Buffon sets retirement date. Image Source: twitter[/caption]Internet Desk: The chances of playing beyond the 2018 World Cup is of little interest to Juventus and Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon.
Currently planning on hanging up his gloves at the end of the tournament in Russia, the goalkeeper's appearance at the showpiece would mark an unprecedented sixth World Cup, a record which he currently shares with Antonio Carvajal and Lothar Matthaus.
At club level, Buffon's professional career began with Parma in 1995, where he made his Serie A debut, and was soon promoted to the role of starting goalkeeper, earning a reputation as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in Italy; during his time with the club, he won the Coppa Italia, the UEFA Cup and the Supercoppa Italiana, all in 1999. After joining Juventus in 2001, Buffon immediately won Serie A titles in both of his first two seasons at the club, and established himself as one of the best players in the world in his position. After winning two more consecutive league titles in 2005 and 2006, the club were later stripped of these titles and relegated due to their involvement in the 2006 Italian football scandal.
Despite rumours of his departure, Buffon remained with Juventus, contributing to the club's Serie B title and promotion back to Serie A in 2007. Following several trophyless seasons, Buffon later played a key role in Juventus's resurgence, which saw the club win an Italian record of five consecutive league titles between 2011 and 2016; he also inherited the captain's armband following the departure of Alessandro Del Piero in 2012. In total, he has won seven Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia titles, and five Supercoppa Italiana titles with Juventus.
"Retiring in 2018 is most likely, that's the idea," Buffon told the media.
"If I achieve my goal of playing at a sixth World Cup, I will be really happy. It's my ultimate goal.
"I'm not interested in playing one or two years later than that."
A winner of seven Serie As, a UEFA Cup, and the 2006 World Cup, the Italian was recently voted inside the top 10 for the 2016 Ballon d'Or.
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