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Former Italy goalkeeper and World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon has retired from football aged 45.<\/p>\n
He wrote on social media: \u201cThat\u2019s all folks. You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffon brings an end to a 28-year career that saw him lift the World Cup in 2006 along with 10 Serie A titles with Juventus and Ligue 1 with Paris St-Germain.<\/p>\n
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He ends his career where it began in 1995, at Parma, now a Serie B club.<\/p>\n
Buffon, who had a deal with Parma until 2024, made 19 appearances last season as he struggled with injuries.<\/p>\n
He began his career at Parma\u2019s academy and made his Serie A debut for the club in November 1995 before joining Juventus in 2001 in a \u00a332.6m deal \u2013 a world record for a goalkeeper at the time.<\/p>\n
Buffon spent most of his career in Turin, despite a stint at PSG in 2018-19. In total he made a record 657 appearances in the Italian top flight and is the most-capped goalkeeper of all time with 176 appearances for Italy.<\/p>\n
Buffon retired from international football in 2018 after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup that year.<\/p>\n
His career highlight was winning the World Cup as\u00a0Italy beat France 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out\u00a0after a 1-1 draw in Berlin.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to our number 1. Grazie, Gigi!\u201d the Italian national team tweeted.<\/p>\n
Serie A posted: \u201cThere is football history. There is also Gigi Buffon. A fairy-tale career that took off and ended in one place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA legend hangs up his gloves today,\u201d tweeted Juventus. \u201cYour saves, your smiles, and your character will be forever remembered.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a letter to the player, the Turin club added: \u201cIt is incredibly difficult to talk about football on a day when the beautiful game bids farewell to its number one par excellence.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were not simply the best; you were more than that. You gave the position a face and became THE goalkeeper to beat and aspire to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are the player that has worn our jersey for the longest and won the most trophies. You rank second in the all-time appearance charts and are, of course, the shot-stopper with the most clean sheets to his name. You were our captain and our rock. You were simply Gigi.\u201d<\/p>\n
Parma president Kyle Krause said: \u201cThroughout his illustrious career, which is unparalleled, Gigi has demonstrated unparalleled skill, relentless determination and unwavering passion on and off the pitch. Parma Calcio sends its heartfelt congratulations to a true champion and friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
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