TURIN, Italy: Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, a football icon renowned for his outstanding career with both club and country, has announced his retirement from football.
The 45-year-old football legend, who had an amazing 28-year journey, bid farewell to the game that made him famous.
Buffon’s career was incredible. He won the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Italy and got ten Serie A titles with Juventus. He also won a Ligue 1 title while playing for Paris Saint-Germain. He played an unbelievable 176 times for Italy, the most for any goalkeeper ever.
In a heartfelt statement, Buffon thanked his supporters saying, “That’s all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together.”
Buffon’s career came full circle as he concluded it where it all began, at Parma, the club where he started in 1991 as a 13-year-old. He spent most of his career at Juventus, but he had a short time at PSG in 2018-2019. Then, in June 2021, he returned to Parma.
Throughout his career, Buffon’s exceptional skills and dedication earned him respect from other players. Kylian Mbappe, his teammate at PSG, praised him as a “man of gold” and thanked him for his invaluable advice.
Buffon, who stands at a commanding 1.92 meters tall, accumulated an excellent record of 657 Serie A appearances, winning the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award in 2003. He received recognition for his achievements in Italian football by repeatedly being awarded Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year.
Buffon retired from international football in 2018 after Italy didn’t qualify for the FIFA World Cup. But his impact on Italian football and the sport as a whole will always be remembered.
Football fans and players all showed their admiration and gratitude for Buffon’s extraordinary career. Serie A praised him as “unique” and “one of the world’s most celebrated players.”
Buffon’s legacy goes beyond his achievements; he inspired many goalkeepers and footballers worldwide.
