New Delhi: Gianluigi Buffon, the superman of football has finally hung up his cape as he announced his retirement from professional football on Tuesday. The 45-year-old Italian international, regarded as the greatest goalkeeper who ever played the game, curtain down on his 23-year long career.
The former Italy international, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain missed promotion to Serie A last season and were due to remain at Parma until 2024. However, it was revealed that Number One had parted ways with his boyhood club a season ago.
Fans hail Buffon as greatest goalkeeper of generation
Buffon’s retirement did not come as a complete surprise to many fans, but supporters from all over the world flocked to pay tribute to the 2006 World Champion, and one of the greatest goal saver of the generation. Widely recognized as a keeper, he also gained attention on social media. Praises abound for one of the sport’s most enduring professionals.
BREAKING: legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has decided to retire from professional football — it will be official in the next days ⭐️🇮🇹
---Advertisement---Buffon, 45 years old, was playing for Parma last season.
One of the best goalkeepers in history of the game will now retire. pic.twitter.com/j5KpHYd6dU
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 1, 2023
Gianluigi Buffon appearances
With 176 caps for the national team between 1997 and 2018, a move to the Azzurri side makes sense given Italy’s all-time cap count. The closest active player is veteran defender Leonardo Bonucci at 121, while fellow retired Fabio Cannavaro is 136 and the closest to that mark is 36.
Buffon also holds the record for the most appearances by a player in Serie A (657), the record for the most titles won (10) and is the oldest player to win the Scudetto for Juventus in 2020 at the age of 42.
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Gianluigi Buffon records
Ranked 52nd in the UEFA Champions League in Barcelona in December 2020, behind only Iker Casillas (57).
Buffon’s 167 UEFA club caps finished W87 D42 L38; he kept a clean 68 pages.
Ended 17 years at Juve when he moved to Paris on a one-year deal in 2018. Won the Ligue 1 title in his only season in France.
He won the title in his final season and became the first player to win nine Scudettos. His first tenure at the club ended in 2018 with 640 Serie A appearances, seven fewer than Paolo Maldini’s record of 647.
