Position: Goalkeeper

Born: 28.01.1978

Club: Juventus

Gianluigi Buffon become the world's most expensive goalkeeper when Juventus paid Parma in excess of £30million for his signature in the summer of 2001.

After a nervous start at the Stadio Delle Alpi the goalkeeper enhanced his reputation with season after season of sterling work between the sticks.

In that time he has been a virtual ever present in three Scudetto-winning seasons for Juventus, with his agility and perception frustrating many a striker.

At Parma, where he won the UEFA Cup, his bravery and natural sense of positioning were enough to secure him the number one shirt for Italy.

Despite faultless displays in qualifying Buffon missed Euro 2000, where Italy reached the final, with a broken thumb keeping him out of the tournament.

The 28-year-old appeared in each of Italy's games in the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 and was one of the least culpable players in these flawed campaigns.

Buffon's build up to this World Cup has been blighted by injury with a shoulder injury in pre-season requiring surgery and keeping him out until the winter break.

His comeback has been further hampered by a toe injury but should he be fit, Italy will possess one of the finest goalkeepers at the World Cup.