Buffon set to retire after 2018 World Cup

Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has announced that he will retire from football following the 2018 World Cup.

The 37-year-old has enjoyed an illustrious career, winning the World Cup in 2006 with the Azzurri and claiming six Serie A title with Juventus.

But the former Parma player, who moved to the Old Lady for a record fee for a goalkeeper in 2001, will play out the tournament in Russia and then end his career.

"I will try to make the next World Cup and then it may be time to close the door. It will almost certainly be at the end of the 2018 World Cup," Buffon signalled as he picked up the Gianni Brera award for Sportsman of the Year.

The goalkeeper also referred to the recent Ballon d'Or prizes, and repeated his indignation at being snubbed from the shortlist.

"I deserved to be up there in the Ballon d'Or, but I knew it would be impossible to win," he said.

"I was definitely taken by surprise."

And Buffon registered his delight with the form of the Old Lady, singling out Paulo Dybala for praise.

"Juventus are enjoying a great spell right now, and 11 straight wins do not occur if you are not at your best physically and mentally," the veteran said.

"We have to be careful, because all runs must come to an end sooner or later. We must try and extend this form as long as possible, to put our bad run once and all behind us.

"[Dybala] showed amazing things last year, but doing those same things in Juventus is not the same as in another club. It is really surprising, in such a short time he has taken over control of the team going forward."