Gianluigi Buffon Football player, goalkeeper of Juventus Date of Birth: 18.01.1978 Country: Italy

Biography of Gianluigi Buffon

Gianluigi Buffon, also known as Gigi Buffon, was born on January 28, 1978, in Carrara, Italy. He comes from a family of Italian athletes, with his father being a weightlifter and his mother being a champion in discus throwing. Buffon began his professional career as a goalkeeper for Parma in 1995, where he quickly gained a reputation as one of Italy's most promising young talents. He helped Parma win the Italian Cup, UEFA Cup, and Italian Super Cup in 1999.

In 2001, Buffon made a record-breaking transfer to Juventus for €52 million and won his first Italian championship with the club. He became the only goalkeeper to be named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year after the UEFA Champions League final in 2003. Buffon was also included in Pele's FIFA 100 list of the greatest living players.

Buffon's international career began in 1997 when he debuted for the Italian national team. He represented Italy in four European Championships, the 1996 Olympics, and two FIFA Confederations Cups, where he won a bronze medal in 2013. After Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Buffon initially announced his retirement from international football but later continued to play.

Throughout his career, Buffon has faced various controversies and challenges. In 1999, he faced serious criticism and disciplinary actions for wearing a shirt with a controversial slogan. He also had to change his jersey number from 88 to 77 due to its association with a fascist greeting. Buffon faced legal troubles in 2000 for falsifying his high school diploma and had to pay a hefty fine.

Buffon has been married twice. He married Czech model Alena Šeredová in 2011, and they have two children together. However, they divorced in 2014. Buffon then began a relationship with Italian journalist and television presenter Ilaria D'Amico, with whom he has a son named Leopoldo Mattia.

In 2013, Buffon opened up about his battle with depression during the 2003-2004 season. He sought help from a psychologist and overcame his struggles before the 2004 European Championship.

Throughout his career, Buffon has been widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, earning numerous awards and accolades. He has won the FIFA World Cup, multiple Italian championships, and has been named the best goalkeeper in the world five times by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).

Despite his numerous achievements, Buffon remains humble and continues to inspire aspiring goalkeepers around the world with his skill, dedication, and love for the game.