Goalkeeping Legend Buffon Retires At 45

Strikers can breathe easy. Gianluigi ‘Gigi’ Buffon is retiring.

One of the greatest goalkeepers in football history, though not untouched by scandal, has decided to end his career at the age of 45. From the World Cup to many other trophies with Juventus, Buffon won nearly everything the sport had to offer with the notable exception of the Champions League. 

Buffon had one season remaining on his contract with Parma in Serie B. Parma is also where he began his professional career nearly three decades ago, and thus he finishes where he started off.

“That's all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together,” Buffon posted on Instagram next to a video of his career highlights.

Tributes started coming in soon after. 

Marcello Lippi, who coached Italy to the 2006 World Cup title, Buffon’s finest moment,  said, “I experienced Buffon for 25 years, first with Juve and then on the national team — his greatness as a player and as a man.” 

Buffon should take a job with the national team, Lippi believes.

World Cup 2006, which ended with Italy defying France in a dramatic final famous for the Marco Materazzi-Zinedine Zidane headbutt, was the absolute prime of Buffon. 

Only two goals went past Buffon in seven matches, neither of them scored by opponents in open play. One was an own-goal by Cristian Zaccardo and the other was Zidane’s penalty during the final in Berlin. Later in the game, Buffon also pulled off a sensational diving save off a thundering Zidane header.

At Juventus, Buffon was the pillar behind 10 Serie A titles. He remained at the club even after the 2006 “Calciopoli” match-fixing scandal, after which the team was relegated to Serie B and was docked two of its Serie A titles. 

“A legend hangs up his gloves today. Your saves, your smiles, and your character will be forever remembered. Thank you, and congrats on an incredible career,” Juventus tweeted. 

The Champions League was the only honour that eluded him. Thrice with Juventus, he was in the final, but ended up with a silver medal — against AC Milan in 2003, Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017.

“Over the course of his illustrious career, which has no equals, Gigi showed an unrivaled ability, determination and passion on and off the field,” Parma president Kyle Krause said. “Parma will always be your home.”