Legendary goalkeeper Buffon retires from football

By Robert Mutasi 

The legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has retired from football after 28 years of his football life.

The 45-year-old player had previously said that he intended to continue playing until the 2026 World Cup and was fully intending to finish his contract at Parma, which ends in June 2024.

However, a series of injuries over the past year have led the goalkeeper to reconsider his future before announcing the news on Wednesday.

He used social media to post a video of some of the most important moments in his career, along with the quote: 'That's it, folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together.'

Buffon is now expected to be given the role of Head of Delegates for the Italian national team, which was previously held by former Chelsea striker, Gianluca Vialli.

Buffon rejoined Parma in 2021 after starting his career in the academy before moving to Juventus. He had returned with hopes of bringing Parma back to the main Italian league but was unable to do so in his final two seasons with the Serie B team.

Buffon played 45 matches in all competitions during his second stint with Parma but struggled with injuries last season. He only played 19 times in the 2022-23 campaigns as he was sidelined with thigh muscle and calf problems.

Throughout his remarkable career, Buffon won 10 Serie A titles, six Italian Supercups, six Coppa Italia, and the World Cup in 2006.

Widely considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time, he ended his career where he started, Parma.

Buffon joined Juve from Parma in 2001 and spent most of his playing time with the club, except for one season with PSG in 2018-19, before returning to Turin and then Parma in June 2021. He represented Italy 176 times.

Buffon started his career in Parma's youth system in 1991 at the age of 13, originally playing in midfield before taking on the goalkeeper position due to his height and physical attributes. He started his first Serie A match with Parma in a goalless draw against Milan in November 1995 at the age of 17.

Buffon played a record 657 times in the Italian top league and is the all-time most capped male goalkeeper. He retired from international football in 2018 after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.