Buffon to retire after playing in 2018 World Cup

Longtime Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said he'll retire following the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"If we manage to reach the World Cup in 2018, then I'll press on. But after that ... I'll bring down the shutters," he told reporters after accepting an award Monday.

Buffon is playing in his 21st professional campaign and will turn 38 on Thursday. He'll be 40 years old when the next World Cup rolls around.

Age hasn't slowed him down, though, and it won't affect his immediate future with Juventus. Buffon has spent the past 15 years with Bianconeri through good times and bad, winning the Scudetto six times while also enduring a season in Serie B in 2006 and 2007 after his club was demoted for match-fixing.

He's also represented Italy a record 154 times, winning the 2006 World Cup in Berlin.

"Buffon is the arbiter of his fate," said club general manager Giuseppe Marotta. "He will remain with Juventus however long he likes."