Former Italy goalkeeper and World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon has retired from football aged 45.
He wrote on social media: “That’s all folks. You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it
together.”
“Congratulations on a wonderful career, Gianluigi. Wishing you all the best for your next chapter! 👊”, World football governing body FIFA
Buffon brings an end to a 28-year career that saw him lift the World Cup in 2006 along with 10 Serie A titles with Juventus and Ligue 1 with Paris St-Germain.
He ends his career where it began in 1995, at Parma, now a Serie B club.
Buffon, who had a deal with Parma until 2024, made 19 appearances last season as he struggled with injuries.
He began his career at Parma’s academy and made his Serie A debut for the club in November 1995 before joining Juventus in 2001, where he spent most of his career, despite a stint at PSG in 2018-19.
He made a record 657 appearances in the Italian top flight and is the most-capped goalkeeper of all time with 176 appearances for Italy.
![FIFA referee Raphael Claus officiated in the USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina match [Francois Nel/Getty Images via AFP]](https://sportsworldghana.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AFP__20260702__2284250723__v1__HighRes__UsaVBosniaAndHerzegovinaRoundOf32FifaWorldCu-1783386519-768x512.webp)
