Gianluigi Buffon is just one game away from making his 1000th senior appearance in professional football - what an achievement.

Now 39, the Italian is expected to reach the landmark when Italy take on Albania in their World Cup qualifier on Friday night.

He has 167 caps for Gli Azzurri, making up almost a fifth of his total career appearances that include 220 for Parma and 612 for Juventus.

And there could be plenty more to come. In an interview with Tuttosport, Buffon explained how he feels as good as ever as he approaches his 40s.

"I still do not feel like an old guy at the age of 38 (now 39)," he said. "Will I say farewell to the game in 10 years' time or in 15 years' time? Who knows, I might retire at the age of 65."

Buffon would never make it to 65, of course, but his agent recently revealed how he plans to still be playing when the 2018 World Cup comes around.

"It's something that I cannot answer," Silvano Martina told ItaliaCalcio24 when asked for Buffon's planned retirement date.

"He has already stated that his objective is the World Cup and then we will see. Obviously he is not going to carry on playing for another 10 years, though, that's for certain."

And yet it could have been so different. Buffon has established himself as a Juventus legend during his 16-year spell at the club but, according to his agent, he came close to joining another.

Speaking to TuttoJuve after Juve drew Barcelona in the Champions League last 16, Martina revealed how Buffon almost signed for the Catalonians in 2001.

"Yes, it was close (a move to Barcelona)," he said, per Goal. "There was an agreement between Parma and Barcelona, but he picked Juventus."

It's hard to picture Buffon in a Barcelona jersey but, had the deal gone through, the Italian would probably still be playing at the Camp Nou right now.

The legendary shot-stopper has proved he made the right decision, though. Since joining Juve, Buffon has won nine Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia's and five Supercoppa Italiana's.

Only the Champions League is missing from his trophy cabinet, which Juventus will hope to win this season having finished runners-up in 2015.