Italy's legendary goalkeeper, who celebrates his 40th birthday on January 28, continues to play at the very highest level with Juventus
GIANLUIGI Buffon's amazing career hits another milestone this weekend, as the veteran keeper celebrates his 40th birthday.
And he will mark it by making his return to the Juventus line-up having been ruled out for eight weeks with a calf injury.
In his absence former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny has conceded just one goal in seven Serie A games.
But the Pole is likely to make way for Buffon against Chievo as the long-serving keeper the day before he turns 40.
It is another remarkable achievement — and a long way from his first debut for Parma, in November 1995.
Thrown into a vital game against AC Milan, the 17-year-old Buffon — a kid who doesn't yet even have a driver's licence — excelled himself by keeping a clean sheet against a strike force that included George Weah and Roberto Baggio.
By the following season, he was as starter in the side which Carlo Ancelotti took agonisingly close to the Scudetto.
And, in the summer of 1998, he went to the World Cup finals as Italy's third-choice goalkeeper at the age of 20.
Buffon was born into a sporting family.
His father was a weightlifter and his mother a discus thrower.
His two sister's, Veronica and Guendalina, represented Italy in volleyball and his uncle, Dante Masocco, played top level basketball.
While his grandfather's cousin, Lorenzo, is a goalkeeping legend at Milan, Inter and the Italy national side.
After playing 168 games for Parma, Bufffon moved to Juventus in 2001 for £46m, making him the world's most-expensive goalkeeper.
And, 17 years on, it is a record he still holds.
The deal proved to be inspired. Juventus, a club with an incredible tradition of to goalkeepers could never have imagined they had just signed arguably their best ever.
That summer, the Bianconeri would come out on top on a dramatic final day in which three sides could still mathematically win the title, to claim their first Scudetto in four years.
Buffon would be part of a Juventus team which finished first in four of the next five seasons.
Though, two of those titles were taken off them because a match fixing scandal, and one would be in Serie B.
And, in 2006, he enjoyed the pinnacle of any footballer's career, as he held aloft the World Cup following Italy's triumph against France in Berlin.
But, it hasn't all been easy for Buffon, who's had to take some tough defeats.
He was part of the Italy side which was knocked out of the 2002 World Cup in heartbreaking fashion as hosts a South Korea netted golden goal.
And, a year later, Juventus were beaten by AC Milan on penalties in the Champions League final.
Buffon's form suffered the following campaign, and he admitted he suffered bouts of depression due to that defeat at Old Trafford.
He was part of the Italy sides which were knocked out at the group stages of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, and shipped four goals in the famous 4-0 Euro 2012 final hammering by Spain.
And, he has suffered two more defeats in Champions League finals, while also missing out on a fifth World Cup finals following defeat against Sweden.
He wept at the final whistle, and announced his retirement from international duty.
Despite these setbacks occurring at various points in his career, he has always come back stronger.
He may have had dips here and there but, he has always been considered among the best in the world — no matter who's around.
Whether, it be Oliver Kahn, Iker Casillas, Petr Cech or Manuel Neuer, they are always compared to Buffon.
The man has made over 1,000 appearances for club and country and has very rarely suffered with injury.
Should he play in every Serie A match between now and the end of the season, he will be within one game of Paolo Maldini's all-time appearance record, and he hasn't yet decided he will hang up his gloves at the end of the campaign.
Should he finally win the Champions League, he will definitely stay on to compete in the Fifa Club World Cup.
But, even now, at the age of 40, are there really too many better?