Gianluigi Buffon Says There's '99.9 Percent' Chance He Retires After Next Season

Juventus and Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon has revealed he is almost certain to retire after the 2018 FIFA World Cup next summer.

The 39-year-old goalkeeper told Sky Sport Italia the only way that will not be the case is if Juve win the UEFA Champions League in 2017-18 (via Sport):

"Yes, that will happen 99.9 percent. I'll have one more intense and busy season with important appointments. After that, it'll be time to say enough is enough. Together with Pres [Andrea Agnelli], we've left one possibility open: If we were to win the Champions League, I'd play for another season and try to win the Club World Club and other trophies."

Buffon is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. He made his Serie A debut for Parma in 1995, having come through the club's youth system, before transferring to Juve for a then-world-record £32.6 million fee in 2001.

With the Old Lady, he has won eight Serie A titles—it would be 10, but two were revoked because of the Calciopoli scandal—and the Coppa Italia three times. He is also a World Cup winner, having triumphed with Italy in 2006.

The one major piece of silverware that has eluded the great Buffon is the Champions League. He has come close, playing in three finals with Juve, but the Italian giants have lost them all, most recently suffering a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Real Madrid on June 3.

It is no surprise, then, that Buffon covets the most iconic trophy in European club football and would opt to extend his career should Juventus win it next season.

However, even if that proves not to be the case, he will still bow out as one of the greatest stoppers to pull on a pair of gloves.