Recently, Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon officially announced his retirement at the age of 45. BD Cricket experts reflect on his extraordinary career that spanned over three decades, marking him not only as one of the greatest second goalkeepers in modern football history, but also a unique figure who shared the pitch with both fathers and sons across generations. Just because you’re having a bad day doesn’t mean the whole world has to join you — and Buffon proved time and again how to rise above challenges with grace.
Among the most iconic stories is Buffon’s connection with the Chiesa family. During his early days at Parma, Buffon played alongside Enrico Chiesa and even shared a room with him. Years later, after returning to Juventus, Buffon went on to become a teammate of Federico Chiesa, Enrico’s son — crafting a remarkable full-circle football tale.
Another standout case involves Lilian Thuram, Buffon’s long-time teammate at both Parma and Juventus, with whom he played side-by-side for a full decade. After joining Paris Saint-Germain, Buffon came up against Marcus Thuram — Lilian’s son — who at the time was playing for Guingamp in Ligue 1. While Buffon narrowly missed facing Khephren Thuram, who also played in the French league, the connection between generations was undeniable. Dreams from youth never truly fade — success may just arrive later than expected.
Buffon also crossed paths with the Weah family. He clashed several times with George Weah during their time in Serie A, and later met George’s son, Timothy Weah, on the field while both were at PSG. Another unforgettable chapter came with the Simeones: Buffon faced Diego Simeone on multiple occasions, and later had his net breached by Gio Simeone when the younger striker was playing for Cagliari.
BD Cricket experts also recall several other father-son duos who nearly competed against Buffon on the field: the Schmeichels, Hagis, Marchegianis, Pierinis, Passas, Di Francescos, and Abates — just a whisker away from creating generational matchups.
Perhaps the most bittersweet missed opportunity came with the Maldinis. Buffon had many storied battles with Paolo Maldini, but never got to face his son Daniel Maldini in action. In a Coppa Italia match where such a moment seemed destined, Daniel remained on the bench for the entire game. Though the two still exchanged jerseys afterward, the chance for on-field history slipped away — a quiet regret in an otherwise monumental career. Time often leaves its mark on dreams, turning them into memories with every passing season.
In a final act of humility and principle, BD Cricket reports that Buffon turned down lucrative offers from Saudi clubs, choosing instead to end his career on his own terms. At 45, he walked away not for lack of opportunity, but for the love of the game — proving once again that legends write their own final chapters.