Buffon reveals 'final stop sign': the date he'll finally hang up his gloves

Regarded by some as the greatest goalkeeper ever, the 43-year-old is currently in his 19th season with Juventus and 26th at the senior level.

Gianluigi Buffon has revealed June 2023 as his “maximum bar” – when he will finally call time on his long-lasting illustrious career.

The legendary goalkeeper, however, says he could also retire at the end of the 2020-21 season.

While the 43-year-old is no longer the first-choice between the sticks for Juventus, he still features for them frequently, especially in cup competitions.

He stood in front of the Juventus goal in their Coppa Italia semi-finals as well as in the quarter-final and last-16. In total, he has made 10 appearances this term and only half of those have come in Serie A.

“Look, in my head, there truly is a final stop sign, a maximum bar, which is June 2023,” Buffon told football writer Nicky Bandini in an interview for The Guardian.

“That is the maximum, really, really the maximum. But I could also stop playing in four months.”

It was at Parma where it all started for the ex-Italy international. He joined the club’s youth academy at the raw of 13 in 1991 and got promoted to the senior team only four years later.

Buffon has won 21 trophies so far in his 26-year-long career, including 10 Serie A titles.