The 32-year-old striker marked his special day by scoring Juve's third goal -- his 204th for the club -- with a typically cool finish in a 4-2 win over Bari which left them two points clear at the top of Serie B.

Del Piero, who has been with the Turin side since 1993, is now third behind Gaetano Scirea (552) and Giuseppe Furino (528) in the list of players to have made the most Juventus appearances.

"Something great happened to me today," said Del Piero, a World Cup winner with Italy last year.

"The only ones in front of me are two great idols, Scirea and Furino, and I am very proud to have reached this milestone and to have sealed it with a goal."

Juventus coach Didier Deschamps was delighted to see his captain mark the occasion by getting on the scoresheet.

"Alessandro moved well and did great things all afternoon, and then rounded it off with a good goal," said the Frenchman, who played alongside Del Piero when Juventus won the 1996 Champions League final against Ajax.

"It was a goal and a performance fit for the occasion."

Furino, now 60, paid tribute to Del Piero before kick-off.

"He is a man who compliments the Juventus mentality in terms of his style and behaviour," he said.

"I'm not surprised he has reached this milestone and he deserves all the success he gets."

Del Piero was one of the few stars to stick by Juventus when they were relegated from Serie A last summer for their role in the Italian match-fixing scandal.

The club were also given a nine-point penalty this season, but despite their handicap they seem set for a swift return to the top flight.

Former Italy coach Marcello Lippi, who stood down after the Azzurri triumphed in Germany, said Del Piero's name is synonomous with Juventus.

"When anyone thinks of Juve, they think of Del Piero. He is one of the few real symbols of Italian football; he is a leader and has an immensely tough character, he demonstrated that at the World Cup.

"He stayed with Juventus after they were relegated and is a shining example to the rest of the squad."

In addition to the 1996 Champions League trophy, Del Piero has also won five Serie A titles (1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003) in his time at Juventus.