Gianluigi Buffon, the former Italy goalkeeper and World Cup winner, bids farewell to football after an extraordinary 28-year journey that has left an indelible mark on the sport.
In an emotional social media post, Buffon expressed gratitude to the game, announcing his retirement with the words, “That’s all folks. You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together.”
Buffon’s illustrious career boasts remarkable achievements, including leading Italy to a triumphant victory in the 2006 World Cup and securing an impressive 10 Serie A titles with Juventus, along with a Ligue 1 triumph with Paris St-Germain.
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Notably, Buffon returned to his football roots at Parma, where it all began for him in 1995, even after their relegation to Serie B.
Despite facing injury challenges in his final season, Buffon’s unwavering dedication to the sport remained unmatched. With a record 657 appearances in the Italian top flight, he solidified his position as the most-capped goalkeeper of all time, having represented Italy 176 times.
His decision to retire from international football came in the aftermath of Italy’s unfortunate failure to qualify for the World Cup in 2018.
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The football world paid heartfelt tributes to the legendary goalkeeper, with the Italian national team, Juventus, Serie A, and Parma all acknowledging his invaluable contributions, exceptional leadership, and countless remarkable saves.
