Italian soccer legend Gianluigi Buffon has officially announced his retirement from professional soccer at the age of 45. Despite receiving interest from multiple Saudi clubs and having his contract with Parma expiring in the summer of 2024, Buffon has chosen to step away from the game.
He conveyed his decision through his social media channels, saying, “That’s all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together.”
Buffon began his career at Parma, where he displayed immense talent and won several prestigious titles, including one Coppa Italia, one Supercup, and one UEFA Cup. In 2001, he transferred to Juventus for a record fee of €53 million, becoming the highest-paid player in the club’s history until Gonzalo Higuain’s signing in 2016 for €90 million from Napoli.
During his time with Juventus, Buffon achieved legendary status in the sport, winning ten Serie A titles, five Coppa Italia, six Supercups, and one Serie B title. He notably remained loyal to Juventus even during the Calciopoli scandal in 2006, a controversial period for the club.
In 2018, Buffon briefly played for Paris Saint-Germain, winning both Ligue 1 and the French Supercup in his single season there. However, he returned to Juventus for two more years before joining Parma in 2021, where he decided to end his illustrious career.
Buffon’s career is adorned with numerous records, including the player with the most Serie A appearances (657), the player with the most games played for his clubs (975), and the player with the most Serie A titles (10).
He was also a runner-up for the 2006 Ballon d’Or, the same year he won the World Cup with the Italian National Team. Buffon is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, having played 176 matches for the Azzurri, setting a record for the most appearances for the Italian National Team.