Gianluigi Buffon is ready to add another landmark achievement in his incredible career when Juventus face local rivals Torino on Saturday, with the former Italy captain expected to become Serie A’s all-time record appearance maker. Gigi is set to make a new league record of 648 appearances — one more than AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini — some 25 years after making his league debut for Parma and almost exactly 19 years after joining Juventus.
He also holds the record for most capped Italian as well as European Footballers, with 176 caps between 1997-2018, winning the 2006 World Cup. One of handful footballers to have International career spanning more than 20 years.
For about 15 years of his career he was always either the best keeper in the world or in the top 3. Just the longevity of his career at that super high level makes him a GOAT. He is till playing at 42 in Top 5 League.
Buffon’s remarkable career longevity is an awe-inspiring story!
The iconic goalkeeper broke in the Parma first team as a teenager before joining Juve in 2001 in a £32.6million deal, making him the world’s most expensive goalkeeper at the time.
The legend displaying an incredible track record:
17 – Buffon made his Serie A debut for Parma on November 19, 1995 at the age of 17 years and 295 days. It was a 0-0 draw against Milan.
648 – Since then, Buffon has gone on to rack up 648 appearances in Italy’s top flight, including Saturday’s clash with Torino that has seen him break Maldini’s record.
42 – Buffon is the third-oldest player to feature in Serie A during the three-points era, behind only Marco Ballotta (44 years, 38 days) and Francesco Antonelli (42 years, 235 days).
23 – This is Buffon’s 23rd season in professional football. Having signed a new contract, he will play a 24th campaign in 2020-21.
247 – Giorgio Chiellini signed a new contract at the same time as Buffon. The centre-back is the player Buffon has most regularly played with in Serie A, 247 times.
480 – No one has played more Serie A games for Juventus, with Buffon’s 480 two more than Alessandro del Piero’s haul.
9 – Buffon has won nine Serie A titles, more than any other player. He could yet add a 10th later this month.
285 – The veteran had kept 285 clean sheets in 647 Serie A matches prior to the Turin derby, which is a record.
Gianluigi Buffon, one of the best goalkeepers in history of World Football, has never won the UEFA Champions League trophy. Twice he came close to lifting the silverware, but couldn’t.
Instance 1:
Year: 2002–03
Venue of the Final: Old Trafford, Manchester
Juventus lost to AC Milan 3–2 on penalties after ending the game in normal time with 0–0 scoreline.
Instance 2:
Year 2014–15
Venue of the final: Olympiastadion, Berlin
Juventus were defeated by Barcelona with a scoreline of 3–1.
th Club match as a professional
