Gianluigi Buffon retires at 45

Former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has announced an end to his long but envious career as a goalkeeper.

The 45-year-old retires after enjoying a storied career with the four-time World Cup champions as well as top clubs including Juventus and Paris St-Germain.

With Italy, Buffon played a pivotal role in helping them clinch the 2006 World Cup title which was hosted in Germany.

“That’s all folks. You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together,” he wrote on social media.

That's all folks!
You gave me everything.
I gave you everything.
We did it together. pic.twitter.com/bGvIDsoFsG

— Gianluigi Buffon (@gianluigibuffon) August 2, 2023

He started his career at the Parma Academy and made his Serie A debut for the team in November 1995. at 2001, he signed for Juventus in a £32.6 million transfer, which was a then-world record for a goalkeeper.

At Parma Buffon won the Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA Cup all in 1999.

He won 10 Serie A titles and five Coppa Italia trophies with Juventus while adding six Supercoppa wins.

Buffon also featured for French Ligue 1 side Paris St-Germain where he won the league title and the Trophée des Champions 2018.

The Italian legend has also achieved an endless list of individual accolades including the most capped goalkeeper of all time with 176 appearances for Azzurre while boasting as the player with the most appearances in the Italian top flight playing 657 times.