1,000 and counting: Buffon celebrates historic night as Italy legend

Gianluigi Buffon, Italy's most decorated and celebrated goalkeeper and one of the sport's greatest-ever shot-stoppers, joined a select few to notch 1,000 senior appearances Friday as he stepped out for a record 168th time for the Azzurri.

By virtue of playing in Palermo for a World Cup qualifier against Albania, the Carrara native also became the most-capped European international of all time, breaking a tie with Spain's Iker Casillas and Latvia's Vitalijs Astafjevs.

Buffon managed to keep a clean sheet - his 58th for his country - in the eventual 2-0 victory.

The 39-year-old has led an envious career littered with silverware, winning 18 major trophies over his 22 years as a professional.

The only available title to elude his grasp is the Champions League, and he is still very much in the hunt for his first European honour with quarter-finalist Juventus.

But even without it, Buffon, considered in many corners to be the game's greatest goalkeeper, has demanded eternal respect from his peers for his longevity. He is one of only four Serie A players in league history to surpass 600 matches, and could conceivably break Paolo Maldini's benchmark at 647 if he chooses to play for another couple of seasons.

The rest of his numbers are gaudy:

To put things in even greater perspective, Italy's back-up goalkeepers on Friday - 18-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma and 20-year-old Alex Meret - were not even alive when Buffon made his debut for Parma in 1995. Just 17 years old at the time, he managed to keep a star-studded AC Milan side scoreless after denying the likes of George Weah and Roberto Baggio.

He went on to win Serie A seven times, the Supercoppa Italiana six times, the Coppa Italia three times, and the UEFA Cup on one occasion. With Italy, he famously lifted the World Cup in 2006 after a tense penalty shootout against France in Berlin.

"Best wishes Gigi, he's a great," said former international teammate and Roma icon Francesco Totti on Italian TV. "I must have scored 10-15 goals against him in my career, not only at Juventus, also when he was at Parma."

Asked how he managed to beat such a legendary 'keeper, Totti added, "I aim at his balls."

Buffon can now count Paolo Maldini, Peter Shilton, Raul, Ryan Giggs, and Javier Zanetti among company in the 1,000 club.