Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon entered the world on the 28th of January 1978 in Carrara, a city in Tuscany known for its marble quarries. His family background was steeped in physical discipline and competitive sports. His mother Maria Stella had competed as a discus thrower before retiring to become a physical education teacher. His father Adriano came from Latisana and worked as a weightlifter of Friulian origin before taking up teaching duties as well.
The athletic environment extended beyond his parents. Two sisters named Veronica and Guendalina played volleyball for the Italian national team. A maternal uncle named Dante Masocco played basketball in Serie A1 while representing the national squad. This household provided a foundation where movement and competition were daily norms rather than exceptions.
Buffon supported various clubs during his youth including his hometown side Carrarese and German club Borussia Mönchengladbach. Between ages eight and twelve he followed Inter Milan due to admiration for manager Giovanni Trapattoni. He eventually settled with Genoa but remained an ultras member of Carrarese specifically within the Commando Ultrà Indian Tips group. The group name appears printed directly on his goalkeeping gloves today.
At the academy he switched positions after both senior keepers suffered injuries suddenly. Thomas N'Kono inspired this change when playing for Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup. Within two weeks Buffon became first keeper of the Parma youth team after adapting quickly to the new role.
He trained under goalkeeping coach Villiam Vecchi during summer 1994 before promotion to the senior squad in 1995. At age seventeen he made his Serie A debut for Parma under Nevio Scala on the 19th of November 1995. Seven more appearances followed that season plus one Coppa Italia match.
In 1996, 97 he started every game conceding only 17 goals across 27 matches. His European debut came during a 2, 0 defeat to Vitória de Guimarães on the 24th of September 1996. By 1998, 99 Parma won three major trophies including the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia while finishing fifth in Serie A.
Buffon earned his nickname Superman after stopping a penalty by Inter striker Ronaldo. He revealed a Superman T-shirt underneath his jersey following the save. The moniker reflected his athleticism agility and aerial ability throughout these early years.
On the 3rd of July 2001 Buffon moved to Juventus for a world record fee of 100 billion lire at the time. This transfer made him Juventus' most expensive purchase ever until Gonzalo Higuaín broke the record in 2016. He received number 1 shirt replacing Edwin van der Sar as
starting goalkeeper.
Negotiations were ongoing with Barcelona but father Adriano convinced him to choose Juventus instead. Buffon appeared in 45 official matches during his first season helping the team win the Serie A title. Juventus conceded just 22 goals across 34 league games that year.
He reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2003 losing to Milan via penalties. A reaction save from close range against Filippo Inzaghi became known as the hardest save of his career according to his 2008 autobiography. That same season he won the now defunct UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award becoming the only goalkeeper to achieve this honor.
Over seventeen seasons at Juventus Buffon secured nine Serie A titles four Coppa Italias and five Supercoppa Italianas. He became the first goalkeeper to win Serie A Footballer of the Year while earning Goalkeeper of the Year twelve times total. His longevity allowed him to surpass Paolo Maldini's appearance records multiple times.
On the 12th of May 2006 several players including Buffon faced accusations regarding illegal betting on Serie A matches. This initially threatened his place within Italy's 2006 World Cup squad despite being cleared later in December 2006. He admitted placing bets until October 2005 when such activities were forbidden but
denied wagering on Italian football specifically.
Following the Calciopoli scandal Juventus suffered relegation to Serie B for the 2006, 07 season. Many stars departed immediately yet Buffon chose to remain with the club. He made 37 appearances during that single campaign helping them win promotion back to top flight.
Injuries plagued parts of his career starting August 2005 when he collided with Kaká suffering a dislocated shoulder requiring surgery. Back problems caused by a herniated disc sidelined him repeatedly between 2008 and 2011. Despite these physical challenges he maintained leadership roles throughout turbulent periods.
His decision to stay loyal during relegation demonstrated commitment beyond financial gain. The move solidified his reputation as one of football's most principled figures regardless of external pressures or potential losses.
He became first choice goalkeeper during Euro 2000 qualifying despite breaking his hand days before tournament start. Francesco Toldo took over leading Italy to final loss against France. By 2006 Buffon regained starting spot under Marcello Lippi after initial doubts due to Calciopoli investigations.
During the 2006 FIFA World Cup
finals he conceded only two goals across seven matches keeping five clean sheets. His scoreless streak reached 453 minutes just 64 short of Walter Zenga's all-time record from 1990. Goals came from Cristian Zaccardo own goal and Zinedine Zidane penalty in final.
An important save in extra time against Zidane header later described as most crucial moment of career ended 1, 1 draw followed by penalties won by Italy. Buffon received Yashin Award as best goalkeeper plus Team of Tournament honors. He finished second in Ballon d'Or voting behind Fabio Cannavaro that year.
On the 6th of July 2018 Buffon signed one-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain at age forty becoming oldest player ever to make Champions League debut for club until Mark Schwarzer surpassed him slightly later. Manager Thomas Tuchel used him rotationally alongside Alphonse Areola during 2018, 19 season.
PSG won Ligue 1 title granting Buffon tenth league championship overall most any Italian player achieved. He kept 50th Champions League clean sheet in February 2019 against Manchester United reaching milestone after Iker Casillas and Edwin van der Sar. A mistake allowing Romelu Lukaku goal led to criticism yet PSG still claimed domestic trophy.
Buffon returned to Juventus on the 4th
of July 2019 choosing number 77 instead of number 1 offered by Wojciech Szczęsny. He stated he did not want to take anything from anyone but contribute his bit to team success. His 903rd career appearance overtook Paolo Maldini's record for most Italian player club appearances.
In June 2021 he joined boyhood club Parma who had been relegated to Serie B marking twenty years since leaving them initially. On the 5th of February 2022 he became first goalkeeper ever keeping 500 clean sheets across men's association football careers totaling 322 with Juventus plus 92 with Parma among others.
On the 2nd of August 2023 at age forty-five Buffon announced retirement from professional football ending a twenty-eight year playing career. Final appearance occurred the 30th of May during semi-finals of 2022, 23 Serie B promotion play-offs where Parma lost 3, 2 to Cagliari despite leading 2, 0 halftime. Injury forced him off break ruling out second leg participation.
His international career concluded officially in May 2018 after Italy failed qualifying for 2018 World Cup though brief return happened for friendlies following that decision. With 176 caps he remains most capped goalkeeper globally and fourth-most capped European international player overall. He holds record for most appearances as captain
after inheriting armband in 2010.
Buffon won five FIFA World Cup tournaments spanning 1998 through 2014 making him third player tied with Antonio Carbajal and Lothar Matthäus achieving this feat. Named by Pelé in FIFA 100 list of greatest living players in 2004 he received Golden Foot Award first ever awarded to goalkeepers in October 2016.
IFFHS named him best goalkeeper of century past quarter-century plus decade multiple times alongside Iker Casillas and Manuel Neuer. His legacy encompasses records broken longevity displayed leadership shown across decades of elite competition.
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Common questions
When and where was Gianluigi Buffon born?
Gianluigi Buffon entered the world on the 28th of January 1978 in Carrara, a city in Tuscany known for its marble quarries.
How did Gianluigi Buffon become a goalkeeper?
Buffon switched positions after both senior keepers suffered injuries suddenly at the academy. He became first keeper of the Parma youth team within two weeks after adapting quickly to the new role.
What record does Gianluigi Buffon hold for clean sheets?
On the 5th of February 2022 he became first goalkeeper ever keeping 500 clean sheets across men's association football careers totaling 322 with Juventus plus 92 with Parma among others.
Why did Gianluigi Buffon stay with Juventus during relegation?
Following the Calciopoli scandal Juventus suffered relegation to Serie B for the 2006, 07 season yet Buffon chose to remain with the club. He made 37 appearances during that single campaign helping them win promotion back to top flight.
When did Gianluigi Buffon announce his retirement from professional football?
On the 2nd of August 2023 at age forty-five Buffon announced retirement from professional football ending a twenty-eight year playing career.