Biography: Gianluigi Donnarumma is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Paris Saint-Germain and the Italy national team. He was born on February 25, 1999, in Castellammare di Stabia, Italy. Donnarumma began his football career at the age of just six with the youth academy of Club Napoli. He spent six years with the academy before being signed by AC Milan in 2013. He quickly impressed with his performances for Milan’s youth teams, and in 2015, he made his senior debut for the club in a friendly match against Real Madrid.
Donnarumma then went on to make his Serie A debut for Milan in October 2015, becoming the youngest goalkeeper ever to play in the Italian top flight at the age of 16 years and 242 days. He quickly established himself as Milan’s first-choice goalkeeper and helped the club to a sixth-place finish in the 2015-16 season.
In the following years, Donnarumma became one of the most highly rated young goalkeepers in world football. He won his first trophy with Milan in 2016, when the club beat Juventus to win the Supercoppa Italiana. He continued to impress for Milan, making a number of crucial saves and earning praise from fans and pundits alike.
Donnarumma’s performances also caught the attention of the Italian national team, and he made his debut for the Azzurri in September 2016, becoming the youngest goalkeeper ever to play for Italy at the age of 17 years and 189 days. He was then called up to the Italy squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he played in all three of Italy’s group stage matches.
In 2021, Donnarumma’s contract with Milan expired, and he decided not to renew it. This led to him becoming a free agent, and he eventually signed for Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal. In his first season with PSG, he won the Ligue 1 title and was named the Player of the Tournament at the UEFA Euro 2020, where he helped Italy to win the tournament.
Donnarumma is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and his performances have earned him numerous individual awards and accolades. He has also been compared to some of the all-time greats of the game, including Gianluigi Buffon, whom he succeeded as Italy’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Off the pitch, Donnarumma is known for his humble and grounded personality. He is also an ambassador for the children’s charity Save the Children and has been involved in a number of charitable initiatives throughout his career.
- Full Name: Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Nickname (s): Dollar-umma, Gigio
- Birth Date: 25 February 1999
- Birth Place: Castellammare, Italy
- Gender: Male
Nationality: Italian - Age in 2023: 24 Years
- Father: Alfonso Donnarumma
- Mother: Marinella Donnarumma
- Sister (s): Nunzia Donnarumma
- Brother (s): Antonio Donnarumma
- Girlfriend: Alessia Elefante
- Zodiac Sign: Pisces
- Height: 1.96 m
- Weight 90 kg
- Eye Color: Dark Brown
- Hair Color: Black
- Occupation: Professional football player
- Playing Position: Goalkeeper
- Current Club Team: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
- Current National Team: Italy’s national football team
- Net Worth: $30 million
Lifestyle
He leads a healthy and active lifestyle as a professional athlete. As a goalkeeper, he requires a high level of physical fitness, and he likely follows a strict training regimen to stay in shape.
In his free time, Donnarumma enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He is known for his reserved and private personality, and he prefers to keep his personal life out of the public eye.
Donnarumma is also involved in charitable activities and has donated money to support various causes. He has contributed to efforts to fight COVID-19 in Italy and has also supported organizations that work to improve the lives of disadvantaged children.
Overall, Donnarumma’s lifestyle likely revolves around his football career, with a focus on maintaining physical fitness, healthy eating habits, and a disciplined training routine.
Records
- Youngest goalkeeper to make a Serie A debut: Donnarumma made his Serie A debut for AC Milan in October 2015, when he was just 16 years and 242 days old. This made him the youngest goalkeeper in the history of the Italian top flight.
- Youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a Serie A match: Donnarumma kept a clean sheet in his second Serie A match, against Sassuolo in October 2015. At the time, he was just 16 years and 299 days old, making him the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a Serie A match.
- Most clean sheets in a single Serie A season: In the 2016-17 season, Donnarumma kept 12 clean sheets in 38 Serie A matches, which is a record for a goalkeeper under the age of 18.
- First-choice goalkeeper for Italy at the Euro 2020 tournament: Donnarumma played a crucial role in Italy’s successful Euro 2020 campaign, in which they won the tournament for the first time since 1968. Donnarumma started all seven matches for Italy, keeping three clean sheets and making a number of keys saves, and was named Player of the Tournament.
- Transfer fee record for a goalkeeper: In July 2021, Donnarumma signed for French club Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, having previously been at AC Milan. His signing-on fee was reported to be in the region of €20 million, which is a record for a goalkeeper signing on a free transfer.
Family
Gianluigi Donnarumma comes from a close-knit Italian family. His parents, Alfonso and Marinella, have been supportive of his football career from a young age and have been a constant presence in his life. He has two siblings, Antonio and Alfredo, who are also both football players.
Donnarumma’s family is originally from the Campania region of Italy, but they moved to Milan when he was a child to support his football aspirations. Donnarumma has spoken in interviews about how important his family is to him and how their support has been crucial to his success.
In particular, Donnarumma has credited his father with instilling in him a strong work ethic and mental toughness. Alfonso has been a big influence on his son’s football career and is known for being a vocal supporter of AC Milan, where Donnarumma played for many years.
Overall, Donnarumma’s family plays an important role in his life, and he has spoken about their influence on his career and personal development. Despite his high-profile status as a professional footballer, Donnarumma is known for being humble and grounded, which may be a reflection of his strong family values.