Having played in midfield as a kid, Buffon decided he wanted to be a goalkeeper after seeing Thomas N'Kono defend Cameroon's goal during the 1990 World Cup in Italy -- when Buffon was 12 -- and years later Buffon named his first son Louis Thomas after N'Kono. In 1991 when Buffon was just 13, Parma purchased his rights and put him in their youth system. At 17, Buffon made his Serie A debut with Parma, keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against AC Milan.
