The 2006 World Cup champion spent the previous season with his childhood club Parma, contributing to their fourth-place finish in Serie B and their advancement to the Coppa Italia’s last 16, where they were eliminated by eventual victors Inter Milan.
Buffon signed an extension with Parma until 2024 in February. However, he has chosen to retire before the start of the 2023-24 season.
During his initial spell with Parma, the Italian goalkeeper secured the UEFA Cup in 1998-99. He later moved to Juventus in July 2001 for a then-record £32 million fee for a goalkeeper.
Official: Gigi Buffon retires ❤️🇮🇹#INDSports
— Sports Gist (@theSportsGist) August 2, 2023
Mohammed Kudus | Mac Allister | Bayern Munich | Argentina | Black Stars | Balde | Davies | Lewandowski pic.twitter.com/8SDKfERJGM
Buffon’s time at Juventus was marked by significant triumphs, clinching the Serie A title 10 times in two separate tenures with the Turin-based team and amassing a total of 685 appearances.
He spent the 2018-19 season at Paris Saint-Germain, where he contributed to another league championship.
Buffon’s remarkable career was accompanied by numerous individual honors, including 13 Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year awards.
With 176 international caps earned over his 23-year tenure with the Azzurri, Buffon ranks ninth among male players with the most international appearances.