One of the most anticipated retirements from the sport is here as legendary Italian shotstopper Gianluigi Buffon is set to exit the game at 45 years old.
The 2006 FIFA World Cup winner has been playing at his boyhood club Parma for the last two years after stints at Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
His career, which lasted 28 years and over 1,100 games is on record as one of the longest football careers in history. His 176 caps for Italy is the current ninth most international appearances (it could be the 11th by the end of 2023 as two active players are behind him on 175 and 173 respectively).
His 11 Ballon d’Or nominations is the most for a goalkeeper and is the joint fifth-most nominations for any player since the Inception of the award.
Buffon will retire with a plethora of individual awards and a trophy cabinet of 28 trophies, an average of one trophy for each year of his professional career.
He will be terminating his contract with Parma in the coming days to assume a new role as the Chief of Delegation for Italy’s national team. His job description will be to head the technical committee in identifying talents that will improve the Azzurri at all levels ahead of international fixtures.
This is a shift from his earlier pronouncement that he will see out his contract at Parma which was supposed to end in June 2024 and that he would play until the 2026 FIFA World Cup with his eye set on one last appearance at the global showpiece.
Injury problems in the last two seasons have led him to reconsider his future, however, bringing an end to a legendary career worthy of emulation.
Tributes from fans and the football world have poured in for the legendary Italian goalkeeper following the confirmation of his decision to retire after 28 years.
“Without question, undeniably the greatest goalkeeper of all time,” wrote one fan. “Gigi Buffon is your favourite keeper’s favourite keeper.”
“Legend of the game Gianluigi Buffon retires at 45,” another fan wrote. “His longevity is just insane. Especially when you realise he played during the same time as the one and only Diego Maradona. A football fact that sounds beyond fake.”
Another fan bestowed the GOAT title on the 45-year-old, saying, “The GOAT. The MYTH. The LEGEND. Best GK of all time.”
Buffon’s agent will meet with Parma to discuss the terms of his contract termination in the coming days, after which he is expected to send a message to the world and resume his duty as Italy’s chief of delegation.
His is the latest high-profile retirement this summer, following David Silva’s retirement due to a string of injuries.
