Gianluigi Buffon

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Buffon made his Serie A debut at Parma in 1995, helping Parma win the Coppa Italia, the UEFA Cup and the Supercoppa Italiana in 1999. After joining Juventus in 2001 for a world record fee for a goalkeeper of €52.9 million, he won Serie A titles in both his first two seasons. In his first spell at Juventus spanning 17 years, he won a record nine Serie A titles, four Coppa Italias, and five Supercoppa Italianas. He was the first goalkeeper to win the Serie A Footballer of the Year award, and was named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year a record twelve times. After reaching the 2015 and 2017 UEFA Champions League finals, Buffon was named to the Champions League Squad of the Season on both occasions, and won the inaugural The Best FIFA Goalkeeper award in 2017. He signed with French club Paris Saint-Germain at age 40 in 2018, winning the Trophée des Champions and Ligue 1 title in his only season. He returned to Juventus the following year, breaking Paolo Maldini's record of 647 appearances in Serie A during the 2019–20 season and winning a record tenth top flight title. In June 2021, Buffon returned to his boyhood club Parma, who had been relegated to Serie B, before announcing his retirement in 2023 at age 45.

In Their Own Story

With 176 international caps, Buffon is the most capped goalkeeper of all time and the most capped player in the history of the Italy national team. He was called up for a record five FIFA World Cup tournaments (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014) after making his debut in 1997. He was the starting goalkeeper of the squad that won the 2006 tournament, being awarded the Golden Glove as the competition's best goalkeeper after keeping a record five clean sheets. He also represented Italy at four European Championships, at the 1996 Olympics, and at two FIFA Confederations Cups, winning a bronze medal in 2013. Following his performances during the 2006 World Cup, Buffon won the Yashin Award and was elected to the Team of the Tournament, an honour he also received from UEFA after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2008 and the final of the 2012 European Championship. Buffon retired from international football in 2017 after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup; although he reversed this decision to play in the team's friendlies the following year, he officially confirmed his international retirement in May 2018.

Reader's Guide

Gianluigi Buffon is an Italian goalkeeper known for his exceptional longevity and consistency. His club history includes long tenures at Parma and Juventus, with a brief spell at Paris Saint-Germain before retiring. In the game, Buffon's ratings have historically hovered near the top tier for goalkeepers. His attribute profile typically features elite reflexes, diving, and handling. Players utilizing him benefit from his ability to command the penalty area and make difficult saves. Buffon was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players in 2004. He is the only goalkeeper to win the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award, which he achieved after reaching the 2003 Champions League final. He was the runner-up for the Ballon d'Or in 2006, and was elected part of the FIFPro World11 three times. He was the first ever goalkeeper to win the Golden Foot Award, and was named the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper a record five times, alongside Iker Casillas and Manuel Neuer.

Did You Know?

• Buffon made his Serie A debut at Parma at age 17 years and 295 days on 19 November 1995.
• He acquired the nickname 'Superman' after stopping a penalty by Inter striker Ronaldo and revealing a Superman T-shirt underneath his jersey.
• Buffon is the second cousin twice removed of football goalkeeper Lorenzo Buffon.
• He was an unused substitute in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
• Buffon initially chose the number 88 shirt for the 2000–01 season, but changed to 77 after it was criticised for supposed neo-Nazi connotations, which he denied.