Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is regarded as one of the best in the world of football. He led the Italian national football team until his retirement in 2017, and he currently leads his home team, “Juventus.” One of the most well-known players in world football, Buffon has appeared in more than 1000 games, including 170 for his country. His teammates regard him as a motivator and somebody who has a deep understanding of the game. He is regarded by sports commentators as one of the best goalkeepers of all time. In the 2015–16 season, he set a record by not allowing a single goal to go by him. Five times in a row, the “IFFHS” has named him the “World’s Best Goalkeeper,” and the same organization also considers him to be the finest goalkeeper of the twenty-first century. He received the “Golden Foot Award” in 2016, which is unusual for a goalie. Despite having a successful career, he has occasionally been involved in a number of scandals, including claims of betting. Even though he was later exonerated of the betting-related accusations, it hurt his reputation. In 2017, he declared his retirement from international football.
Early Childhood & Life
On January 28, 1978, Gianluigi Buffon was born in Carrara, Italy, to a family of accomplished athletes. His mother, Maria, was a discus thrower, while his father, Adriano, was a weightlifter. Buffon was raised by two sisters who, from a young age, had a similar interest in athletics.
Buffon’s parents continued to serve as an example for him throughout his infancy, and his athletic propensities led him to play sports at the age of 5. After retiring from professional sports, his father began working as a PE teacher, and both of his parents put a lot of effort into raising their kids to be elite athletes.
He reportedly struggled at first to identify the ideal sport to pursue before settling on football. His parents enrolled him in a football training academy when he was six years old, where he enjoyed a successful career that started off as a midfielder. Buffon’s early instruction proved to be very beneficial, as his abilities began to advance with each passing year.
Buffon was always a fantastic midfielder, but as he approached adulthood, his interest began to turn from being a striker to being a goalkeeper. This was primarily because of Thomas N’Kono, a keeper from Cameroon and Buffon’s hero.
His decision to join Parma F.C.’s youth program in 1992 marked the largest turning point in his career. He displayed excellent sportsmanship throughout the following few years while captivating everyone with his electrifying goalkeeping display.
Career of Gianluigi Buffon
He stayed with the team for a while before becoming a senior member in 1995, and he was crucial to Parma’s success in that year’s “UEFA U-21 Championship.” Injuries to the regular goalkeepers forced him to fill in for most of the games, and by 1997, he was starting every game as the starting goalkeeper.
Over the following few years, Buffon disproved his detractors’ claims that he wasn’t ready for greatness, but that he could prove it if given the chance. In the late 1990s, he guarded the goal against numerous opponents and was a key factor in helping his side win the Italian Cup, the Italian Supercup, and the UEFA Cup.
During this time, he experienced some ups and downs as well. He participated in the 1997 World Cup qualifying match for Italy’s national team but was not selected for the match that was to be played the following year. Similar circumstances occurred during the 2000 “European Championship,” however this time, his elimination from the competition was caused by a fractured hand.
Despite these minor issues, his abilities were never in doubt, and in 2001, he was recruited by “Juventus FC” for 45 million dollars, setting a new record for goalkeeper contracts.
Many people objected to the choice to pay such a high price to get him, but he proved his value by helping his side win the following four league championships in a row. He also contributed to his team’s victories in two Italian Supercups and was honored with the 2003 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year Award. He gained widespread recognition for his extraordinary goalkeeping skills at the 2002 “FIFA World Cup.”
He suffered a significant career setback in 2006 as a result of allegations of betting in the infamous “Calciopoli Scandal.” His performances suffered amid this dispute, which threatened to derail his brilliantly expanding career. His team performed much below its potential and missed out on two league championships.
Even after Buffon was found not guilty of the accusations, “Juventus” made the difficult decision to keep him. He then served as his team’s captain at the 2006 “FIFA World Cup.” He did a fantastic job and just allowed two goals. By the conclusion of the year, he had won the Yashin Award and been recognized as the “IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper.”
He just missed winning the “Ballon d’Or” that year.
A back injury prevented him from competing for his team in the biggest international sporting event of the year, the 2010 “FIFA World Cup,” despite his best efforts to continue his outstanding performance during that tournament. He excelled during the “European Championships” and earned a spot on the 2008 and 2012 World Teams.
While everything was going on, he continued to have great success with “Juventus,” and thanks to his efforts, the team won back-to-back first division championships in 2012 and 2013. While dealing with the problems that come with becoming older, he continued to disprove his detractors, and his game only got better with time.
He allowed no goals in the 2013 “Italian Supercup” final game, giving his team a decisive win. By that point, he had already set numerous records and was widely regarded as the greatest goalie of the twenty-first century and the greatest goalkeeper of all time by soccer academics.
Buffon served as his team’s captain at the 2014 “World Cup,” and despite the team’s dismal overall performance, Buffon was praised for his flair and technique.
Buffon made his 126th appearance for his country in October 2016, and he was devastated by the team’s dismal showing on the international stage. He had stated that he intended to retire after the 2018 “FIFA World Cup,” but after his team was unable to advance, he did so right away. However, he still competes for Juventus.
Individual Life of Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon is renowned for having a temper both on the field and in the locker room. While the majority of his teammates despise this odd behavior, some of them think it’s the proper approach. He has previously stated in the open that he would continue to inspire his troops in this way.
When Buffon first met Alena Seredova in 2005, their relationship quickly developed. Supermodel Alena is a native of the Czech Republic. 2011 saw the marriage of the couple. In 2007 and 2009, they had a son. Sadly, they made an announcement about their separation in 2014.
Following his divorce from Alena, Buffon began dating TV host Ilaria D’Amico. In 2016, Buffon and Ilaria welcomed a son, and in 2017, the couple declared their engagement.
Buffon struggled with severe depression throughout the 2003–2004 season, and he later stated in interviews that he had once thought about taking his own life. He resisted taking any medication and made a full recovery on his own.
Gigi Buffon Net Worth
The professional soccer player from Italy, Gigi Buffon, is worth $20 million. In January 1978, Gigi Buffon was born in Carrara, Tuscany, Italy. He is a goalkeeper who played for Parma during his formative years. Buffon played for Parma from 1995 until 2011, appearing in 169 games. He was called up to the main team of Parma in 1995.