Gianluigi Buffon has finally hung his boots after 28 years manning the posts at the highest levels possible for a goalkeeper to achieve. The legendary shotstopper wrote a heartfelt farewell message to signal the end of a star-studded career where he won almost everything in world football.
“Finisce quà. Mi hai dato tutto. Ti ho datto tutto. Abbiamo vinto insieme.” (“That’s all folks, it ends here. You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together.”)
Buffon further summed up his emotions with a few words (via Tuttomercatoweb).
“Twentyeight years of career seems to me an incredible result, almost unthinkable, above all for the continuity of performance demonstrated in almost three decades. In my opinion, this is the aspect that most determines the value of a sports career, in this case mine. I put so much passion, dedication, enthusiasm and joy into it that looking back, I can say they really flew by.”
“Yes, these 28 years – with these two dates (November 19, 1995 and May 30, 2023, the debut in A and the last in B) are my history. But it is also the story of those who have supported me in these 28 years with cheers, tears and love. I also want to thank Parma and its people because they really made me feel so loved, even in these two short years.”
The Azzurri icon, widely recognized as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, retires at 45, following 28 years of service where he racked up more than 1000 appearances cumulatively for Italy, Parma, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus.
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