Buffon Proud After Breaking Maldini’s Appearance Record
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says he is proud to have broken Paolo Maldini’s record as the Italian with the highest number of club appearances.
Buffon matched the former AC Milan captain’s record of 902 club appearances when he appeared in goal for Juventus against Hellas Verona last weekend, and although he sat out the midweek win over Brescia, he reappeared on Saturday as the champions beat SPAL 2-0.
Buffon’s latest appearance is his 903rd of a club career that has seen him don the jerseys of Parma, Juventus and Paris Saint Germain, unlike Maldini who spent his entire career with the Rossonerri.
The 41-year-old goalkeeper has now played 657 times for Juventus across two spells, 220 times for Parma and his stint with PSG in the French capital brought him 25 appearances.
After surpassing fellow Italian great Maldini, Buffon told reporters: "It's a great satisfaction, I wasn't aware I was so close to this record two games ago, I found out at the last game. I was told I had reached Paolo [Maldini].
"It makes me very happy and very proud, proud for what I did, but as I said to your colleagues, I am happy because I got here not dragging myself, but as a high-level player. That's what I think I can say without being presumptuous.
"Therefore I also added, earlier on, that I will always thank my parents and my wife, which has been benevolent with me, but I can also say that there's something of my own in all this.”
Despite a decorated career that includes 10 league titles and a FIFA World Cup, Buffon has never won the UEFA Champions League but will hoping to finally lift the trophy this season with Juventus.
