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Gianluigi Buffon
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Buffon in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Gianluigi Buffon
Date of birth	(1978-01-28) 28 January 1978 (age 47)
Place of birth	Carrara, Italy
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Italy (team coordinator)
Youth career
1991–1995	Parma
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–2001	Parma	168	(0)
2001–2018	Juventus	509	(0)
2018–2019	Paris Saint-Germain	17	(0)
2019–2021	Juventus	17	(0)
2021–2023	Parma	43	(0)
Total		754	(0)
International career
1993–1994	Italy U16	3	(0)
1995	Italy U17	3	(0)
1994–1995	Italy U18	3	(0)
1995–1997	Italy U21	11	(0)
1997	Italy U23	4	(0)
1997–2018	Italy	176	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Italy FIFA World Cup Winner 2006 {{{3}}} UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2012 {{{3}}} FIFA Confederations Cup Third 2013 {{{3}}} UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 1996 {{{3}}}
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gianluigi Buffon (born 28 January 1978) is a famous Italian former footballer. He played as a goalkeeper. Many people think he is one of the best goalkeepers of all time. He has played in over 1,100 professional games. He also holds the record for the most games played in Italy's top league, Serie A.

Buffon started his Serie A career at Parma in 1995. He helped Parma win the Coppa Italia, the UEFA Cup, and the Supercoppa Italiana in 1999. In 2001, he joined Juventus for a world record fee for a goalkeeper at that time. With Juventus, he won many titles, including a record nine Serie A titles. He was the first goalkeeper to win the Serie A Footballer of the Year award. He also won the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award a record twelve times.

After playing for Juventus for 17 years, he moved to French club Paris Saint-Germain in 2018. He won the French league title there. He returned to Juventus in 2019 and broke Paolo Maldini's record for most Serie A appearances. He won his tenth Serie A title, a new record. In 2021, Buffon went back to his first club, Parma, before retiring from football in 2023 at age 45.

Buffon played 176 games for the Italian national team. This makes him the most capped goalkeeper ever and Italy's most capped player. He played in five FIFA World Cup tournaments. He was the starting goalkeeper when Italy won the 2006 World Cup. He also won the Golden Glove award as the best goalkeeper in that tournament. He played in four European Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2013 Confederations Cup. Buffon retired from international football in 2017.

In 2004, Pelé named Buffon in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. He is the only goalkeeper to win the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award. He was also named the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper a record five times.

Early Life and Start in Football

Buffon was born in Carrara, Italy. His family was very sporty. His mother, Maria Stella Masocco, was a champion in shot put and discus throw. His uncle, Dante Masocco, was a basketball player. His father, Adriano, also did shot put. His older sisters, Guendalina and Veronica, were professional volleyball players. Another football goalkeeper, Lorenzo Buffon, is also a distant cousin.

Becoming a Goalkeeper

Buffon started playing youth football as a midfielder. He played for amateur clubs like U.S.D. Canaletto Sepor and Perticata. In 1991, he joined the Parma youth system. His coach noticed his strong physical skills.

He switched to being a goalkeeper after both of Parma's youth team goalkeepers got injured. Buffon was interested in the position because of his idol, Thomas N'Kono, a goalkeeper from Cameroon. Buffon quickly learned the role and became the first-choice goalkeeper for the Parma youth team within two weeks.

Club Career

Playing for Parma

Buffon joined Parma's senior team in 1995. He made his first Serie A appearance on 19 November 1995, when he was 17 years old. He played seven more games that season.

Becoming a Star at Parma

In the 1996–97 Serie A season, Buffon became Parma's main goalkeeper. He let in only 17 goals in 27 games. His great performances caught everyone's attention. He made his European debut in the 1996–97 UEFA Cup.

In the 1997–98 Serie A season, Parma finished fifth in Serie A. Buffon also played in the UEFA Champions League for the first time. He earned the nickname "Superman" that season after saving a penalty from Inter striker Ronaldo. He showed a Superman T-shirt under his jersey to celebrate.

In his fourth season with Parma, Buffon won his first European trophy, the 1998–99 UEFA Cup. He also won the Coppa Italia with Parma. His play that season earned him his first Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year Award. In the next season, he won his first Supercoppa Italiana title. He helped Parma reach another Coppa Italia final in the 2000–01 Serie A season.

Joining Juventus

Early Success with Juventus

On 3 July 2001, Buffon moved to Juventus. This was a world-record transfer fee for a goalkeeper at the time. He chose Juventus because he wanted to win the Scudetto (Italian league title). He was given the number 1 shirt.

In his first season with Juventus, Buffon played 45 games. He helped his team win the Serie A title. Juventus let in the fewest goals in the league that season. Buffon won his third Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year Award.

In the 2002–03 Serie A season, Juventus won the 2002 Supercoppa Italiana. Buffon played 47 games and helped Juventus reach the UEFA Champions League final. They lost to Milan in a penalty shootout. Buffon made an amazing save in that final, which he later called the hardest of his career. Juventus won their second Serie A title in a row. Buffon became the only goalkeeper to win the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award. He was also named the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper.

In the 2003–04 Serie A season, Buffon played his 100th game for Juventus. He was named one of the top 125 greatest living footballers by Pelé in 2004. He was again chosen as the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper.

Challenges and Relegation

In 2005, Buffon got a shoulder injury that needed surgery. He returned to play in January 2006, helping Juventus win their second straight Scudetto. He was named IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper for the third time.

In May 2006, Buffon was investigated for something called the Calciopoli scandal. He was accused of betting on Italian football games. He said he had placed bets on sports before, but not on Italian football. He was cleared of all charges in June 2007. After Juventus was moved down to Serie B because of the scandal, Buffon decided to stay with the team.

Return to Serie A and More Titles

In the 2006–07 Serie B season, Buffon played 37 games. Juventus won the Serie B title and moved back up to Serie A. Buffon signed a new contract until 2012. In 2007, he was named IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper for the fourth time. In the 2007–08 Serie A season, Juventus finished third. Buffon won his seventh Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Buffon (rear) during his debut in Serie B against Rimini in 2006

Buffon faced some injuries between 2008 and 2010. In 2010, he was voted goalkeeper of the decade by IFFHS. He missed the first half of the 2010–11 Serie A season due to surgery.

A New Era of Dominance

In the 2011–12 Serie A season, Buffon helped Juventus win their first Scudetto since the Calciopoli scandal. Juventus finished the season without losing a single game. Buffon had a record 21 clean sheets (games without letting in a goal) in Serie A. He let in only 16 goals in 35 games.

Buffon (top right) with Juventus in 2013

On 11 August 2012, Buffon became the new Juventus captain. He lifted his first trophy as captain when Juventus won the 2012 Supercoppa Italiana. He was nominated for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or award. In 2013, Buffon signed a contract extension until 2015. He won the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award for the eighth time. Juventus won the Serie A title again, letting in only 19 goals.

In August 2013, Buffon won the 2013 Supercoppa Italiana. On 24 November, he played his 500th Serie A game. He also set a personal record of 745 minutes without letting in a goal in Serie A. On 1 July 2014, Buffon signed a contract extension until 2017.

More Finals and Records

On 29 October 2014, Buffon played his 500th game for Juventus in all competitions. On 15 December, he was named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year for the ninth time.

Buffon playing for Juventus in 2014

On 2 May 2015, Buffon helped Juventus win their fourth Serie A title in a row. On 13 May, he played a fantastic game against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-final. This helped Juventus reach his second Champions League final. On 20 May, he won his first Coppa Italia title with Juventus. Buffon captained Juventus in the 2015 Champions League final, but they lost to Barcelona. He was named to the Champions League Team of the Season.

On 8 August 2015, Buffon won his sixth Supercoppa Italiana title with Juventus. On 6 March 2016, Buffon set a new Serie A record by keeping 10 consecutive clean sheets. He went 974 minutes without letting in a goal, which is the longest streak ever in Serie A. On 24 April, Buffon saved a penalty to help Juventus win their fifth Serie A title in a row. He was named Juventus' Player of the Season.

Final Seasons with Juventus (First Spell)

Buffon warming up before the 2016 Supercoppa Italiana

On 11 October 2016, Buffon became the first goalkeeper to win the Golden Foot Award. On 6 November, he played his 600th Serie A game. On 30 January 2017, Buffon was voted Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year for the 11th time. On 3 May, Buffon played his 100th Champions League game for Juventus. He became only the second Italian player to reach this milestone for one club.

On 17 May 2017, Juventus won their 12th Coppa Italia title. Four days later, Juventus won their sixth Serie A title in a row, setting a new record. Buffon won his eighth Serie A title, equaling the record for most Italian league wins. On 3 June 2017, Juventus reached their third Champions League final with Buffon, but they lost to Real Madrid.

On 12 June 2017, Buffon said the 2017–18 season would likely be his last with Juventus. On 23 October, he won the first-ever The Best FIFA Goalkeeper award. On 27 November, Buffon won the Serie A Footballer of the Year award, the first goalkeeper to do so. He also won the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award for the twelfth time.

On 9 May 2018, Buffon kept his 300th clean sheet with Juventus in a 4–0 win over Milan in the 2018 Coppa Italia final. This was Juventus' fourth Coppa Italia title in a row. On 13 May, Buffon won his record seventh straight Scudetto. This made him the first player to win nine Serie A titles. On 17 May, Buffon announced he would leave Juventus at the end of the season. On 19 May, he played his 656th and final game for Juventus.

Playing for Paris Saint-Germain

Buffon (right) warming up with Paris Saint-Germain in 2019

On 6 July 2018, Buffon signed a one-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France. He made his debut on 4 August, winning the 2018 Trophée des Champions. He played in a rotation with another goalkeeper, Alphonse Areola.

On 12 February 2019, Buffon kept his 50th Champions League clean sheet. This made him the third goalkeeper to reach this milestone. PSG won the Ligue 1 title that season. This was Buffon's tenth league title of his career, the most for any Italian player. On 5 June, he left PSG after one season.

Returning to Juventus

Buffon with Juventus in 2019

On 4 July 2019, Buffon returned to Juventus. He chose to wear the number 77 shirt, the same number he wore at Parma before joining Juventus in 2001. On 28 September, he played his 903rd club game, breaking Paolo Maldini's record for most club appearances by an Italian player.

On 18 December, Buffon played his 647th Serie A game, tying Maldini's record for most appearances in the competition. On 4 July 2020, he played his 648th Serie A game, becoming the most capped player in the league's history. He also became the most capped player in Europe's top five leagues.

On 19 May 2021, Buffon played his final game for Juventus, a 2–1 win over Atalanta in the 2021 Coppa Italia final. He lifted the trophy, his sixth Coppa Italia title, tying the record for most wins.

Back to Parma and Retirement

On 17 June 2021, Buffon returned to his boyhood club, Parma, which had been moved down to Serie B. On 5 February 2022, he became the first goalkeeper in men's football to keep 500 clean sheets. On 28 February, Parma announced he had extended his contract until 2024.

On 2 August 2023, at age 45, Buffon announced his retirement from professional football after a 28-year career. His last game was on 30 May 2023, in a Serie B play-off match.

International Career

Youth Teams and Early Senior Games

Buffon with the Italy national team in 1998

Buffon played for all of Italy's youth teams. He won the 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with the Italy under-21 team. He also won a gold medal at the 1997 Mediterranean Games.

Buffon played his first game for the senior Italy national team on 29 October 1997. He was 19 years old. He came on as a substitute in a World Cup qualifying match against Russia. He made some important saves in the snowy conditions. Italy qualified for the 1998 World Cup, and Buffon was part of the squad.

Buffon was supposed to be the starting goalkeeper for Euro 2000, but he broke his hand before the tournament. Italy reached the final but lost to France.

World Cup Champion in 2006

Buffon with Italy during the 2006 World Cup

Buffon was the main goalkeeper for Italy in the 2006 World Cup. He was in amazing form during the tournament. He set a World Cup record by only letting in two goals in seven games. He also kept five clean sheets. He had a streak of 453 minutes without letting in a goal. The only goals he conceded were an own goal by a teammate and a penalty kick in the final.

In the final against France, Buffon made a very important save from a header by Zinedine Zidane. He later called this the most important save of his career. The game ended in a 1–1 draw, and Italy won in a penalty shootout. Buffon won the Yashin Award as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. He was also chosen for the World Cup All-Star Team.

Italy Captain and Euro 2012

Buffon became the captain of the Italian national team after Fabio Cannavaro retired. On 9 February 2011, he played his first game as Italy's official captain. On 6 September 2011, Buffon set a new record for most minutes without letting in a goal in European Championship qualifying matches.

Buffon playing for Italy against Spain in the UEFA Euro 2012 final

At Euro 2012, Buffon captained Italy. He saved a crucial penalty in the quarter-final shootout against England. Italy reached the final but lost 4–0 to Spain. Buffon was again chosen for the Team of the Tournament.

2014 World Cup and Beyond

On 26 March 2013, Buffon played his 126th game for Italy, matching Paolo Maldini's record. On 10 September 2013, he played his 136th game, equaling Fabio Cannavaro's record for most appearances for Italy. Italy qualified for the 2014 World Cup. On 11 October 2013, Buffon played his 137th game, becoming Italy's all-time record appearance holder.

Buffon was part of five World Cup squads, a record shared by only a few players. He captained Italy in the 2014 World Cup. Italy was eliminated in the group stage.

Having represented his country a record 176 times, Buffon is the most capped player in Italian history

On 12 June 2015, Buffon became the first player to appear in 50 UEFA competitive international matches. He played his 150th game for Italy on 6 September 2015. Buffon said Euro 2016 would be his last European Championship. He captained Italy at Euro 2016. Italy reached the quarter-finals but lost to Germany in a penalty shootout.

On 6 October 2016, Buffon played his 164th game for Italy. On 24 March 2017, Buffon played his 1,000th career game (club and country). He also became the most capped European player at international level with his 168th game for Italy.

Buffon's 175th international game was on 13 November 2017, in a World Cup play-off against Sweden. Italy lost and failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years. An emotional Buffon announced his retirement from international football. However, he briefly returned for some friendly matches in 2018 before officially confirming his international retirement in May 2018.

Player Style and Legacy

How Buffon Played

Buffon was known for being very consistent throughout his career. He was calm under pressure and worked very hard. Many people consider him one of the best goalkeepers ever. He was seen as a model for modern goalkeepers.

He was praised for his amazing saves, quick reflexes, and acrobatic dives. Even though he was tall, he was very agile. He was also good at coming out of his goal to stop attackers. He was strong in the air and commanded his penalty area well.

Buffon with the ball for Italy at UEFA Euro 2012

As he got older, Buffon changed his style. He became less flashy but still very effective. He relied more on his smart positioning and decision-making. He was also a great leader on the field, always talking to his teammates and organizing the defense.

What People Say About Him

Buffon is widely considered one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Many in football believe he is the best ever. In 2016, France Football magazine named him the greatest goalkeeper in history. UEFA also voted him the Champions League's greatest goalkeeper of all time in an online poll.

He won the Nereo Rocco Prize in 2014 for his amazing career. In 2015, UEFA ranked him as the third-best player never to have won the Champions League.

His Goalkeeping Attire

Buffon was famous for always wearing short-sleeved jerseys, even in winter. He said he started doing it as a young player because it felt more comfortable. He joked that he "started a fashion" because many other goalkeepers now do the same.

After Retirement

Role with Italian Federation

After retiring from playing, Buffon was appointed as the head of delegation for the Italy national team on 5 August 2023. This role was previously held by the late Gianluca Vialli. In December 2023, he also earned his sporting director diploma.

In August 2024, Buffon received the UEFA President's Award for his contributions to football.

Outside of Football

Personal Life

Buffon comes from a family of athletes. His mother was a discus thrower, his father was a weightlifter, and his sisters played professional volleyball. His uncle was a basketball player.

He has three sons: Louis Thomas (born 2007), David Lee (born 2009), and Leopoldo Mattia (born 2016). Louis Thomas is also a footballer, playing as a forward for Pisa SC as of 2025.

Buffon has written two autobiographies. In his first book, Numero 1 (Number 1), he shared that he faced some personal challenges early in his career and worked with a professional to overcome them.

Business and Charity

Buffon has been involved in business. He used to own a share of his hometown club, Carrarese. He also invested in a textile company. In 2017, Buffon launched his own brand of wine called "Buffon #1".

He is also known for his charity work. He has supported programs to fight against racism and discrimination in football. In 2014, he played in a "Match for Peace" to raise money for charity. In 2019, he became a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the World Food Programme.

Public Incidents

Buffon has faced some public criticism during his career. In 1999, he wore a T-shirt with a slogan that had a bad meaning. He apologized, saying he didn't know the slogan's history. Later, he chose a jersey number that caused controversy, but he changed it when he learned about its negative associations.

In 2006, he was investigated for betting, but he was cleared of all charges. In 2012, he was criticized for his comments after a controversial goal in a match. In 2018, he was sent off in a Champions League game and made strong comments about the referee. He later apologized for his words.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Honours and Awards

Parma

• Coppa Italia: 1998–99
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1999
• UEFA Cup: 1998–99

Juventus

• Serie A: 2001–02, 2002–03, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20
• Serie B: 2006–07
• Coppa Italia: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2002, 2003, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2002–03, 2014–15, 2016–17

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: 2018–19
• Coupe de France runner-up: 2018–19
• Trophée des Champions: 2018

Italy U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1996
• Mediterranean Games: 1997

Italy

• FIFA World Cup: 2006
• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2012

Individual Awards

• Bravo Award: 1999
• Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year Award: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
• UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year: 2002–03
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2002–03
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, 2017
• IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper: 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2017
• FIFA 100
• FIFA World Cup Yashin Award: 2006
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2006, 2007, 2017
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2008, 2012
• IFFHS Best Goalkeeper of the Decade 2001–2010
• IFFHS Best Goalkeeper of the Decade 2011–2020: 2nd
• IFFHS Best Goalkeeper of the 21st Century 2001–2020
• IFFHS Best Goalkeeper of the Past 25 Years: 1987–2012
• Serie A Team of the Year: 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
• Pallone Azzurro: 2013, 2016
• UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2013–14
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2014–15, 2016–17
• Golden Foot: 2016
• Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2016–17
• The Best FIFA Goalkeeper: 2017
• UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season: 2016–17
• IFFHS Men's World Team: 2017
• Juventus Greatest XI of All Time: 2017
• Ballon d'Or Dream Team (Silver): 2020
• IFFHS All-time Men's B Dream Team: 2021
• UEFA President's Award: 2024

Records

• Most appearances in Serie A: 657
• Most appearances for Juventus in Serie A: 489
• Most appearances for Juventus in Italian League matches (includes Serie A and Serie B): 526
• Most appearances for Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana: 8
• Most career club appearances by an Italian player: 975
• Most appearances in Europe's top five leagues: 674
• Most appearances for Italy senior team: 176
• Most appearances as captain for Italy senior team: 80
• Most goalkeeper appearances as captain for Italy senior team: 80
• Most appearances by a goalkeeper at the UEFA European Championship: 17
• Joint-fewest goals conceded in a single FIFA World Cup edition by a starting World Cup winning goalkeeper: 2 goals in 7 appearances at the 2006 World Cup
• Joint-most clean sheets in a single World Cup edition: 5 at the 2006 World Cup
• Longest consecutive run without conceding a goal in a single Serie A season: 974 minutes in 2015–16
• Most consecutive clean sheets in a single Serie A season: 10 in 2015–16
• Joint-most clean sheets in a single Serie A season: 21 in 2011–12 and 2015–16
• One of only eight players to take part in five FIFA World Cups
• Most clean sheets by an individual goalkeeper in all-time: 501
• Most clean sheets for Italy senior team: 77
• Most clean sheets in Serie A: 299
• Most clean sheets by a goalkeeper in men's association football: 505
• Third-most clean sheets in the UEFA Champions League: 53
• Most appearances in the UEFA Champions League by an Italian player: 124
• Only goalkeeper to ever win the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year Award: 2003
• Most Serie A titles won by a player: 10 (all with Juventus)
• Joint-most Supercoppa Italiana titles: 6 (1 with Parma and 5 with Juventus)
• Joint-most Coppa Italia titles: 6 (1 with Parma and 5 with Juventus)
• Most Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year awards: 13
• Joint-most IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper Awards: 5
• Most Top 3 IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper Awards: 14
• Most Pallone Azzurro Awards: 2
• Most titles won with Juventus: 21
• Second-oldest player to appear in Serie A: 43 years, 104 days
• Second-oldest goalkeeper to appear in the UEFA Champions League: 42 years, 315 days

Orders

• 
  CONI: Golden Collar of Sports Merit: 2006

• 
  4th Class / Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2006

See also

In Spanish: Gianluigi Buffon para niños