Gianluigi Buffon will play his 1,000th professional game when Italy take on Albania… here’s how a gangly 17- year-old goalkeeper became the legend known as Superman

  • Gianluigi Buffon made Italy debut at 18 after emergence at Parma a year earlier
  • Veteran goalkeeper came from sporting stock with family full of athletes 
  • He has played 39,681 minutes for Juventus and featured in 614 Serie A games
  • Buffon's career high came when he won the 2006 World Cup against France 
  • He is targeting one more major tournament with Italy at 2018 World Cup  

Gianlugi Buffon is on the brink of achieving the career milestone of 1,000 professional games
Gianlugi Buffon is on the brink of achieving the career milestone of 1,000 professional games

Quiz time: in 1997 who was the first player to score against Gianluigi Buffon in international football?
Brazilian phenomenon Ronaldo, spiky French maestro Zinedine Zidane, or classy Croatian Davor Suker? Or was it England's own unstoppable marksman Alan Shearer?
You won't guess. 
The answer is Fabio Cannavaro - when the Azzurri faced Russia in a snowy, muddy Moscow. The Neapolitan defender slid to divert a low cross into his own net.









The veteran goalkeeper is preparing to take on Albania in Italy's World Cup qualifier
The veteran goalkeeper is preparing to take on Albania in Italy's World Cup qualifier



Buffon made his debut for Parma in 1995 and kept a clean sheet against AC Milan
Buffon made his debut for Parma in 1995 and kept a clean sheet against AC Milan





Buffon then burst onto the scene with his country at the tender age of 18
Buffon then burst onto the scene with his country at the tender age of 18



That historical own goal was on October 29, two decades ago. First-choice Italy goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca got injured in a collision with a Russian player after half an hour and couldn't continue. 
On came the 18-year-old and helped his nation draw 1-1 in the World Cup play-off first leg.
Cesare Maldini's side won the return by a single goal, sealing their passage to France '98, where Buffon was third-choice keeper. Twenty years later the stopper is still one of the best in world football and aiming to go to his record-breaking sixth World Cup next summer, where it all started, in Russia.


Buffon built a reputation for pulling off spectacular saves from the very start of his career
Buffon built a reputation for pulling off spectacular saves from the very start of his career



The legendary goalkeeper played for Parma for six years between 1995 and 2001
The legendary goalkeeper played for Parma for six years between 1995 and 2001


The 39-year-old will make his 1,000th professional appearance in Sicily on Friday night against Albania. Known as Gigi, he was born into a mega-sporty family in Carrara, Tuscany. His mother Maria Stella was a record-breaking shot putter and discus thrower, his father Adriano was also a high-achieving field athlete.

GIANLUIGI BUFFON: CAREER HONOURS 

Club:  
Serie A titles - 7 (2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2015-16)
Serie B titles - 1 (2006-07)
Italian Cup - 3 (1998-99, 2014-15, 2015-16)
Italian Supercup - 5 (2003, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015)
UEFA Cup - 1 (1998-99)
Country: 
World Cup - 1 (2006)
U21 European Championship - 1  (1996)
Individual: 
UEFA club goalkeeper of the year - 1
UEFA team of the year - 4
Serie A goalkeeper of the year - 11
Ballon d'Or - Runner-up 2006 



He is still sharp and agile and constantly reaching milestones. A year ago he set a new Serie A record when he went 973 minutes without conceding a goal. He has played 39,681 minutes for the Turin giants, the most in Bianconeri history, and is third in Serie A's all-time appearance makers, with 614.
On national service he is Italy's most-capped player with 167 appearances. No goalkeeper has played as many matches at the UEFA European Championship (17).
There is no official pre-match photo of the afternoon it all began. Not because cameras hadn't been invented. There were plenty of snappers when Parma hosted AC Milan in November 1995. They were two brilliant teams tussling for the scudetto and the gangly teenager from the youth set-up replaced injured regular Luca Bucci in the starting XI.
But while his team-mates lined up for the official pre kick-off picture on the pitch, the fresh-faced newcomer ran off towards the goal he'd be protecting. He later explained that they didn't take team shots before youth matches, so he was caught unaware.
By the final whistle he was a household name. His first act in top-level football was to stretch and pluck a Zvonimir Boban cross out of the air. He later made a fine save to foil Marco Simone and sprinted off his line to deny George Weah.



Buffon shares a smile with Mauro Camoranesi after Juventus beat Bayern Munich 
Buffon shares a smile with Mauro Camoranesi after Juventus beat Bayern Munich 



Buffon was tailor-made for a career in sport given the number of athletes in his family 
Buffon was tailor-made for a career in sport given the number of athletes in his family 



Milan coach Fabio Capello, impressed but frustrated with the 0-0 result, told Italian TV 'Buffon was Parma's best player. His timing when he came off his line was excellent and his save against Simone was great. It's unusual to see a 17-year-old who is so brave and determined.'
The starlet himself was humble, saying to national broadcaster RAI: 'I just told myself it was a normal youth game and maybe that's why things didn't go too badly, because I was calm inside.'
After establishing himself as Parma's starting goalkeeper, Buffon continued irritating prestigious names (and their powerful backers). In March 1998 when Inter visited the Ennio Tardini Stadium, Ronaldo wore a new pair of personalised boots for the first time.


Buffon celebrates Italy's first goal during the 2006 World Cup final against France 
Buffon celebrates Italy's first goal during the 2006 World Cup final against France 



The Italians overcame the French and Buffon achieved the ultimate in winning the World Cup
The Italians overcame the French and Buffon achieved the ultimate in winning the World Cup

BUFFON'S CAREER BY NUMBERS 

999 - Total appearances
614 - Serie A games
167 - Italy caps
39,681 - Minutes for Juventus
2 - The fewest goals conceded in a World Cup campaign
5 - Clean sheets in one World Cup
974 - His most minutes played without conceding in one stretch
5 - World Cup campaigns
280 - Serie A clean sheets
£33million - Highest transfer fee ever paid for goalkeeper
Cameras were rolling as the former Barcelona ace approached the ball. But Buffon dived to his left and parried the spot-kick. He was interested in clean sheets, not being the victim in boot commercials. Parma won 1-0 thanks to a Hernan Crespo goal.
Superman, as he likes to be called, won the 1999 UEFA Cup with the Emilia-Romagna team, before moving to Juventus for a £33m in 2001. It is still the highest fee paid for a keeper. Edwin van der Saar had not convinced in Turin and the Vecchia Signora wanted new blood.


Buffon has been a dependable keeper for club and country for a remarkable two decades
Buffon has been a dependable keeper for club and country for a remarkable two decades
Despite a few early wobbles, prompting headlines labelling him 'Van Der Buffon', which annoyed him greatly, the costly keeper found his feet and began performing weekly miracles with the black and whites.
And that, remarkably, is still the case today. With seven league titles, he is the most decorated No 1 in Serie A history, and his loyalty to the club when they were relegated to Serie B in 2006 cemented his position in fans' hearts.
Fabio Cannavaro, Lillian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta rejected second-tier life for adventures with Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Buffon, like Pavel Nedved and Alessandro Del Piero, stayed faithful to the 'Old Lady'.


Italy's performances in major tournaments have frequently been typified by their goalkeeper
Italy's performances in major tournaments have frequently been typified by their goalkeeper



Adrian Mutu's penalty is saved by Buffon during the Euro 2008 Championships in Switzerland
Adrian Mutu's penalty is saved by Buffon during the Euro 2008 Championships in Switzerland


His stock couldn't have been higher because he had just helped Italy with the 2006 World Cup. The Juventino conceded only twice in the tournament - an own goal from Cristian Zaccardo and Zidane's audacious dinked penalty early in the final.
Fiorenzo Baini, co-author of 'Messi a 90' and an expert on the Italian national team, said 'Maybe Dino Zoff was more dependable, but Buffon is far more spectacular and enjoyable to watch.'
Becoming king of the world in Berlin eleven years ago remains the Tuscan's greatest feat. Only winning the Champions League could equal it. Buffon has appeared in two finals, losing the first on penalties to Milan in 2003 at Old Trafford.



Never one to shy away from conflict, Buffon has led from the front on and off the field 
Never one to shy away from conflict, Buffon has led from the front on and off the field 




Mario Mandzukic forces a save from Buffon at Euro 2012, the match finished in a 1-1 draw
Mario Mandzukic forces a save from Buffon at Euro 2012, the match finished in a 1-1 draw



Then Barcelona swept the Italian champions aside 3-1 to reign over Europe in 2015. This season's quarter-final offers a chance for revenge against the Catalans. Gigi is focussed, saying 'The Champions League is what we at Juve are working towards. Then I want to make it to the 2018 World Cup. Then, maybe that will be it.'
If Buffon gets another opportunity to play in a Champions League or World Cup final, he can relax in the knowledge that old pal Cannavaro won't be around to spoil the party with an inopportune error.
And when Buffon eventually plays his final ever match, perhaps next summer, there will be one or two (hundred) photographers around to make sure Superman is in the team photo. 



Some have compared Buffon to another legendary Italian, Dino Zoff, who played 642 games
Some have compared Buffon to another legendary Italian, Dino Zoff, who played 642 games


Buffon has already gone down in history as one of the finest goalkeepers of all time
Buffon has already gone down in history as one of the finest goalkeepers of all time
(The Mail, UK)