Digimagaz.com – In a heartfelt decision that marks the end of an illustrious 28-year career, Gianluigi Buffon, the legendary former goalkeeper of Juventus and Italy, is set to announce his retirement from professional football. The 45-year-old icon had been playing for his boyhood club Parma in Serie B for the last two seasons, making 43 appearances.
Originally starting his journey in football at Parma in 1995, Buffon quickly made a name for himself, appearing 220 times for the club. He then moved to Juventus for a world-record fee for a goalkeeper, beginning a remarkable 17-year tenure with the club. Buffon’s time at Juventus was filled with unparalleled success, as he claimed nine Serie A titles, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty to the club even during the tumultuous Calciopoli scandal in the mid-2000s.
After his successful stint with Juventus, Buffon joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, where he enjoyed a fruitful season, securing the Ligue 1 title. Following that, the veteran goalkeeper made an emotional return to Juventus in 2019, although this time in a primarily backup role. He featured in 29 appearances across two years before ultimately returning to his beloved Parma.
Buffon leaves an indelible mark on Juventus, concluding his time with a remarkable 685 appearances, a feat surpassed only by Alessandro Del Piero. The seasoned shot-stopper also holds several prestigious records, including the most appearances in Serie A with 648 matches, the longest time in Serie A without conceding, an astonishing 974 minutes, and the most league titles in Serie A era since 1927.
Beyond his club achievements, Buffon’s international career was equally outstanding. Representing the Italian national team from 1997 to 2018, he earned 176 caps, becoming the record appearance-maker for his country. His crowning glory came in 2006 when he was an integral part of the Italian squad that secured victory in the FIFA World Cup.
Buffon’s retirement decision comes despite having signed a contract extension with Parma in February 2022, which would have extended his stay until the following summer. However, after careful consideration, the revered goalkeeper has chosen to hang up his gloves and bid farewell to professional football.
As the footballing world prepares to bid farewell to one of its true greats, Gianluigi Buffon’s legacy will undoubtedly be remembered for generations to come. His unrivaled skill, loyalty, and achievements both at the club and international levels have etched his name into footballing history, forever leaving an enduring impact on the sport he loved so dearly.
