GOAL celebrates the King of Rome's 46th birthday by showcasing the most significant strikes of his storied career.
Few players spend their entire careers at one club. Fewer still manage to spend 24 years at the highest level. Francesco Totti did both. Simply because he was no ordinary player.
He was a genuine phenomenon, 'The Golden Boy' who became 'The Eighth King of Rome'.
Totti made his Roma debut at just 16 years of age. By the time he retired in 2017, he had scored 307 goals in all competitions for his hometown club. He also netted nine times for Italy, whom he helped win the 2006 World Cup.
Below, GOAL runs through his most significant strikes, from the crucial efforts that decided games to the sublime demonstrations of skill that took our breath away…
Enjoy!
Getty Images10A high-pressure penalty
There had been considerable concern over whether Totti would even make it to the 2006 World Cup, having suffered a broken ankle just three months before the tournament kicked off.
However, despite the forward's lack of game time, Marcello Lippi was never in any doubt about reserving a place in his squad for the No.10. The coach's faith in Totti was fully vindicated.
Indeed, while there may have been plates and screws in his ankle that had been yet to be removed, he still contributed four assists during Italy's triumphant campaign.
Totti also scored one crucial goal, showing nerves of still to convert a penalty five minutes into injury time of Italy's last-16 clash with Australia to send his country through to the quarter-finals.
AdvertisementGetty9Stunning the Santiago Bernabeu
Real Madrid spent years trying to convince Totti to move to the Spanish capital, and it was easy to understand why.
He had, after all, masterminded Roma's first ever victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, in the first group stage of the 2002-03 Champions League.
After Candela had pounced on a loose ball inside his own half, Totti surged forward before waiting until the right moment to release his full-back, who had continued on running down the left flank.
Candela reached by by-line after dummying one defender and then produced the perfect cut-back for the supporting Totti, who swept the ball home and ran off celebrating with his shirt pulled over his head.
Getty8Totti humbles Hart
On September 30, 2014, Totti became the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history – and he did it in fitting fashion.
Midway through the first half of a group-stage clash with Manchester City, and Roma trailing to an early penalty from Sergio Aguero, Radja Nainggolan put his captain in on goal.
Joe Hart came rushing out to narrow the angle but Totti being Totti, he simply dinked the ball over the English goalkeeper to level the game.
The Italian, who was 38 at the time, then broke his own record just a few weeks later when he struck in a 1-1 draw at CSKA Moscow.
Getty Images7'I have purged you again'
Totti just didn't score memorable goals, he also produced iconic celebrations. Certainly, Roma fans will forever remember the way in which he marked his late goal in a 3-1 win over Lazio in April 1999.
Totti was still only 22 but he had already become the scourge of Roma's city rivals, so when he sealed a derby win for his side with a thumping finish, he revealed a tee-shirt which famously read, "I have purged you again."