Juventus, Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon pronounces retirement from soccer on the age of 45

By India Today Sports Desk: Gianluigi Buffon introduced his retirement on Wednesday, on the age of 45, after a profession that included a World Cup title with Italy, an extended listing of trophies with Juventus, and a few years when he was thought to be among the best goalkeepers in soccer. Buffon had one season left on his contract with Parma in Serie B, and thus leaves the game with the identical crew with which he started his skilled profession almost three a long time in the past.

Among his accomplishments, Buffon clinched the World Cup in 2006 and secured 10 Serie A championships with Juventus. Additionally, he triumphed in a Ligue 1 title whereas taking part in for Paris St Germain. “That’s all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together,” Buffon wrote on social media.

Hailed as one of many most interesting goalkeepers in historical past, Buffon’s closing season was beset by accidents as he returned to the place his journey started, Parma, now competing within the Italian second division.

Originating his profession at Parma, Buffon transitioned to Juventus in 2001, the place he predominantly excelled till a quick stint at PSG throughout the 2018-19 season. Subsequently, he made his approach again to Turin earlier than concluding his soccer voyage at Parma in June 2021.

Buffon’s profession apex got here throughout the 2006 World Cup, when he allowed solely two objectives in seven matches because the Azzurri gained the trophy. Opponents didn’t rating both of these two objectives throughout open play. One was an personal purpose by teammate Cristian Zaccardo throughout the closing, and the opposite was a penalty kick by Zinedine Zidane.

Buffon was the spine of Juventus’ ten Serie A titles, and he stayed with the membership even after the 2006 “Calciopoli” scandal, which noticed the crew relegated to Serie B. A yr after successful the World Cup, he helped the Bianconeri win the second division.

The solely main title lacking from Buffon’s profession was the Champions League, which he misplaced 3 times with Juventus – to AC Milan in 2003, Barcelona in 2015, and Real Madrid in 2017.

Buffon left Juventus in 2018 for Paris Saint-Germain, solely to return a yr later as a backup to Wojciech Szczesny. In 2021, he made a heartfelt return to Parma.