Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, aged 45, announced his retirement from football on Wednesday, marking an extraordinary 28-year career that included remarkable achievements for both club and country. Notably, Buffon lifted the World Cup in 2006 and secured an impressive tally of 10 Serie A titles with Juventus, as well as a Ligue 1 title with Paris St Germain.

In a heartfelt statement, Buffon expressed his gratitude to his fans and teammates, saying, “That’s all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together.”

Buffon holds the distinction of being the most capped goalkeeper in football history, having represented Italy in 176 matches. Widely regarded as one of the greatest keepers of all time, he began and concluded his illustrious career at Parma, which currently competes in the Italian second tier. His final season was marred by injuries, leading to his decision to retire.

Buffon’s journey with Juventus commenced in 2001 when he moved from Parma, and he spent the majority of his career with the club. However, he had a brief stint at PSG during the 2018-19 season before returning to Turin and eventually rejoining Parma in June 2021.

Kylian Mbappe, Buffon’s former teammate at Paris St Germain, paid tribute to the legendary goalkeeper, expressing his deep admiration. Mbappe shared his feelings on the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “It’s a huge honour for me to have had the chance to rub shoulders with you and cross paths with your legendary career. (You are) a man of gold with invaluable advice that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Buffon’s football journey began in 1991 at the age of 13 when he joined Parma’s youth system. Initially a midfielder, his height and physical attributes led him to take on the role of goalkeeper. He made his Serie A debut for Parma at the age of 17 in a goalless draw against AC Milan in November 1995.

Throughout his career, Buffon made a record-breaking 657 appearances in the Italian top flight and was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year in 2003. He retired from international football in 2018 after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Serie A, recognizing Buffon’s immense contributions to the sport, commented, “Time has been called on what is simply an exceptional career, an exceptional man, and one of the world’s most celebrated players.”

Additionally, Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci shared his heartfelt thoughts on Instagram, saying, “You’ve been unique. And you always will be. I can’t even find the words to describe what you’ve been, what you taught me, what you gave me. Thanks, my friend.”