Gianluigi Buffon

Gianluigi ‘Gigi’ Buffon is an Italy international footballer who currently features for the Italian giants Juventus. He plays as a goalkeeper and is considered as one of the best custodians in the world. Buffon won the 2006 World Cup with Italy.

Buffon was born into a sporting family and at the age of just 17 years of age, he made his Italian Serie A debut for Parma against AC Milan in November 1995. He won the UEFA Cup with Parma in 1999 and was signed by Italian superpower Juventus in the summer of 2001 for €52 million, a record transfer fee for a goalkeeper.

Buffon has been worth every penny of that sum. He was a pivotal factor in Juventus reaching the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2003 and has also been vital throughout his tenure for the Old Lady. In the summer of 2006 when Juventus was relegated to the Italian Serie A as a punishment for their participation in the Calciopoli scandal, Buffon was one of the few players to pledge their future to the club. He won Serie A again with Juventus in 2011-12.

Buffon has been equally successful in the international arena for Italy. He made his debut for Italy when he was just 19 against Russia in a 1998 World Cup play-off. He missed Euro 2000 because of injury but featured for Italy at the 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup finals. He reached the final of Euro 2012 with the Azzurri.

Awards

• 3 Serie A titles
• 1 UEFA Cup title
• 1 World Cup title

Personal honours

• FIFA Best Goalkeeper of the Year 2004, 2005, and 2006
• European Footballer of the Year 2003, 2004, 2006
• UEFA Champions League Most Valuable Player in 2003