In the derby whistle between Juventus and Torino, Gianluigi Buffon, 42, should become, this Saturday, July 4, the only record holder for the number of games played in Serie A with 648 games, one more than another Italian legend: Paolo Maldini. Here are 5 figures that sum up the singular career of goalkeeper bianconero.
17. His age at the time of his first match in Serie A. November 19, 1995 marks the entry of Gianluigi Buffon, guardian number 3 of Parma, on the lawns of the Italian championship. While a duel at the top against AC Milan looms, the goalkeeper, Luca Bucci is injured. The trainer, Nevio Scala, prefers the young Gigi, at the training center since 1991, to the lining Alessandro Nista. In front of him, two Golden Balls: George Weah and Roberto Baggio. From his beginnings, the young porter from Parma proved his solidity (0-0).
3. This is the number of clubs that Gianluigi Buffon has known during his professional career. The Italian goalkeeper makes his debut in his training club in Parma. There followed a love story with the Old Lady which began in 2001. Despite a Serie B season, after a conviction of Juventus for corruption, he remained loyal to the Turin club until 2018. After a short layover duration at PSG in search of the Champions League, the Italian goalkeeper finds Juventus in 2019. He has just extended with Juve until 2021, twenty years after his debut in the bianconeri colors.
974. This is the record for the number of minutes without conceding a goal set by the Italian goalkeeper in 2016. Chance of the calendar, Gianluigi Buffon had already managed to beat this record against the Torino. He had been detained since 1994 by AC Milan goalkeeper Sebastiano Rossi (929 minutes).
0. The Champions League has always refused to the legendary goalkeeper. And it's not for lack of trying. The Italian goalkeeper participated in 3 finals (2003, 2015, 2017). Gigi Buffon could well join the club of cursed legendary players who have never lifted this cup. Flawless during his European career, the Juventus goalkeeper was only given a red card during the 2018 edition in the final minutes of the quarterfinal return against Real Madrid.
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20. This is the number of major trophies won. Apart from his 9 titles of Italian champion conquered with Juventus, Buffon won two Italian cups, five Italian Super Cups, a UEFA cup with Parma in 1999, a Ligue 1 in 2019 with Paris, not to mention the 2006 World Cup.
