportunity."
While Donnarumma became the youngest ever goalkeeper to pull on an Italy shirt, his debut came a little bit later than that of Paolo Maldini, who played his first game for Italy at the age of 16 years and almost seven months, and Gianluca Pacchiarotti, who is the nation's youngest debutant at 16 years, six months and 10 days.
By appearing on Thursday, Donnarumma became the youngest goalkeeper to have played for Italy, beating the record set by the then 18-and-a-half-year-old Piero Campelli in June 2012.
He was given encouragement by Buffon, who told him to "relax and enjoy [himself]," and France midfielder Paul Pogba, who gave him a hug as the teams took to the field at the start of the second half.
"Pogba complimented me and said he was pleased to see me here, and I returned the compliment," said Donnarumma, who did not want to take responsibility for the Layvin Kurzawa goal he conceded at his near post.
"Well I don't know," he said. "We'll see it together with the coach tomorrow."