The most controversial moments of Gianluigi Buffon’s near 30-year football career

Legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has retired from football after a remarkable 28-year career that started in 1995.

Buffon played a staggering 1,151 games at club and international levels, winning an incredible 29 trophies for Italy and three different club teams.

In his retirement statement, Buffon wrapped it up, saying: "That's all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together."

Buffon started his career with Parma, winning the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia before joining Juventus for a record fee and winning ten Serie A titles.

As expected, after being in the spotlight at football's highest level for nearly 30 years, the Italian caused some controversy during his time as a player.

Here are Gianluigi Buffon's most controversial moments in his career!

For the 2000/01 season, Buffon decided to wear the number 88 jersey rather than the usual number one, saying the four balls in the number represent his character and attributes as a person.

His decision to wear the number 88 caused controversy in Italy due to its neo-Nazi connotations, as it represents Hitler's salute. He subsequently changed his number to 77.

In 1999, the Italian goalkeeper was heavily criticized and faced disciplinary action for bearing the Italian fascist slogan 'Who gives up is a scoundrel' under his shirt for games and in the media.

Buffon apologized for his actions, explaining he had seen it written on a boarding school desk and thought the slogan would help lift the fans and his teammates after some poor results.

The World Cup winner risked a four-year prison sentence in 2001 after falsifying a high school accounting diploma to enroll for a law degree at the University of Parma.

Buffon described the incident as the biggest regret of his life for his dishonest gesture. He paid a fine of 6,350,000 Lira ($234,950).

After his 2006 World Cup spot was at risk, following an interrogation in betting, Buffon created headlines again in the celebrations after winning the final.

The Italian World Cup squad celebrated their victory at Circus Maximus in Rome, where Buffon received further controversy, displaying a 'Proud to be Italian' banner with a Celtic Cross, a symbol adopted by neo-Nazis in the 21^st century.

In the 2018 Champions League quarterfinals away to Real Madrid, Juventus needed a 3-0 scoreline for extra time. The score was 3-0 when deep into added time, Madrid was awarded a penalty, much to the disgrace of Buffon, who was sent off for dissent.

Buffon made some controversial comments about referee Michael Oliver, resulting in a further three-match ban by UEFA.