Legend of the game Gianluigi Buffon retires aged 45 | OneFootball

Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon has officially retired from football, bringing a 28-year career to an end.

He made the announcement on Wednesday at the age of 45, opting to terminate his contract with Parma to hang up his gloves despite having another season on the deal.

A World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, Buffon finished his career with boyhood club Parma after making his start at the club in 1995, at the age of 17.

The Italian became the most expensive goalkeeper in the world when he joined Juventus from Parma for €52m back in 2001, a record that stood for 16 years.

During his time at Juventus, Buffon made 685 appearances and won a staggering 22 major trophies, including 10 Serie A titles, the most ever won by an individual.

Buffon also spent one season with Paris Saint-Germain.

The goalkeeper won a record 176 Italy caps and retires having made more Serie A appearances (648) than any other player.