[64] He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004,[78] but missed out on the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award, which went to Milan's league-winning goalkeeper Dida.

La Juve non gli lascia scelta. [383] On 16 June 2013, he featured in Italy's opening 2–1 win against Mexico, where he was beaten only by a Javier Hernández penalty. I've started a fashion. [126], Buffon kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 Coppa Italia win against Cagliari on 12 December, allowing Juventus to progress to the quarter-finals of the tournament. Although he kept a clean sheet in the 0–0 draw, Italy's 1–0 away loss in the first leg on 10 November saw Sweden advance on aggregate, meaning that Italy had failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years. [nb 2] Buffon holds the record for the longest streak without conceding a goal in Serie A history of over 12 league matches; he went unbeaten for 974 consecutive minutes during the 2015–16 season, achieving the most consecutive clean sheets (10) during that run. Lazio have three points from their opening two Group E games — but Inzaghi insists tonight is not a must-win fixture. [38] Buffon was voted Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year for the second time in his career, and he also placed third in the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award. On top of that, if you don't have the character to walk on a pitch like this in a stadium like this, you can sit in the stands with your wife, your kids, having your drink and eating crisps. [396], —Italy teammates on Buffon.

[587] Despite the company's financial difficulties, in 2015, Buffon, who had by then acquired 56% of the company's shares, had reportedly invested €20 million in order to save the company from bankruptcy.

", "UEFA Champions League Statistics Handbook 2018/19", "Players with the most UEFA club appearances", "All you ever wanted to know: Champions League penalties", "Juve, la gioia di capitan Buffon: "Siamo nella storia del calcio, "Juve, Supercoppa dei record. [565][566], Buffon has been sponsored by German sportswear company Puma during his career, wearing Puma gloves and Puma King football boots, and has appeared in Puma commercials. Even at 60, if there were a total absence of goalkeepers and they asked me to come back, I'd be there, because I have in me the concept of nation. [453][454], Since his emergence as a precocious talent in his youth, Buffon has been renowned for his consistent performances throughout his career, and has received praise from managers, players, as well as both present and former goalkeeping colleagues, for his concentration and calm composure under pressure, as well as his work-rate, and longevity. [559], In his youth, Buffon supported a number of clubs, including his hometown club Carrarese, along with Genoa, and German side Borussia Mönchengladbach; up until the age of seven, he also supported Juventus, while between the ages of eight and twelve, he was a fan of Inter – due to his admiration for manager Giovanni Trapattoni – as well as Pescara, Como, Avellino, and Campobasso, before eventually supporting Genoa. [64], Juventus and Buffon began the 2009–10 season strongly, although the squad suffered a severe dip in form as they were eliminated from the Champions League, finishing third in their group. [72] Juventus managed to celebrate their second consecutive Serie A title that season, finishing the season with the best defence yet again, as Buffon conceded only 23 goals in 32 appearances. [589], Buffon is also known for his charity work. [38][544] Buffon's two sisters, Veronica and Guendalina, played volleyball for the Italian national volleyball team, and his uncle, Dante Masocco, was a basketball player in Serie A1, who also represented the national team. [173] [16][457][460][464][465][466][467][468] He has been described as "an agile, strong, and commanding shot-stopper, who is hugely experienced at the highest level" and "an accomplished and well respected keeper"[469][470][471][472][473] with an "[e]xcellent positional sense, courage, power and class.

[555] In the summer of 2017, the pair became engaged. With Juventus, he won a record ten Serie A titles,[nb 3] four Coppa Italia titles, and five Supercoppa Italiana titles. “In the locker room relationships have been created that have united us and helped us to overcome adversity. [171] On 23 May, in his 900th career appearance,[172] Buffon saved a Lorenzo Insigne penalty in a 3–1 home win over Napoli in Serie A. [nb 7] He was also highly regarded for his handling, aerial ability, and command of the area on high balls;[nb 8] however, throughout his career, Buffon has occasionally been accused by pundits of being overly cautious on crosses and of not always coming out to collect them,[465][469][490][507][509][510] and has also drawn criticism for preferring to punch the ball out to his teammates at times rather than holding on to it. I will never forget anything. [225] On 1 December, Buffon was nominated for the 2016 FIFPro World XI, making him the only player, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, to have been included in the shortlist every year since its inception in 2005.

[170] On 20 May, he won his first Coppa Italia title with Juventus, despite not featuring throughout the tournament that season. [402][403] Buffon became the third player to be part of five World Cup squads, tying the records held by Mexican goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal and German footballer Lothar Matthäus. Buffon made his 100th appearance for Juventus that season on 30 September 2003 in a 2–1 away win over Olympiacos in the group stage of the Champions League. [176] He was named to the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season for his performances throughout the tournament. In the last scene, Buffon takes a shot on Antonacci as goalkeeper, with the video intentionally stopping before the ball is either scored or saved. Buffon para un rigore a Calaiò", "Genoa-Juve 0–1: Buffon e Pirlo decisivi", "Gianluigi Buffon, ESPN Profile, Bio and Career Stats – 2013–14", "La squadra della stagione di UEFA Europa League", "Calciomercato Juve, accordo con Buffon: rinnova fino al 2017! [418] This was Buffon's 14th appearance at the European Championships, making him Italy's out-right most capped player of all-time in the tournament, after overtaking Maldini, Del Piero and Cassano; with his fourth tournament appearance, he also equalled Del Piero for the most UEFA European Championships played in by an Italian player. [369] He earned his 100th cap on 14 November 2009 in a friendly match against the Netherlands.

Buffon also holds the record for the most clean sheets and most appearances in Serie A, and with the Italy national team. [141] On 16 March 2014, Buffon saved the 20th penalty of his career in a 1–0 away win over Genoa, equalising Dino Zoff's 476 appearances for Juventus as the club's fifth all-time appearance holder. Diego show con Baggio, poi si infuria: "Icardi non doveva giocare, "Elezioni 2013, l'endorsement di Gianluigi Buffon per Mario Monti: "Ha il mio appoggio totale e incondizionato, "Referendum: la società dello spettacolo espugna i costituzionalisti", "Buffon in trouble for choosing the wrong number at Parma", "Gigi Buffon: ecco "la storia del 'boia chi molla' e del numero 88, "Gli ebrei di Roma L' 88 di Buffon significa Heil Hitler", "Diploma non-autentico, Buffon rischia fino a 4 anni", "Sei milioni di multa Falso diploma di ragioniere: Buffon patteggia", "Buffon: "Sono pulito, solo scommesse legali, "Buffon prosciolto: "Sapevo di non aver fatto niente, "Gianluigi Buffon apologises to referee Michael Oliver for going 'beyond the limits' after Champions League red card", "Gianluigi Buffon – Century of International Appearances", "Nazionale in cifre – FIGC: Buffon, Gianluigi", "Juventus 2 Verona 1: Buffon signs off on a high", "B-Day: tutti i numeri di Gianluigi Buffon", "Juve, Buffon: l'uomo dei record. [122], Buffon was nominated for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or and the 2012 UEFA Team of the Year following his performances throughout the calendar year. [576] Late that same year, he also featured in a commercial for Birra Moretti. The league victory allowed Buffon to lift the Serie A trophy as captain for the first time. [361] He was later named Italy's second acting captain for Euro 2008 after incumbent Cannavaro was ruled out of the tournament due to injury, and as Italy's replacement captain Alessandro Del Piero was frequently deployed as a substitute. [31], Despite offers from Bologna and Milan,[32] Buffon began his career with the Parma youth system in 1991, at the age of 13. After a discussion with management, he said he was reassured about the club's future and signed a contract extension to 2013. [301], On 12 February, Buffon kept his 50th Champions League clean sheet in a 2–0 away win over Manchester United, becoming only the third goalkeeper to reach this milestone after Iker Casillas (57) and Edwin van der Sar (51). In his youth, his ball skills even occasionally led him to take on opponents, whenever he was put under pressure by on-running strikers. [97] He admitted he was disappointed with the current results, but assured that he had no intention of leaving. [166] After keeping a clean sheet in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Monaco on 22 April, Buffon overtook Dida as the goalkeeper with the fourth-highest number of clean sheets in Champions League history, with 36. [595], While at Parma, Buffon's decision to wear the number 88 shirt,[596] rather than his previous number 1 shirt, for the 2000–01 season caused controversy in Italy. Every understudy to Gianluigi Buffon at Juventus", "Don't be a buffoon, Buffon! Gianluigi Buffon agent: ‘He has Lazio in his heart…’ June 6, 2019. Buffon equalled Paolo Maldini’s record for the most appearances in Serie A history against Sampdoria on Wednesday, with both tied on 647 games. [366] Italy were eliminated nine days later, when a 0–0 draw after extra time led to a 4–2 penalty shootout loss to eventual champions Spain; Buffon saved one penalty in the shootout[367] and was elected to the Team of the Tournament for his performances. [180] On 12 August, it was announced that he placed fourth in the 2015 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

[209][211][212] For his key performances in helping Juventus capture the league title, Buffon was named the Juventus Player of the Month for April 2016. And now look: lots of goalkeepers do it. [206][208] In addition to his decisive saves and record breaking unbeaten streak,[204][209][210] Buffon was praised for his leadership, and his role in motivating the team following their defeat against Sassuolo on 28 October 2015, as Juventus subsequently went on a 25-match unbeaten streak to come back from 12th place after ten matches to win the title. "Technically, with his feet, you wouldn't say he looks a natural. “I don’t expect anything in particular with regards to my future. The only goals he conceded were not in open play; an own goal by teammate Cristian Zaccardo after a free-kick against the United States in Italy's second match of the group stage,[349] and a Zinedine Zidane penalty in the final against France. Buffon: ‘I considered Lazio in the summer’ November 2, 2018. After that match, I went beyond the limits with the things I said about the referee and I apologise for that. [313] On 11 December, he kept his 51st Champions League clean sheet (excluding those in the qualifying rounds) in a 2–0 away win over Bayer Leverkusen in Juventus's final group match of the campaign, equalling Van der Sar as the goalkeeper with the second-most clean sheets ever in the competition, behind only Iker Casillas. [154] On 24 November, Buffon was nominated for the 2014 FIFPro World XI for a record tenth time. ", "Gigi proved once again he's the best goalkeeper in the world.