Francesco Totti

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Francesco Totti
{{post-nominals|list=OMRI}}

| image = KL-2018 (4).jpg

| caption = Totti in a charity match in 2018

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1976|9|27}}{{cite web |url=http://www.asroma.com/en/teams/players-and-staff/francesco-totti |title=Francesco Totti |publisher=AS Roma |language=it|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703163415/http://www.asroma.com/en/teams/players-and-staff/francesco-totti|archive-date=3 July 2018|url-status=dead}}

| birth_place = Rome, Italy

| height = 1.80 m{{cite web |url=http://www.legaseriea.it/it/giocatori/francesco-totti/TOTFR |title=Francesco Totti |publisher=Lega Serie A |language=it|access-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713141907/https://www.legaseriea.it/it/giocatori/francesco-totti/TOTFR|archive-date=13 July 2017}}

| position = Attacking midfielder, forward

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1983–1985

| youthclubs1 = Fortitudo

| youthyears2 = 1985–1986

| youthclubs2 = Trastevere

| youthyears3 = 1986–1989

| youthclubs3 = Lodigiani

| youthyears4 = 1989–1993

| youthclubs4 = Roma

| years1 = 1993–2017

| clubs1 = Roma

| caps1 = 619

| goals1 = 250

| nationalyears1 = 1992

| nationalteam1 = Italy U15

| nationalcaps1 = 6

| nationalgoals1 = 3

| nationalyears2 = 1991–1992

| nationalteam2 = Italy U16

| nationalcaps2 = 13

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| nationalyears3 = 1993–1995

| nationalteam3 = Italy U18

| nationalcaps3 = 14

| nationalgoals3 = 7

| nationalyears4 = 1995–1997

| nationalteam4 = Italy U21

| nationalcaps4 = 8

| nationalgoals4 = 4

| nationalyears5 = 1997

| nationalteam5 = Italy U23

| nationalcaps5 = 4

| nationalgoals5 = 2

| nationalyears6 = 1998–2006

| nationalteam6 = Italy

| nationalcaps6 = 58

| nationalgoals6 = 9

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{ITA}}}}

}}

Francesco Totti {{postnominals|post-noms=Ufficiale OMRI}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Italy |publisher=FIFA |page=15 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=198829 |title=Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana |date=12 December 2006 |publisher=Presidenza della Repubblica |language=it|access-date=6 September 2015|archive-date=3 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703003702/http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=198829|url-status=live}} ({{IPA|it|franˈtʃesko ˈtɔtti}};{{cite web |url=http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=Francesco |title=Francesco |work=DiPI Online |author=Luciano Canepari|access-date=26 October 2018 |language=it|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410122704/http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=Francesco|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=Totti |title=Totti |work=DiPI Online |author=Luciano Canepari|access-date=26 October 2018 |language=it|archive-date=21 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721180342/http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=Totti|url-status=live}} born 27 September 1976) is an Italian former professional footballer who played solely for Roma and the Italy national team. He was a technically gifted and creative offensive playmaker who could play as an attacking midfielder or as a forward (second striker, lone striker, or winger).

Totti spent his entire career at Roma, winning a Serie A title, two Coppa Italia titles, and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. A prolific goalscorer, he is the second-highest scorer of all time in Italian league history with 250 goals, and is the sixth-highest scoring Italian in all competitions with 316 goals.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzettagiallorossa.it/2013/03/as-roma-totti-a-caccia-del-record/ |title=AS ROMA Totti a caccia del record |work=Gazzetta Giallorossa|access-date=18 February 2015 |language=it|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404155215/http://www.gazzettagiallorossa.it/2013/03/as-roma-totti-a-caccia-del-record/|url-status=live}} Totti is the top goalscorer and the most capped player in Roma's history, holds the record for the most goals scored in Serie A while playing for a single club, and also holds the record for the youngest club captain in the history of Serie A. During his career at Roma, Totti has been referred to as Er Bimbo de Oro (The Golden Boy), Er Pupone (The Big Baby), L'Ottavo Re di Roma (The Eighth King of Rome), L'Imperatore (The Emperor) and Il Capitano (The Captain) by the Italian sports media. In 2013, the New York Times described him as a "Roman god in his game."{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=Rob |date=16 April 2013 |title=After 2 Decades of Creativity: Why Stop Now? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/sports/soccer/20-creative-years-of-francesco-totti-why-stop.html |work=The New York Times}}

Totti experienced global success on the world stage winning the 2006 FIFA World Cup and appearing in the finals of UEFA Euro 2000 with Italy. Totti was selected in the All-Star team for both tournaments; he also represented his country at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. In 2007 due to recurring physical problems, Totti announced his international retirement to focus solely on club play with Roma.

Regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, and one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time, Totti won a record eleven Oscar del Calcio awards from the Italian Footballers' Association: five Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year awards, two Serie A Footballer of the Year awards, two Serie A Goal of the Year awards, one Serie A Goalscorer of the Year award, and one Serie A Young Footballer of the Year award. He also won the 2007 European Golden Shoe and the 2010 Golden Foot. Totti was selected in the European Sports Media team of the season three times. In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the world's greatest living players as selected by Pelé, as part of FIFA's centenary celebrations.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm |title=Pele's list of the greatest |date=4 March 2004|access-date=31 May 2011 |work=BBC Sport|archive-date=3 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303061731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm|url-status=live}} In 2011, Totti was recognised by IFFHS as the most popular footballer in Europe.{{cite news |url=http://www.iffhs.de/?32a00e42f0ae2300bf11504e52d17f7370eff3702bb1c2bbb6e28e05 |title=The World's Most Popular Footballer Amongst Currently Active Players in 2011|access-date=25 January 2012 |publisher=IFFHS.de|archive-date=23 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123011321/http://www.iffhs.de/?32a00e42f0ae2300bf11504e52d17f7370eff3702bb1c2bbb6e28e05|url-status=live}} In 2015, France Football rated him as one of the ten-best footballers in the world who are over age 36.{{cite web |url=http://www.francefootball.fr/news/Le-top-10-des-meilleurs-vieux/559763 |title=Le top 10 des meilleurs vieux|trans-title=The top 10 of the best oldies |publisher=France Football |language=fr |author1=Thomas Simon |date=19 May 2015|access-date=5 February 2019|archive-date=22 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022011421/https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Le-top-10-des-meilleurs-vieux/559763|url-status=live}} Following his retirement in 2017, Totti was awarded the Player's Career Award and the UEFA President's Award.

Early life

File:Francesco Totti Lodigiani.jpg in 1986]]

Totti was born in Rome to parents Lorenzo and Fiorella Totti. He was raised in the Porta Metronia neighbourhood.{{cite news |first=Gaetano |last=Imparato |title=Francesco Totti |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1998/aprile/25/FARNCESCO_TOTTI_gm_0_980425207.shtml |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport|access-date=4 June 2015 |language=it |format=25 April 1998|archive-date=5 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405001154/http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1998/aprile/25/FARNCESCO_TOTTI_gm_0_980425207.shtml|url-status=live}} As a youngster he idolised ex-Roma captain Giuseppe Giannini,{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1997/luglio/19/Roma_scelto_nuovo_Principe_Totti_ga_0_9707193484.shtml |title=La Roma ha scelto un nuovo Principe: Totti |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first=Gaetano |last=Imparato |date=19 July 1997|access-date=4 June 2015|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404155212/http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1997/luglio/19/Roma_scelto_nuovo_Principe_Totti_ga_0_9707193484.shtml|url-status=live}} and regularly played football with older boys.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/long-read-francesco-totti-romes-greatest-son-who-never-got-love-he-deserved#:isr8gB319QtYcA |title=The long read: Francesco Totti – Rome's greatest son who never got the love he deserved |last=Murray |first=Andrew |date=1 April 2016 |magazine=FourFourTwo|access-date=12 April 2016|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704153439/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/long-read-francesco-totti-romes-greatest-son-who-never-got-love-he-deserved#:isr8gB319QtYcA|url-status=live}} Totti began to play youth team football in 1984, with Fortitudo, later joining Trastevere and Lodigiani. After he came to the attention of scouts, his mother refused a lucrative offer from Milan in order to keep him in his home town. Although his youth club initially had come to an agreement to sell Totti to the Lazio youth side, one of Roma's youth coaches, Gildo Giannini, persuaded his parents to let him join the Roma youth squad in 1989.

Club career

= Roma =

== 1992–1997: Early seasons ==

After three years in the youth team, Totti made his first appearance for Roma's senior side in Serie A at the age of 16, when coach Vujadin Boškov called him up in the 2–0 away victory against Brescia on 28 March 1993.{{cite news |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/serie_a/roma/2015/03/28-402429/Totti,+22+anni+fa+l%27esordio+in+Serie+A+con+la+Roma |title=Totti, 22 anni fa l'esordio in Serie A con la Roma |work=Corriere dello Sport |language=it |date=28 March 2015|access-date=26 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807121900/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/serie_a/roma/2015/03/28-402429/Totti,+22+anni+fa+l%27esordio+in+Serie+A+con+la+Roma |archive-date=7 August 2016}} In the following season under Carlo Mazzone, Totti began to play more regularly as a second striker,{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/76826/totti-%E2%80%98never-imagined-being-striker%E2%80%99 |title=Totti: 'Never imagined being striker' |publisher=Football Italia |date=8 December 2015|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=15 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515013951/https://www.football-italia.net/76826/totti-%E2%80%98never-imagined-being-striker%E2%80%99|url-status=live}} and scored his first goal on 4 September 1994 in a 1–1 draw against Foggia.{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/settembre/05/ragazzino_illude_poi_Roma_litiga_co_0_94090511607.shtml |title=il ragazzino illude, poi la Roma litiga |date=5 September 1994 |work=Corriere della Sera|access-date=26 July 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712232407/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/settembre/05/ragazzino_illude_poi_Roma_litiga_co_0_94090511607.shtml|archive-date=12 July 2012|url-status=dead |page=39 |language=it}} By 1995, Totti had become a regular in Roma's starting line-up and scored 16 goals during the next three seasons, while creating several more, as his talent was praised by his manager Mazzone.{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/gennaio/10/Totti_gioiello_cassaforte_co_10_9501102871.shtml |title=Totti, gioiello in cassaforte |work=Corriere della Sera |first=Luigi |last=Coldagelli |page=38 |date=10 January 1995|access-date=25 July 2016 |language=it|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101000000/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/gennaio/10/Totti_gioiello_cassaforte_co_10_9501102871.shtml|url-status=live}}

Following Mazzone's sacking in the summer of 1996 and the departure of Giannini, Totti was expected to play a more prominent role, after several promising seasons; however, the team underperformed during the 1996–97 season, while Totti struggled to gain playing time under new manager Carlos Bianchi, and was even set to leave for Sampdoria on loan in January 1997. Roma's chairman at the time however, Franco Sensi, impeded the transfer, leading to further tensions with the manager, who eventually parted ways with the club.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Roma/27-09-2013/roma-buon-compleanno-totti-leggenda-continua-201244195813.shtml |title=Roma, buon compleanno Totti. La leggenda continua |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first=Marco |last=Calabresi |date=27 September 2013|access-date=15 August 2016|archive-date=5 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405001154/https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Roma/27-09-2013/roma-buon-compleanno-totti-leggenda-continua-201244195813.shtml|url-status=live}}

== 1997–1999: Roma's number 10 and captain ==

Totti's years under Zdeněk Zeman represented a period of both physical and mental maturation as a player. From a technical and tactical standpoint, he proved to be compatible on the left wing in the rigid formations of the Bohemian coach, as his new role gave him more space to take on defenders in one on one situations, and cut into the centre to shoot on goal with his stronger foot; he also became physically more powerful, fit, hard-working, and complete. He displayed a greater responsibility for the team, and was presented with the number 10 jersey.{{cite news |last=Imparato |first=Gaetano |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1997/luglio/19/Roma_scelto_nuovo_Principe_Totti_ga_0_9707193484.shtml |title=La Roma ha scelto un nuovo Principe: Totti |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |access-date=26 July 2016 |language=it |date=19 July 1997 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404155212/http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1997/luglio/19/Roma_scelto_nuovo_Principe_Totti_ga_0_9707193484.shtml |url-status=live}} His first season under Zeman started well, with Totti taking advantage of a 4–3–3 formation and making his breakthrough with the club.{{cite web |url=http://www.tg1.rai.it/dl/tg1/2010/articoli/ContentItem-308fc4fa-288f-45b9-8e9b-349cbb86357c.html |title=Roma, Zeman è tornato |publisher=Rai.it |language=it |date=4 June 2012|access-date=15 August 2016|archive-date=9 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309043915/http://www.tg1.rai.it/dl/tg1/2010/articoli/ContentItem-308fc4fa-288f-45b9-8e9b-349cbb86357c.html|url-status=live}} He finished the league season reaching double figures in goals scored for the first time in his career; including a goal in the club's 2–0 away win against Napoli on 22 February 1998,{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2010/09/30/2144284/langolo-de-laroma24it-altro-che-cornetto-il-portafortuna |title=L'angolo de "Laroma24.it" – Altro che cornetto, il portafortuna della Roma è... il San Paolo |publisher=Goal.com |language=it |first=Filippo |last=Limoncelli |date=30 September 2010|access-date=15 August 2016|archive-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020104750/http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2010/09/30/2144284/langolo-de-laroma24it-altro-che-cornetto-il-portafortuna|url-status=live}} Totti scored 13 goals in Serie A in total,{{cite web |url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/mcalcio/978a/c00045.htm |title=Serie A 1997/98: Francesco TOTTI |publisher=Rai.it |language=it|access-date=15 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710195123/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/mcalcio/978a/c00045.htm|archive-date=10 July 2018|url-status=dead}} and contributed to Roma's fourth place league finish that year.{{cite web |first=Maurizio |last=Mariani |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital98.html |title=Italy Championship 1997/98 |website=RSSSF |date=29 November 2000|access-date=15 August 2016|archive-date=20 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720002019/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital98.html|url-status=live}} Although he was not called up for the 1998 FIFA World Cup by Italy manager Cesare Maldini,{{cite news |first=Franco |last=Melli |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/maggio/23/Totti_Fedele_alla_Roma_co_10_9805231931.shtml |title=Totti: Fedele alla Roma |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it |date=23 May 1998 |access-date=15 August 2016 |archive-date=31 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031025823/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/maggio/23/Totti_Fedele_alla_Roma_co_10_9805231931.shtml}} his consistent performances, creativity and goalscoring throughout the course of the previous Serie A season saw him being awarded the Guerin d'Oro for the 1997–98 season, given to him for having achieved the highest average rating of any Serie A player.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/italpoy.html |title=Italy – Footballer of the Year |website=RSSSF |access-date=6 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121013030/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/italpoy.html |archive-date=21 January 2015}} The following season, he began to gain recognition as a club symbol and as a leader, and on 31 October 1998, Totti became the team captain. This made him the youngest Serie A club captain ever at 22, inheriting the armband from Aldair.{{cite news |url=https://www.facebook.com/serieatim/photos/a.471212169618120.1073741847.124858950920112/1009953815743950/?type=3 |title=Totti diventa il più giovane capitano nella storia della Serie A TIM.|access-date=19 October 2015 |work=Serie A Facebook Page |date=16 October 2015|archive-date=31 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031060217/https://www.facebook.com/serieatim/photos/a.471212169618120.1073741847.124858950920112/1009953815743950/?type=3|url-status=live}} On 29 November 1998, Totti scored the equalising goal in a 3–3 draw against cross-city rivals Lazio; this was his first ever goal in the Rome Derby.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/roma/2016/03/31/news/totti_verso_derby-136625114/ |title=Roma, Totti e il derby: una magia di gol ed esultanze. Ma il più 'triste' potrebbe essere l'ultimo |work=la Repubblica |language=it |first=Matteo |last=Monti |date=31 March 2016 |access-date=29 July 2016 |archive-date=30 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730032814/http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/roma/2016/03/31/news/totti_verso_derby-136625114/ |url-status=live}} Overall, he scored 30 goals and provided 26 assists during Zeman's two-year managerial stint. For his performances, he was named the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year for the 1998–99 season.

== 1999–2004: The ''Scudetto'' as a playmaker ==

File:Totti-a.s.Roma-celebration.jpg

In June 1999, Roma's then-president Franco Sensi sacked Zeman and signed Fabio Capello as a replacement, with the aim of winning the league title.{{cite web |url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199906/02/37555e8904721/ |title=Addio Zeman |publisher=Rai Sport |language=it |date=2 June 1999|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712125030/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199906/02/37555e8904721/|archive-date=12 July 2018|url-status=dead}} By the 2000–01 campaign under the new coach, Roma were building a competitive team around Totti, who was by now being utilised as a creative attacking midfielder by Capello in a 3–4–1–2 formation, due to his passing skills and playmaking abilities.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/versatility-helps-totti-remain-romas-man-all-seasons |title=Versatility helps Totti remain Roma's man for all seasons |magazine=FourFourTwo |first=Michael |last=Cox |date=4 October 2013|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=14 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214103801/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/versatility-helps-totti-remain-romas-man-all-seasons|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzettaworld.com/news/serie-a/roma/totti-trequartista-role-frosinone/ |title=Roma captain Totti to be given new role against Frosinone |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |first=Marco |last=Credentino |date=10 September 2015|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819170911/http://www.gazzettaworld.com/news/serie-a/roma/totti-trequartista-role-frosinone/|archive-date=19 August 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/dec/14/newsstory.sport17 |title=How Capello won his nine league titles |work=The Guardian |first1=Nicky |last1=Bandini |first2=Sid |last2=Lowe |date=14 December 2007|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=7 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007122049/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/dec/14/newsstory.sport17|url-status=live}} Totti scored in a 2–0 home win over Bologna on his season debut on 1 October 2000.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/campionato/roma/roma/roma.html |title=Totti-gol regala un sorriso alla Roma |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=1 October 2000|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=16 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116043644/https://www.repubblica.it/online/campionato/roma/roma/roma.html|url-status=live}} On 10 December, Totti scored the match-winning goal in a 2–1 home win against Udinese, with a powerful left-footed volley to help Roma to their fifth home win of the season.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/campionato_partite/romaudinese/romaudinese/romaudinese.html |title=Una magia di Totti trascina la Roma |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=10 December 2000|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124545/http://www.repubblica.it/online/campionato_partite/romaudinese/romaudinese/romaudinese.html|url-status=live}} He continued his goalscoring form by scoring against Napoli at home in a 3–0 victory on 28 January 2001, as Roma finished the first half of the league season in first place.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/campionato_partite/romanapoli/romanapoli/romanapoli.html |title=La Roma ad un passo dal titolo d'inverno |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=28 January 2001|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821082517/http://www.repubblica.it/online/campionato_partite/romanapoli/romanapoli/romanapoli.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/200101/28/3a74626e054c3/ |title=Roma campione d'inverno |publisher=RaiSport |language=it |date=28 January 2001|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712121122/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/200101/28/3a74626e054c3/|archive-date=12 July 2018|url-status=dead}} Totti continued to play an important role in keeping the club at the top of the table throughout the remainder of the season, gaining a comfortable lead over rivals Juventus.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/1299925.stm |title=Rome giants in title crunch |work=BBC Sport |date=27 April 2001|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917003847/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/1299925.stm|url-status=live}} On 17 June 2001, at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma beat Parma 3–1, with their three main attackers, Totti, Vincenzo Montella and Gabriel Batistuta scoring one goal each, as Roma were crowned champions of Italy for the third time in their history.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/campionato_partite/romaparma/romaparma/romaparma.html |title=Roma, show all'Olimpico per la festa scudetto |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=17 June 2011|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=29 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629161328/http://www.repubblica.it/online/campionato_partite/romaparma/romaparma/romaparma.html|url-status=live}} Totti finished the league season with 13 goals, equalling what was at the time his personal goalscoring record in a single Serie A season.

On 19 August 2001, Totti won his first Supercoppa Italiana, scoring and assisting in the 3–0 win against Fiorentina.{{cite web |url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/200108/19/3b800d4b05ba6/ |title=SupeRoma Supercoppa |publisher=RaiSport |language=it |date=19 August 2001|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223121320/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/200108/19/3b800d4b05ba6/|archive-date=23 December 2018|url-status=dead}} Totti was named the Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year for both 2000 and 2001,{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/oscarpar/oscarpar/oscarpar.html |title=Oscar: Zidane batte Totti è lui il più bravo calciatore |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=2 October 2001|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030838/http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/oscarpar/oscarpar/oscarpar.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.assocalciatori.it/Pagine/AlbodOro/tabid/161/language/en-US/Default.aspx |title=Albo d'Oro |publisher=AIC |language=it |access-date=29 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223192332/http://www.assocalciatori.it/Pagine/AlbodOro/tabid/161/language/en-US/Default.aspx |archive-date=23 December 2011}} and won the Serie A Footballer of the Year Award for the first time in his career in 2000. He received his first Ballon d'Or nomination in 2000, finishing 14th in voting, and fifth the following year.{{cite news |url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/200112/17/3c1e290503e87/ |title=A Owen il Pallone d'Oro |publisher=RaiSport |language=it |date=17 December 2001 |access-date=31 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513201702/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/200112/17/3c1e290503e87/|archive-date=13 May 2012|url-status=dead}} Due to his performances and leadership, Totti had established himself as a hero to the Roma fans, who were also able to identify with his background as a Rome native and lifelong supporter.

File:Totti 2002.jpg

Over the following seasons, Totti played in a free role as either a forward or second striker in a 3–5–2 formation, often alongside either Batistuta or the newly acquired youngster Antonio Cassano. He scored his first hat-trick in Serie A, in a 3–2 away win over Brescia on 30 September 2002.{{cite news |first1=Massimo |last1=Cecchini |first2=Luigi |last2=Garlando |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2002/settembre/30/pensa_Totti_ga_0_0209304391.shtml |title=Ci pensa Totti |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=30 September 2002 |access-date=16 February 2016 |archive-date=17 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317003348/http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2002/settembre/30/pensa_Totti_ga_0_0209304391.shtml |url-status=live}} Totti also scored the only goal in Roma's decisive 1–0 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu against Real Madrid on 30 October 2002; this was the first time in 35 years that an Italian team had won a match in Madrid.{{cite news |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/624/2011/10/30-201566/2002+Champions+League,+Totti+eroe+a+Madrid |title=2002 Champions League, Totti eroe a Madrid |work=Corriere dello Sport |language=it |date=30 October 2011|access-date=13 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414165659/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/624/2011/10/30-201566/2002+Champions+League,+Totti+eroe+a+Madrid|archive-date=14 April 2014}} He continued his goalscoring exploits against Valencia, scoring two goals in a 3–0 win.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/champions_league/2797715.stm |title=Totti shoots down Valencia |work=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2003|access-date=18 April 2014|archive-date=14 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414184552/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/champions_league/2797715.stm|url-status=live}} Despite this, Roma only finished third in their Champions League group, and in eighth position in Serie A,{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital03.html |title=Italy 2002/03 |website=RSSSF |first1=Dario |last1=Desio |first2=Giacomo |last2=Giusti |first3=Francesco |last3=Gullo |date=31 August 2003|access-date=20 October 2015|archive-date=20 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720004417/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital03.html|url-status=live}} although they managed to reach the 2003 Coppa Italia final. In the final against Milan, Totti scored three times from free kicks over both legs (one goal at home and two at the San Siro), but Roma lost out to Milan 6–3 on aggregate.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio2002_serie_a/milancop/milancop/milancop.html |title=Al Milan anche la Coppa Italia |work=la Repubblica|access-date=25 July 2014|archive-date=8 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808073606/http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio2002_serie_a/milancop/milancop/milancop.html|url-status=live}} In 2003, Totti won his second Serie A Footballer of the Year Award.

In the 2003–04 season, Totti played a key role, as Roma finished runner-up to Milan in the Scudetto race.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital04.html |title=Italy 2003/04 |website=RSSSF |first1=Andrea |last1=Ferrigno |first2=Giacomo |last2=Giusti |date=19 August 2005 |access-date=22 October 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207154304/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ital04.html |archive-date=7 February 2016}} Throughout the league season, he scored 20 goals, his best haul in Serie A up to that point, which allowed him to win his second Guerin d'Oro, as the player with the best average rating in Serie A throughout the season. Moreover, the Roma captain notably scored trademark chipped goals on two occasions throughout the season, against Brescia and Empoli.{{cite web |url=http://www.corrieregiallorosso.com/corriere/totti-e-il-suo-marchio-di-fabbrica-tra-cucchiai-e-pallonetti-e-il-suo-colpo-preferito/ |title=Totti e il suo "marchio di fabbrica": tra cucchiai e pallonetti è il suo colpo preferito |publisher=Corriere GialloRosso |language=it |date=12 April 2011|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=16 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116043719/http://www.corrieregiallorosso.com/corriere/totti-e-il-suo-marchio-di-fabbrica-tra-cucchiai-e-pallonetti-e-il-suo-colpo-preferito/|url-status=live}}

== 2004–2009: Transition to striker ==

Despite Roma's disappointing 2004–05 season, which saw the departure of a number of players and several managerial changes,{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/uncategorized/serie-a-2004-05-team-by-team-guide-58070 |title=Serie A 2004-05: Team by team guide |publisher=World Soccer |date=8 September 2004|access-date=14 November 2016|archive-date=14 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114232307/http://www.worldsoccer.com/uncategorized/serie-a-2004-05-team-by-team-guide-58070|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.asroma.com/en/news/2016/1/roma-world-no-4-thailand |title=Roma World No.4: Thailand |publisher=AS Roma |first=Paul |last=Rogers |date=7 January 2016|access-date=14 November 2016|archive-date=14 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114165844/http://www.asroma.com/en/news/2016/1/roma-world-no-4-thailand|url-status=live}} Totti maintained consistent form by scoring twelve goals in Serie A, and 15 in all competitions, among which was his 100th Serie A goal from a free kick in a 3–3 draw against Inter Milan, on 3 October 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=242306.html |title=Ton-up Totti rallies Roma |publisher=UEFA |date=3 October 2004|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=12 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012193320/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=242306.html|url-status=dead}} Two months later, on 19 December, he became Roma's all-time leading scorer in Serie A after netting his 107th career league goal against Parma, breaking the record previously held by Roberto Pruzzo.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-12-20/totti-breaks-record-udinese-close-gap/605630 |title=Totti breaks record, Udinese close gap |publisher=abc.net.au |date=19 December 2004|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818235050/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-12-20/totti-breaks-record-udinese-close-gap/605630|url-status=live}} Although Roma finished the league season in eighth place,{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital05.html |title=Italy 2004/05 |website=RSSSF |first1=Andrea |last1=Ferrigno |first2=Antonio |last2=Zea |date=26 July 2006|access-date=14 November 2016|archive-date=20 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720013840/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital05.html|url-status=live}} Totti helped the team reach the 2005 Coppa Italia final; however Roma lost to Inter.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2006/04/sezioni/sport/calcio/semifinale-coppa-italia/semifinale-coppa-italia/semifinale-coppa-italia.html |title=Colpo Tommasi, Roma in finale Troverà l'Inter, come nel 2005 |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=12 April 2006|access-date=7 January 2016|archive-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110202053/http://www.repubblica.it/2006/04/sezioni/sport/calcio/semifinale-coppa-italia/semifinale-coppa-italia/semifinale-coppa-italia.html|url-status=live}}

Roma's new coach for the 2005–06 season, Luciano Spalletti, went with a 4–2–3–1 formation, deploying Totti in a newer, more offensive role as a lone striker. Despite his new attacking role, Totti usually dropped deep to pick up the ball in midfield rather than operating in the penalty area, thus creating space for the attacking midfielders and wingers to making offensive runs; the resulting system was later described as a 4–6–0, while Totti's particular attacking role was dubbed the "false 9".{{cite web |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1435904-great-team-tactics-francesco-totti-roma-and-the-first-false-nine |title=Great Team Tactics: Francesco Totti, Roma and the First False Nine |website=Bleacher Report |first=Sam |last=Tighe |date=6 December 2012|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110231026/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1435904-great-team-tactics-francesco-totti-roma-and-the-first-false-nine|url-status=live}} In this new position, Totti continued to score frequently, managing 15 goals in 24 league matches. In the spring of 2005, he renewed his contract until 2010, with an annual salary of €5.4 million.{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/05/31/italy.totti/ |title=Totti agrees Roma deal extension |publisher=CNN |date=31 May 2005|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=18 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818034953/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/05/31/italy.totti/|url-status=live}} On 19 February 2006, he suffered a fracture of his left fibula and ligament damage during a match against Empoli, after being fouled by Richard Vanigli.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/feb/20/europeanfootball.sport1 |title=Totti's broken ankle takes shine off Roma's 10th straight victory |work=The Guardian |date=20 February 2006|access-date=31 May 2011}} Totti was at risk of missing the 2006 World Cup, but returned to the side on 11 May 2006 as a substitute in Roma's 3–1 Coppa Italia final defeat to Inter.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italcup06.html |title=Italy Cup 2005/06 |website=RSSSF |first=Antonio |last=Zea |date=25 May 2006 |access-date=7 January 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207144448/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/italcup06.html |archive-date=7 February 2016}} A metal plate had been attached to his ankle during surgery, but doctors decided not to operate again and remove it following Totti's return, concurring that the plate would not affect his game.{{cite web |url=http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/roma-doc-explains-totti-plate-decision-134941 |title=Roma doc explains Totti plate decision |publisher=Tribal Football |date=17 June 2006|access-date=31 May 2011|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054407/http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/roma-doc-explains-totti-plate-decision-134941|url-status=live}} He was given off-label treatments of teriparatide to speed-up his fracture recovery.{{cite web |url=http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/index.php?id=2049&type=98&tx_ttnews%5btt_news%5d=93933&cHash=da03e20e36 |title=Accelerating Fracture Healing With Teriparatide |first=Bruce |last=Jancin |publisher=Internal Medicine News Digital Network |date=12 December 2011 |access-date=20 September 2013 |archive-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061630/http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/index.php?id=2049&type=98&tx_ttnews%5btt_news%5d=93933&cHash=da03e20e36 |url-status=live}}

File:Coppa Italia 2008 premiazione.jpg trophy presented to him by President of Italy Giorgio Napolitano (right).|alt=]]

The 2006–07 season was a personal high for Totti, as he scored 26 goals in Serie A, as well as another six between the Champions League (scoring three times in the group stage and once in the round of 16 tie against Lyon) and the Coppa Italia, in addition to 15 assists in 50 games across all competitions. Despite their elimination from the Champions League by Manchester United in the quarter-finals, and a second-place finish in the league, Roma won the Coppa Italia final against league champions Inter with a 6–2 victory at home (Totti scored the opening goal after 50 seconds) and a 2–1 defeat at the San Siro in Milan.{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/speciali/coppa_italia/2007/tabellini/142763.html |publisher=gazzetta.it |title=Coppa Italia Finale |date=9 May 2007|access-date=27 July 2016 |language=it|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170900/http://www.gazzetta.it/speciali/coppa_italia/2007/tabellini/142763.html|url-status=live}} Totti finished the season as Serie A top scorer with 26 goals,{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italtops.html |title=Italy – Serie A Top Scorers |website=RSSSF |first1=Roberto |last1=Di Maggio |first2=Igor |last2=Kramarsic |first3=Alberto |last3=Novello |date=11 June 2015 |access-date=2 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031163443/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/italtops.html |archive-date=31 October 2015}} and on 17 June, he also received the ESM European Golden Shoe award as the top European goalscorer of the season.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6765029.stm |title=Totti scoops European Golden Boot |work=BBC Sport |date=18 June 2007|access-date=18 April 2014|archive-date=18 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418233642/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6765029.stm|url-status=live}} Despite being the highest active goalscorer in Serie A, he was not among the finalists for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2007/10_Ottobre/10/fifa_world_player_1010.shtml |title=Ibra e Totti fuori dai 30 |date=10 October 2007|access-date=31 May 2011 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it|archive-date=13 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113022535/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2007/10_Ottobre/10/fifa_world_player_1010.shtml|url-status=live}} due to his absence from the national team, although he was nominated for the 2007 Ballon d'Or, finishing tenth in the voting.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy07.html |title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 2007 |website=RSSSF|access-date=4 February 2015|archive-date=24 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024172719/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/europa-poy07.html|url-status=live}}

On 19 August 2007, Totti contributed to Roma's 1–0 victory over Inter in the 2007 Supercoppa Italiana, winning a penalty which was subsequently converted by Daniele De Rossi.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Inter/Primo_Piano/2007/08_Agosto/19/supercoppa.shtml |title=La Supercoppa è della Roma |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first=Antonino |last=Morici |date=19 August 2007|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072347/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Inter/Primo_Piano/2007/08_Agosto/19/supercoppa.shtml|url-status=live}} Totti scored his 200th goal for Roma in a 4–0 victory against Torino in the Coppa Italia, on 16 January 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2007/08/sezioni/sport/calcio/coppa-italia/ottavi-italia/ottavi-italia.html |title=Coppa Italia, il Catania elimina il Milan Totti 200 volte in gol e la Roma va |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=16 January 2008|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=8 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308060646/https://www.repubblica.it/2007/08/sezioni/sport/calcio/coppa-italia/ottavi-italia/ottavi-italia.html|url-status=live}} He was named the Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year for the fifth time in his career on 28 January. The following month, on 24 February, he reached 386 appearances in Serie A with Roma in a match against Fiorentina, equalling the club appearance record previously held by Giacomo Losi, Roma's captain in the 1960s. He broke the record on 27 February, in the club's following league match against Inter.{{cite news |first=Antonino |last=Morici |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Inter/Primo_Piano/2008/02_Febbraio/27/intromcronaca.shtml |title=Totti illude la Roma Zanetti salva l'Inter |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=27 February 2008|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114134/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Inter/Primo_Piano/2008/02_Febbraio/27/intromcronaca.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2008/03/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata-26a/roma-parma/roma-parma.html |title=Una Roma concreta ne segna 4 Il Parma si arrende a super Totti |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=1 March 2008|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=7 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407040128/http://www.repubblica.it/2008/03/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata-26a/roma-parma/roma-parma.html|url-status=live}} On 9 March, he reached his 500th overall appearance for Roma, scoring the second goal of the match from a penalty kick in a 2–0 away win over Napoli.{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/03/09/football.italy/index.html |title=Totti spot on as Roma reel in leaders |publisher=CNN |date=9 March 2008|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=5 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905072658/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/03/09/football.italy/index.html|url-status=live}} Totti suffered a season-ending injury to his right knee during a 1–1 draw with Livorno on 19 April. Tests revealed a tear of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that required surgery, ruling him out for four months.{{cite news |url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/apr20m.html |title=Totti 'ready in four months' |date=20 April 2008|access-date=31 May 2011 |publisher=Football Italia|archive-date=21 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421145140/http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/apr20m.html|url-status=live}} Roma won their ninth Coppa Italia with a 2–1 victory over Inter on 24 May; although Totti did not play the match, he was still allowed to lift the cup as the team's captain.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2007/08/sezioni/sport/calcio/coppa-italia/finale-partita/finale-partita.html |title=La Coppa Italia è giallorossa "Rivincita" della Roma sull'Inter |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=24 May 2008|access-date=20 October 2015|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921195604/https://www.repubblica.it/2007/08/sezioni/sport/calcio/coppa-italia/finale-partita/finale-partita.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2008/05/25/coppa-italia-ancora-sua-prima-fischi-poi.html |title=Coppa Italia ancora sua prima fischi poi abbracci |work=la Repubblica |first=Fabrizio |last=Bocca |language=it |date=25 May 2008|access-date=20 October 2015|archive-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110202054/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2008/05/25/coppa-italia-ancora-sua-prima-fischi-poi.html|url-status=live}} With this win, Totti became the most successful captain in the club's history, with five titles and ten runners-up medals.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/2016/04/21/news/dieci_numeri_carriera_totti-138100196/ |title=Totti, 22 secondi per segnare 7900 giorni dopo il primo gol |work=la Repubblica |language=it |first=Matteo |last=Pinci |date=21 April 2016|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=27 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727070859/http://www.repubblica.it/sport/2016/04/21/news/dieci_numeri_carriera_totti-138100196/|url-status=live}}

File:Francesco Totti Vicario.JPG in 2009 during the final year of Spalletti's first spell with Roma|alt=|left]]

In the 2008–09 season, Totti recovered from the previous injury, and took part in the 2008 Supercoppa Italiana final on 24 August 2008; following a 2–2 draw with Inter after extra-time, Totti missed his penalty in the resulting shootout, which allowed Javier Zanetti to win the match for Inter with the following spot-kick.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Inter/Primo_Piano/2008/08/24/partita.shtml |title=Inter, è subito festa Supercoppa ai rigori |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=24 August 2008|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924142425/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Inter/Primo_Piano/2008/08/24/partita.shtml|url-status=live}} On 8 November 2008, he made his 400th appearance in Serie A, in a 1–1 away draw against Bologna, scoring the opening goal of the match.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Bologna/Primo_Piano/2008/11/08/bologna-roma.shtml |title=Roma, Totti non basta Mihajlovic: esordio con pari |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first=Riccardo |last=Pratesi |date=8 November 2008|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212730/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Bologna/Primo_Piano/2008/11/08/bologna-roma.shtml|url-status=live}} Later that month, he went on to help his team beat Lazio in the Rome derby, assisting Júlio Baptista's match-winning goal.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2008/11/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata-12/roma-lazio/roma-lazio.html |title=Baptista fa respirare la Roma i giallorossi vincono il derby |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=16 November 2008|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821063256/http://www.repubblica.it/2008/11/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata-12/roma-lazio/roma-lazio.html|url-status=live}} Totti's run of good form continued as he provided assists for Mirko Vučinić, and scored a lobbed goal in a 3–0 win in a league game against Lecce on 23 November,{{cite web |url=http://www.worldfootball.net/report/serie-a-2008-2009-us-lecce-as-roma/ |title=US Lecce – AS Roma 0:3 |publisher=worldfootball.net |date=23 November 2008|access-date=9 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714212653/http://www.worldfootball.net/report/serie-a-2008-2009-us-lecce-as-roma/|url-status=live}} while he netted a free kick in a 3–1 away win against CFR Cluj in the Champions League later that week, on 27 November.{{cite web |first=Derek |last=Brookman |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01d3-0e7071fd41e1-ac883e8546f3-1000--brighi-double-puts-roma-in-command/ |title=Brighi double puts Roma in command |publisher=UEFA |date=27 November 2008 |access-date=29 July 2016 |archive-date=1 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101095841/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2009/matches/round=15276/match=302754/postmatch/report/index.html |url-status=live}} He also scored the second goal in a 2–0 win against Bordeaux on 10 December, which ensured Roma's passage to the round of 16 of the competition as group winners.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01d4-0e7091357aae-2a4e57726ef0-1000--totti-clinches-top-spot-for-roma/ |title=Totti clinches top spot for Roma |publisher=UEFA |date=10 December 2008|access-date=25 June 2015|archive-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818235057/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01d4-0e7091357aae-2a4e57726ef0-1000/|url-status=live}} On 19 April 2009, Totti scored his 175th Serie A goal in a 3–2 home win over Lecce, overtaking Amedeo Amadei as Roma's all-time highest goalscorer; with the goal, Totti also became one of the top-ten goalscorers in Serie A history.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Primo_Piano/2009/04/06/marcatori.shtml |title=Totti sale a quota 175 gol E' nella top ten di sempre |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=19 April 2009|access-date=8 June 2014|archive-date=5 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105023651/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Primo_Piano/2009/04/06/marcatori.shtml|url-status=live}}

== 2009–2011: Struggles and return to form ==

Roma's difficult start to the 2008–09 season and continued struggles at the start of the 2009–10 season saw Spalletti resign after a four-year reign, and he was replaced by Claudio Ranieri.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8231959.stm |title=Ranieri appointed new Roma coach |work=BBC Sport |date=2 September 2009|access-date=2 September 2009 |location=London|archive-date=3 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503075110/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8231959.stm|url-status=live}} Totti performed well in the inaugural UEFA Europa League; he scored two hat-tricks in the competition that season, first in a 7–1 away win against Gent in the third qualifying round{{cite web |url=https://it.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2000657--gent-vs-roma/ |title=Gent 1–7 Roma |publisher=UEFA |language=it |date=6 August 2009|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=25 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825212650/http://it.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2010/matches/round=2000035/match=2000657/index.html|url-status=live}} and then another in the same scoreline against MFK Košice at the Stadio Olimpico in the play-off round.{{cite web |title=Roma d'autorità, sette gol al Košice |url=https://it.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2000738--roma-vs-kosice/ |publisher=UEFA|access-date=29 July 2016 |language=it |date=28 August 2009|archive-date=25 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825212809/http://it.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2010/matches/round=2000036/match=2000738/index.html|url-status=live}} In Serie A, he also scored three goals against Bari on 22 November 2009, seven years on from his last hat-trick in Serie A.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/articoli/articolo28222.shtml |title=La Roma affonda il Bari, 3–1 |publisher=Sport Mediaset |language=it |date=22 November 2009|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201535/http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/articoli/articolo28222.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2009/novembre/23/Totti_boom_Torna_minuti_ga_10_091123015.shtml |title=Totti boom Torna e ne fa 3 in 28 minuti |author=Ruggiero Palombo |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |date=23 November 2009 |language=it|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021153/http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2009/novembre/23/Totti_boom_Torna_minuti_ga_10_091123015.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2009/11/23/totti-dicevano-che-ero-finito-meglio-cosi.html |title=Totti: Dicevano che ero finito Meglio così, mi porta bene |author=Francesca Ferrazza |newspaper=la Repubblica |date=23 November 2009 |page=4 |language=it|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021811/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2009/11/23/totti-dicevano-che-ero-finito-meglio-cosi.html|url-status=live}} Eight days later, Totti confirmed he had signed a new five-year playing contract, which would see him stay at the club until 2014, after which he stated he would become a club director for a further five years.{{cite news |url=http://www.football-italia.net/dec1c.html |title=Totti finally signs new contract |date=1 December 2009 |access-date=31 May 2011 |publisher=Football Italia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204154132/http://www.football-italia.net/dec1c.html |archive-date=4 December 2009}}{{cite news |url=http://www.football-italia.net/dec16q.html |title=Totti's Roma contract ratified |date=16 December 2009 |access-date=31 May 2011 |publisher=Football Italia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091219192930/http://www.football-italia.net/dec16q.html |archive-date=19 December 2009}} Roma offered him an annual salary of €8.9 million for 2009–10 and €8.6 million a year for the next four seasons.{{cite news |url=http://www.asroma.it/pdf/corporate/operazioni_di_mercato/2009-12-16_prolungato_il_contratto_per_le_prestazioni_sportive_del_calciatore_francesco_totti.pdf |title=Prolungamento contratto economico di Francesco Totti |date=16 December 2009|access-date=10 November 2012 |publisher=AS Roma |language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608033914/http://www.asroma.it/pdf/corporate/operazioni_di_mercato/2009-12-16_prolungato_il_contratto_per_le_prestazioni_sportive_del_calciatore_francesco_totti.pdf|archive-date=8 June 2012|url-status=dead}}

With a 24-match unbeaten run in Serie A, Roma became the only challengers to Inter in the last three rounds for the league title that season,{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/ranieri-cautious-as-roma-go-top-296830 |title=Ranieri cautious as Roma go top |publisher=World Soccer |date=12 April 2010|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=9 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509161619/http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/ranieri-cautious-as-roma-go-top-296830|url-status=live}} ultimately finishing as runner-up following the final game.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/may/16/inter-milan-win-serie-a |title=Internazionale take fifth successive Serie A title with win at Siena |work=The Guardian |date=16 May 2010|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=9 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009211602/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/may/16/inter-milan-win-serie-a|url-status=live}} Despite suffering several injury problems,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2010/mar/25/claudio-ranieri-roma-inter-serie-a |title=Claudio Ranieri the Roma revivalist aims to spoil another Milan party |work=The Guardian |first=Nicky |last=Bandini |date=25 March 2010|access-date=2 August 2016}} Totti surpassed former prolific strikers such as Gabriel Batistuta,{{cite web |url=http://www.tuttobari.com/curiosita/totti-aggancia-batigol-3552 |title=Totti aggancia Batigol |publisher=Tutto Bari |language=it |first=Michele |last=Lorusso |date=5 October 2009|access-date=2 August 2016|archive-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807082714/http://www.tuttobari.com/curiosita/totti-aggancia-batigol-3552|url-status=live}} Giuseppe Signori,{{cite web |url=http://www.laroma24.it/rubriche/la-penna-degli-altri/2010/01/totti-fa-188-e-raggiunge-signori |title=Totti fa 188 e raggiunge Signori |publisher=La Roma 24 |language=it |date=24 January 2010|access-date=2 August 2016|archive-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819023943/http://www.laroma24.it/rubriche/la-penna-degli-altri/2010/01/totti-fa-188-e-raggiunge-signori|url-status=live}} and Kurt Hamrin,{{cite web |url=http://it.eurosport.com/calcio/serie-a/2009-2010/totti-ci-siamo_sto2311142/story.shtml |title=Totti "Ci siamo e ci saremo fino alla fine" |date=2 May 2010 |publisher=Eurosport |language=it|access-date=2 August 2016|archive-date=12 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512190708/http://it.eurosport.com/calcio/serie-a/2009-2010/totti-ci-siamo_sto2311142/story.shtml|url-status=live}} putting him in sixth place in the all-time Serie A scoring records.{{cite web |url=http://www.laroma24.it/approfondimenti/approfondimenti-approfondimenti/2011/03/totti-ecco-i-numeri-aggiornati-254-gol-con-la-maglia-della-roma-199-in-serie-a-e-8-nei-derby |title=Totti, ecco i numeri aggiornati: 254 gol con la maglia della Roma, 199 in Serie A e 8 nei derby |publisher=La Roma 24 |language=it |date=13 March 2011|access-date=2 August 2016|archive-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819015505/http://www.laroma24.it/approfondimenti/approfondimenti-approfondimenti/2011/03/totti-ecco-i-numeri-aggiornati-254-gol-con-la-maglia-della-roma-199-in-serie-a-e-8-nei-derby|url-status=live}} Totti played in the Coppa Italia final against Inter on 5 May 2010, but received a red card in the closing minutes of the second half for kicking Mario Balotelli; Roma lost the match 0–1, failing to bring home a record tenth Coppa Italia title.{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.us/story/783535/francesco-totti-rejects-mario-balotellis-racism-claim |title=Totti rejects Balotelli's racism claim |publisher=ESPN FC |date=8 May 2010|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807123913/http://www.espnfc.us/story/783535/francesco-totti-rejects-mario-balotellis-racism-claim|url-status=live}}

File:Totti 2011 crop.jpg

In the 2010–11 season, Roma suffered yet another defeat to Inter in the 2010 Supercoppa Italiana,{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Inter/21-08-2010/supercoppa-roma-spreca-71864477191.shtml |title=Supercoppa, la Roma spreca Eto'o la punisce: 3–1 Inter|trans-title=Supercup, Roma waste Eto'o punishes them |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first=Riccardo |last=Pratesi |date=21 August 2010|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212228/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Inter/21-08-2010/supercoppa-roma-spreca-71864477191.shtml|url-status=live}} continuing their "traditional" early struggles, which Totti partly blamed on Ranieri's defensive mindset and failure to develop a consistent set of tactics.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/roma-coach-ranieri-dismisses-totti-row-2091964.html |title=Roma coach Ranieri dismisses Totti row |work=The Independent |date=28 September 2010|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819204438/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/roma-coach-ranieri-dismisses-totti-row-2091964.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2010/09/18/2124860/roma-coach-claudio-ranieri-defends-his-team-and-francesco |title=Roma coach Claudio Ranieri defends his team and Francesco Totti |publisher=Goal.com |first=Serafino |last=Ingardia |date=18 September 2010|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=10 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010150316/http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2010/09/18/2124860/roma-coach-claudio-ranieri-defends-his-team-and-francesco|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/node/1097 |title=Low morale in Roma camp |publisher=Football Italia|access-date=29 July 2016 |date=6 December 2010|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816074412/http://www.football-italia.net/node/1097|url-status=live}} On a personal level, Totti won the Golden Foot award,{{cite web |title=Roma star Totti awarded Golden Foot prize |url=http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=831489|access-date=15 April 2014 |publisher=ESPN |date=11 October 2010|archive-date=13 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011120/http://www.espnfc.com/news/story?id=831489|url-status=live}} but Ranieri's lack of faith in him due to his age meant that the captain would spend a lot of time on the substitute's bench in favour of younger forwards, such as Marco Borriello, Mirko Vučinić and Jérémy Ménez.{{cite news |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/roma/2010/11/23-140751/Totti+escluso+col+Bayern.+Spazio+a+Vucinic-Borriello |title=Roma con Vucinic-Borriello Milan, Ronaldinho fuori |work=Corriere dello Sport |language=it |first=Guido |last=D'Ubaldo |date=23 November 2010|access-date=29 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821003907/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/roma/2010/11/23-140751/Totti+escluso+col+Bayern.+Spazio+a+Vucinic-Borriello |archive-date=21 August 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/node/1866 |title=Ranieri: 'Totti at the centre of my Roma' |publisher=Football Italia |date=8 January 2011|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816094913/http://www.football-italia.net/node/1866|url-status=live}} His limited playing time, which included a controversial 91st minute substitution in a 2–1 away loss against Sampdoria,{{cite news |url=http://www.legaseriea.it/it/serie-a-tim/match-report/-/match-report/Sampdoria-Roma/25604 |title=Sampdoria-Roma Official Match Report |publisher=Lega Serie A |language=it |date=9 January 2011 |access-date=31 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722083953/http://www.legaseriea.it/it/serie-a-tim/match-report/-/match-report/Sampdoria-Roma/25604 |archive-date=22 July 2012}} resulted in several clashes with Ranieri, and saw him fall out of form, scoring only three league goals in 21 appearances;{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/node/2756 |title=Totti tantrums |publisher=Football Italia |first=Dave |last=Taylor |date=16 January 2011|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816053826/http://www.football-italia.net/node/2756|url-status=live}} as a result of his limited appearances, despondence and strenuous relationship with the manager, rumours even circulated in the media that Totti was considering leaving Roma.{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/node/1940 |title=Totti confirms: 'I am sad at Roma' |publisher=Football Italia |date=11 January 2011|access-date=30 July 2016|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816082001/http://www.football-italia.net/node/1940|url-status=live}} Following Roma's 4–3 loss against Genoa on 20 February 2011, Ranieri resigned as manager, with Totti's former teammate Vincenzo Montella appointed as caretaker coach.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/9403122.stm |title=Claudio Ranieri resigns as coach of Serie A side Roma |date=20 February 2011 |work=BBC Sport|access-date=20 February 2011|archive-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818235052/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9403122.stm|url-status=live}}

Montella reverted to Spalletti's 4–2–3–1 system and Totti appeared to recapture his best form, finding the net more frequently towards the end of the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2011/02/22/2363519/la-roma-di-montella-nasce-con-unimportante-scelta-totti |title=La Roma di Montella nasce con un'importante scelta: Totti centravanti e Borriello in panchina! |publisher=Goal.com |language=it |date=22 February 2011|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020104804/http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2011/02/22/2363519/la-roma-di-montella-nasce-con-unimportante-scelta-totti|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/05/11/2479366/who-is-romas-player-of-the-season |title=Who is Roma's Player of the Season? |publisher=Goal.com |date=11 May 2011|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011011712/http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/05/11/2479366/who-is-romas-player-of-the-season|url-status=live}} On 3 March, Totti was voted the best active Italian player in a poll conducted by La Gazzetta dello Sport; 100 Italian personalities including footballers, politicians and celebrities took part in the vote. On 13 March 2011, he scored two goals against Lazio which gave Roma their fifth consecutive victory in the Rome derby.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Roma/13-03-2011/derby-totti-festa-roma-80471159660.shtml |title=Il derby di Totti, festa Roma! Lazio al tappeto: finisce 2–0 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=13 March 2011|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-date=5 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105023036/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Roma/13-03-2011/derby-totti-festa-roma-80471159660.shtml|url-status=live}} The following match, on 20 March, Totti became the sixth player in Serie A history to score 200 goals, finding the target twice in a 2–2 draw against Fiorentina to total 201 league goals.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/roma-s-totti-tops-200-career-goals-serie-a-1.1036503 |title=Roma's Totti tops 200 career goals: Serie A |publisher=CBC Sports |date=20 March 2011|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=14 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814150922/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/roma-s-totti-tops-200-career-goals-serie-a-1.1036503|url-status=live}} On 1 May, Totti scored a brace against Bari to equal and subsequently overtake Roberto Baggio as the fifth-highest goalscorer in Serie A with his 205th and 206th career league goals, putting him behind only Silvio Piola, Gunnar Nordahl, Giuseppe Meazza and José Altafini.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1427782.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505074912/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1427782.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2011 |title=Totti crowned modern goal-scoring king |publisher=FIFA |date=1 May 2011|access-date=31 May 2011}} Totti ended the 2010–11 Serie A campaign with 15 goals – with twelve of his goals coming in Roma's last 13 league fixtures.

At the end of the season, Roma underwent a change of ownership, with the former club owner Rosella Sensi being replaced by an American consortium led by Thomas DiBenedetto.{{cite news |url=http://asia.eurosport.com/football/serie-a/2010-2011/roma-takeover-completed_sto2912296/story.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925203913/http://asia.eurosport.com/football/serie-a/2010-2011/roma-takeover-completed_sto2912296/story.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 September 2011 |title=DiBenedetto finally seals Roma takeover |publisher=Eurosport.com |date=18 August 2011|access-date=10 September 2012}} Under the new management, the club did not offer a permanent contract to Montella, which led to him leaving to coach another Serie A side, Catania.{{cite news |url=http://www.calciocatania.it/comunicati/comunicati.php?id=23140 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727110006/http://www.calciocatania.it/comunicati/comunicati.php?id=23140 |archive-date=27 July 2011 |title=Vincenzo Montella è il nuovo allenatore del Catania – Venerdì 10 giugno alle 16.30 la presentazione |publisher=Calcio Catania |date=9 June 2011 |access-date=4 December 2013 |language=it |url-status=dead}} The new management appointed Luis Enrique, who had previous coached the Barcelona B side, in a bid to emulate Barcelona's football style.{{cite news |url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/12/14/luis-enrique-roma-tactics-barcelona/ |title=How effectively is Luis Enrique implementing the Barcelona methods at Roma? |publisher=Zonal Marking |date=14 December 2011|access-date=10 September 2012|archive-date=11 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511165154/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/12/14/luis-enrique-roma-tactics-barcelona/|url-status=dead}}

== 2011–2012: Back to playmaker ==

The 2011–12 season saw Totti initially receive few starts under Roma's new manager Luis Enrique, as the club's early struggles continued.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/08/20/2628008/whether-luis-enrique-is-right-or-wrong-francesco-totti-must-back- |title=Whether Luis Enrique is right or wrong, Francesco Totti must back him for the good of Roma |publisher=Goal.com |date=20 August 2011|access-date=28 June 2014|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305234443/http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/08/20/2628008/whether-luis-enrique-is-right-or-wrong-francesco-totti-must-back-|url-status=live}} Totti sustained an injury on 1 October 2011 in the second half of a match against Atalanta, which kept him out of action until 20 November;{{cite web |url=http://au.eurosport.com/football/serie-a/2011-2012/totti-doubt-for-rome-derby_sto2975541/story.shtml |title=Totti doubt for Rome derby |publisher=Eurosport |date=4 October 2011|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=12 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512190710/http://au.eurosport.com/football/serie-a/2011-2012/totti-doubt-for-rome-derby_sto2975541/story.shtml|url-status=live}} he returned to the pitch against Lecce, when he came off the bench in the 66th minute, as Roma won the match 2–1.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/match/roma-vs-lecce/1175738/report |title=Roma 2–1 Lecce: Pjanic and Gago ensure wasteful Giallorossi hang on for narrow win |publisher=Goal.com |first=Livio |last=Caferoglu |date=20 November 2011|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=10 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010234628/http://www.goal.com/en/match/roma-vs-lecce/1175738/report|url-status=live}}

In mid-December, as Totti began regaining form post-injury, he started playing more regularly, often in a creative role as an attacking midfielder. On 12 December, he set up Daniele De Rossi's opening goal in a 1–1 home draw against eventual league champions Juventus, although Totti missed a second-half penalty during the match.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2011/12/14/2802126/juventus-gianluigi-buffon-saving-francesco-tottis-penalty |title=Juventus' Gianluigi Buffon: Saving Francesco Totti's penalty against Roma was down to hard work in training |publisher=Goal.com |date=14 December 2011|access-date=17 January 2012|archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020200538/https://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2011/12/14/2802126/juventus-gianluigi-buffon-saving-francesco-tottis-penalty|url-status=live}} He provided several more assists that season, notably for Dani Osvaldo's goal in Roma's 3–1 win over Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo on 18 December 2011,{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Napoli/18-12-2011/roma-espugna-san-paolo-aggancia-napoli-quota-21--804067721759.shtml |title=La Roma si scopre pratica 1–3 al Napoli e aggancio |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first=Livia |last=Taglioli |date=18 December 2011|access-date=30 July 2016|archive-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829012243/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Napoli/18-12-2011/roma-espugna-san-paolo-aggancia-napoli-quota-21--804067721759.shtml|url-status=live}} and also set up De Rossi's goal against Catania at the Massimino stadium.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Catania/14-01-2012/legrottaglie-de-rossi-poi-pioggiacatania-roma-sospesa-1-1-65--818642441.shtml |title=Legrottaglie-De Rossi, poi la pioggia Catania-Roma sospesa sull'1–1 al 65' |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first=Emiliano |last=Pozzoni |date=14 January 2012|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829064727/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Catania/14-01-2012/legrottaglie-de-rossi-poi-pioggiacatania-roma-sospesa-1-1-65--818642441.shtml|url-status=live}} Playing in a deeper position on the pitch, the Roma talisman did not seek to score goals as often, opting rather to play more of a supporting role by bridging the gap between attack and midfield, using his presence, leadership and experience in games to offer some much needed depth to the team.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/dec/14/guardian-sport-network-luis-enrique |title=How well is Luis Enrique implementing the Barcelona methods at Roma? |work=The Guardian |first=Michael |last=Cox |date=14 December 2011|access-date=29 July 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/roma/2011/09/21-194567/Luis+Enrique%3A+%C2%ABStiamo+bene.+Serve+solo+una+vittoria%C2%BB |title=Luis Enrique: "Stiamo bene. Serve solo una vittoria" |work=Corriere dello Sport |language=it |first=Valerio |last=Minutiello |date=21 September 2011|access-date=29 July 2016}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/roma/2012/04/17/news/totti_leader_verso_juventus-33479235/ |title=Luis Enrique si affida a Totti "L'unico che mi dà una mano" |work=la Repubblica |language=it |first=Matteo |last=Pinci |date=17 April 2012|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821062353/http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/roma/2012/04/17/news/totti_leader_verso_juventus-33479235/|url-status=live}}

On 8 January 2012, Totti scored his first goals of the season in a 2–0 win against Chievo, converting one penalty in the first half and another in the second.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/roma-vs-chievo/1175787/report |title=Roma 2–0 Chievo: Totti nets twice from the spot as Luis Enrique's men move into top six in Serie A |publisher=Goal.com |first=Enis |last=Koylu |date=8 January 2012|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=10 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010102618/http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/roma-vs-chievo/1175787/report|url-status=live}} He went on to score two goals in a 5–1 win against Cesena which allowed Totti to set a new record, as his second goal of the match brought his tally to 211 league goals – the most any player has ever scored for a single club in Serie A.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/21/sport/football/italy-spain-totti/index.html |title=Totti sets Serie A scoring record as Roma run riot |publisher=CNN |date=22 January 2012|access-date=28 June 2014|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110617/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/21/sport/football/italy-spain-totti/index.html|url-status=live}} Despite his inability to find the back of the net as the second half of the season began, he continued to perform well, as he notably assisted Juan's goal from a corner in Roma's 4–0 win over Inter on 5 February.{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/9784 |title=Roma 4 – 0 Inter |publisher=Football Italia |date=5 February 2012|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816090151/http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/9784|url-status=live}} On 12 April, Totti scored his fifth goal of the season in a 3–1 victory over Udinese.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/del-piero-and-totti-grab-perfect-wave-big-wednesday-serie |title=Del Piero and Totti grab the perfect wave on Big Wednesday in Serie A |magazine=FourFourTwo |date=12 April 2012|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821183710/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/del-piero-and-totti-grab-perfect-wave-big-wednesday-serie|url-status=live}} He scored again in a 2–1 loss against Fiorentina on 25 April,{{cite web |url=http://www.calciomercato.com/news/roma-fiorentina-1-2-il-tabellino-869967 |title=Roma-Fiorentina 1–2: Il tabellino |publisher=Calciomercato.com |language=it |date=25 April 2012|access-date=29 April 2016|archive-date=8 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808090908/http://www.calciomercato.com/news/roma-fiorentina-1-2-il-tabellino-869967|url-status=live}} and two weeks later, on his 500th match in Serie A, he scored two goals in a 2–2 draw against Catania at the Stadio Olimpico.{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/9932 |title=Roma 2 – 2 |publisher=Football Italia |date=5 May 2012|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816094813/http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/9932|url-status=live}}

== 2012–2013: Breaking records ==

File:Francesco Totti.jpg in Boston, Massachusetts|alt=]]

After Luis Enrique decided to resign due to an unsuccessful season in which Roma failed to qualify for European football for the first time in 15 years, the club decided to appoint their former manager Zdeněk Zeman, with whom Totti would once again be reunited. Zeman tried to play Totti in a free role as a left forward or winger in his preferred 4–3–3 tactical line-up.{{cite news |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/roma/2012/09/04-263175/Roma,+ecco+il+4-3-Totti-2%3A+il+nuovo+modulo+di+Zeman |title=Roma, ecco il 4-3-Totti-2: il nuovo modulo di Zeman|trans-title=Roma, here is the 4-3-Totti-2: Zeman's new formation |work=Corriere dello Sport |language=it |last1=Maida |first1=Roberto |date=4 September 2012|access-date=9 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091847/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/roma/2012/09/04-263175/Roma,+ecco+il+4-3-Totti-2%3A+il+nuovo+modulo+di+Zeman|archive-date=2 April 2015}} Although this was a similar role to that which he had played during Zeman's previous spell 13 years before, Totti's freedom also enabled him to drop deep into the midfield to press opponents and pick up the ball, as well as attacking on the left wing.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2012/06/04/3147225/lamela-come-totti-con-zeman-si-torna-al-1997-quando-totti |title=Lamela come Totti: con Zeman si torna al 1997, quando Totti ricamava all'ala. 'Coco' può diventare nuovo idolo della sinistra|trans-title=Lamela like Totti: Zeman returns to his 1997 system, when Totti played as a winger. 'Coco' can become the new idol on the left |publisher=Goal.com |language=it |date=4 June 2012|access-date=9 March 2015|archive-date=1 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301154337/http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2012/06/04/3147225/lamela-come-totti-con-zeman-si-torna-al-1997-quando-totti|url-status=live}} On 2 September, Totti provided two assists for Alessandro Florenzi and Dani Osvaldo in Roma's 3–1 win over Inter at the San Siro. After the match, he received praise from the media due to his performance, even as he approached his 36th birthday.{{cite news |url=http://www.football-italia.net/24649/fantasy-totti-and-gio |title=The fantasy of Totti and Gio |date=3 September 2012|access-date=10 September 2012 |publisher=Football Italia|archive-date=6 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906041449/http://www.football-italia.net/24649/fantasy-totti-and-gio|url-status=live}} On 21 October, Totti surpassed both Giuseppe Meazza and José Altafini's joint-record after scoring the first of Roma's goals in a 4–2 away win at Genoa, becoming the third-highest scorer in Serie A history with 217 goals.{{cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/genoa-2-4-roma-serie-a-totti-milestone-match-report-102112 |title=Totti gets milestone goal in Roma win |publisher=Fox Sports Soccer |date=21 October 2012|access-date=2 August 2016|archive-date=17 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817153918/http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/genoa-2-4-roma-serie-a-totti-milestone-match-report-102112|url-status=live}} On 8 December, Totti scored two goals, his fifth and sixth of the season, in a 4–2 home victory against Fiorentina.{{cite news |url=https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/12/8/3744810/roma-v-fiorentina-final-score-goals-report |title=Roma v Fiorentina, final score 4–2: Francesco Totti keeps Roma flying high |work=SB Nation |first=Kirsten |last=Schlewitz |date=8 December 2012|access-date=13 April 2014|archive-date=14 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414114532/http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/12/8/3744810/roma-v-fiorentina-final-score-goals-report|url-status=live}}

Following the club's negative performances, Zeman was sacked and replaced by the club's technique coach Aurelio Andreazzoli in early February 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/30269/official-roma-sack-zeman |title=OFFICIAL: ROMA SACK ZEMAN |publisher=Football Italia |date=2 February 2013|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=29 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029031053/https://www.football-italia.net/30269/official-roma-sack-zeman|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2013/02/05/3728223/zeman-not-bitter-about-roma-sacking?ICID=AR_HL_2 |title=Zeman not bitter about Roma sacking |publisher=Goal.com |first=Henry |last=Jackson |date=5 February 2013|access-date=23 April 2013|archive-date=17 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217072527/http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2013/02/05/3728223/zeman-not-bitter-about-roma-sacking?ICID=AR_HL_2|url-status=live}} Under his new manager, Totti scored a goal against Juventus on 16 February, with a powerful strike, as Roma shocked the league leaders in a 1–0 win.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/match/roma-vs-juventus/1351496/report |title=Roma 1–0 Juventus: Champions shocked by Totti thunderbolt |publisher=Goal.com |first=Mark |last=Doyle |date=16 February 2013|access-date=25 July 2013|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223125313/http://www.goal.com/en/match/roma-vs-juventus/1351496/report|url-status=live}} On 3 March, he scored his 225th goal against Genoa to become Serie A's joint second-top scorer – alongside Gunnar Nordahl – as Roma cruised to a 3–1 victory.{{cite web |url=http://espnfc.com/us/en/report/351821/report.html |title=AS Roma 3–1 Genoa |publisher=ESPN FC |date=3 March 2013 |access-date=3 March 2013 |archive-date=13 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513045855/http://www.espnfc.com/us/en/report/351821/report.html |url-status=live}} Totti finally broke Nordahl's record by scoring against Parma on 18 March, increasing his Serie A tally to 226 goals.{{cite web |url=http://www.laroma24.it/rubriche/la-penna-degli-altri/2013/03/totti-su-punizione-20-di-gloria/ |title=Totti su punizione: 20 di gloria|trans-title=Totti from a free-kick: 20 glorious goals |publisher=LaRoma24.it |language=it |date=19 March 2013|access-date=9 March 2015|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222121447/http://www.laroma24.it/rubriche/la-penna-degli-altri/2013/03/totti-su-punizione-20-di-gloria/|url-status=live}} On 8 April, with a goal from a penalty kick in the 1–1 draw against Lazio, he became the joint top scorer of all time in Serie A in the Rome Derby with nine goals, putting him on par with Dino da Costa and Marco Delvecchio.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Roma/08-04-2013/roma-lazio-1-1-totti-riacciuffa-hernanes-92892757459.shtml |title=Roma-Lazio 1–1, Totti l'uomo dei record riacciuffa Hernanes|trans-title=Roma-Lazio 1–1, Totti the recordman catches Hernanes |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Nicita |first1=Maurizio |date=8 April 2013|access-date=9 March 2015|archive-date=15 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215005356/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Roma/08-04-2013/roma-lazio-1-1-totti-riacciuffa-hernanes-92892757459.shtml|url-status=live}} Totti finished the 2012–13 Serie A season with 12 goals and 12 assists from 34 appearances.{{cite web |url=http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2013/05/serie-a-team-of-the-season-201213/ |title=Serie A Team Of The Season 2012/13 |publisher=Forza Italian Football |first=Sam |last=Lewis |date=20 May 2013|access-date=9 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093628/http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2013/05/serie-a-team-of-the-season-201213/|url-status=live}} Totti also reached the 2013 Coppa Italia final with Roma, but lost the match 0–1 on 26 May to cross-city rivals Lazio.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22676789 |title=Lazio beat rivals Roma in Coppa Italia final |work=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2013|access-date=6 June 2013|archive-date=13 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613223959/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22676789|url-status=live}}

== 2013–2015: Free forward ==

With the arrival of Roma's new coach Rudi Garcia in the summer of 2013, Totti was once again deployed as a false 9, while also functioning as a supporting forward, or as winger on the left on occasion. On 20 September 2013, Roma announced that Totti had signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until 2016, past his 39th birthday.{{cite web |url=http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1558451/roma-icon-francesco-totti-pens-new-deal-2016 |title=Roma icon Totti pens new deal to 2016 |date=20 September 2013|access-date=20 September 2013 |publisher=ESPN FC|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921074824/http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1558451/roma-icon-francesco-totti-pens-new-deal-2016|url-status=live}} He scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season on 16 September, against Parma in a 3–1 victory.{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/parma-vs-roma/301570 |title=Parma vs. Roma (1–3) |publisher=Sky Sports |date=16 September 2013|access-date=17 August 2016|archive-date=31 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031060220/http://www.skysports.com/football/parma-vs-roma/301570|url-status=live}} He followed up the goal with two strikes in Roma's 3–0 away victory over Inter, helping the team maintain a 100% record after seven games.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/oct/07/roma-resurrection-francesco-totti-serie-a |title=Roma's resurrection embodied by Francesco Totti – sparked by Garcia |work=The Guardian |date=7 October 2013|access-date=28 December 2014}} On 20 November, he received the "Captain of Captains" award by the association Editutto and Baker Tilly Revisa.{{cite news |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/roma/2013/11/20341623/Serie+A+Roma,+Totti+riceve+il+premio+%22Capitano+dei+capitani%22 |title=Serie A Roma, Totti riceve il premio "Capitano dei capitani" |work=Corriere dello Sport |language=it |date=20 November 2013|access-date=8 January 2014}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

File:CSKA-Roma (7).jpg in the UEFA Champions League]]

On 14 February, Totti was sidelined for about a month after sustaining a bruised right buttock.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/roma/2014/02/14/news/confermata_chiusura_curca_roma-78599204/ |title=Roma, confermata la chiusura delle curve. E Totti si ferma per la Samp |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=14 February 2014|access-date=2 August 2016|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821075409/http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/roma/2014/02/14/news/confermata_chiusura_curca_roma-78599204/|url-status=live}} He returned to the pitch on 17 March against Udinese, scoring the first goal of the match as he helped his team to a 3–2 win.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/26618546 |title=Francesco Totti scored on his return as Roma beat Udinese to maintain their grip on second place in Serie A. |work=BBC Sport |date=17 March 2014|access-date=18 April 2014|archive-date=19 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219134301/http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/26618546|url-status=live}} Eight days later, Totti celebrated 700 overall appearances with Roma against Torino.{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/37278 |title=Roma 2 – 1 Torino |publisher=Football Italia |date=25 March 2014|access-date=17 August 2016|archive-date=22 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822082938/http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/37278|url-status=live}} On 2 April, he scored his 20th career goal against Parma (a personal record against any side) in a 4–2 victory.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/26714335 |title=Francesco Totti scored a superb goal as Roma beat Parma to move eight points behind Serie A leaders Juventus with seven games remaining |work=BBC Sport |date=2 April 2014|access-date=18 April 2014|archive-date=19 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219134251/http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/26714335|url-status=live}} He finished the season with eight goals and ten assists, ending the year as the top assist provider of the 2013–14 Serie A season.{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/italian-serie-a/12/statistics/assists |title=Italian Serie A Stats: Assists Leaders – 2013–14 |publisher=ESPN FC|access-date=29 June 2014|archive-date=4 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604013410/http://www.espnfc.com/italian-serie-a/12/statistics/assists|url-status=live}}

Prior to the start of the 2014–15 season, Totti had been one of the star players of Roma's pre-season friendlies.{{cite web |url=http://www.laroma24.it/rubriche/la-penna-degli-altri/2014/08/precampionato-giallorosso-totti-capocannoniere-florenzi-e-astori-i-piu-schierati/ |title=Precampionato giallorosso, Totti capocannoniere. Florenzi e Astori i più schierati |publisher=LaRoma24.it |date=28 August 2014|access-date=15 June 2015 |language=it|archive-date=20 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620022336/http://www.laroma24.it/rubriche/la-penna-degli-altri/2014/08/precampionato-giallorosso-totti-capocannoniere-florenzi-e-astori-i-piu-schierati/|url-status=live}}

On 30 September 2014, three days after his 38th birthday, Totti scored Roma's equaliser in a Champions League group stage draw at Manchester City, thus becoming the oldest scorer in the UEFA Champions League era;{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29362609 |title=Man City 1–1 Roma |work=BBC Sport |last=McNulty |first=Phil |date=30 September 2014|access-date=30 September 2014|archive-date=31 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831035342/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29362609|url-status=live}} before Pepe broke his record in 2023.{{cite news |title=FC Porto 2-0 Royal Antwerp: Pepe becomes oldest Champions League goalscorer |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67352790 |access-date=8 November 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=7 November 2023 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108054900/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67352790 |url-status=live}} It was also Totti's 300th professional career goal.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/11132270/Francesco-Totti-reigns-supreme-with-sublime-equaliser-against-Manchester-City-in-the-Champions-League.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/11132270/Francesco-Totti-reigns-supreme-with-sublime-equaliser-against-Manchester-City-in-the-Champions-League.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Manchester City left red-faced following unfortunate tweet as Francesco Totti reigns supreme with sublime equaliser |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Mark |last=Ogden |date=30 September 2014|access-date=2 October 2014}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/goal-of-the-week/winners-showcase/ |title=WINNERS SHOWCASE |publisher=UEFA|access-date=25 June 2015|archive-date=7 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107094500/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/goal-of-the-week/winners-showcase/|url-status=dead}} On 25 October, Totti scored the opening goal from a free kick in a 1–1 draw against CSKA Moscow, extending his record of being the oldest goalscorer in the history of the competition to 38 years and 59 days.{{cite web |url=http://metro.co.uk/2014/11/25/francesco-totti-breaks-own-record-to-become-oldest-goalscorer-in-champions-league-with-roma-goal-4962893/ |title=Francesco Totti breaks OWN record to become oldest goalscorer in Champions League with Roma strike |publisher=Metro |date=25 November 2014|access-date=26 June 2015|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626151819/http://metro.co.uk/2014/11/25/francesco-totti-breaks-own-record-to-become-oldest-goalscorer-in-champions-league-with-roma-goal-4962893/|url-status=live}}

On 11 January 2015, Totti scored two goals against local rivals Lazio, making him the joint all-time top scorer in the Rome derby in official club competitions, alongside Dino Da Costa, with eleven goals, as well as the Serie A top scorer in the Rome derby.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/30719796 |title=Roma vs. Lazio: 2–2 |work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 January 2015|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215112205/http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/30719796|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.panorama.it/sport/calcio/totti-record-manca-gol-per-essere-re-dei-derby |title=Totti da record, manca un gol per essere il Re dei derby|trans-title=Record-breaking Totti, he only needs a goal to be the King of the Rome derby |newspaper=Panorama |language=it |last1=Politanò |first1=Matteo |date=12 January 2015|access-date=9 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402153639/http://www.panorama.it/sport/calcio/totti-record-manca-gol-per-essere-re-dei-derby/|url-status=live}} On 9 May, Totti scored from a penalty in a 2–1 away defeat to Milan, equalling Roberto Baggio for the record of the most goals scored in Serie A from penalties (68).{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Milan/09-05-2015/serie-a-milan-roma-2-1-decisivo-ex-destro-non-basta-totti-110754214922.shtml |title=Milan-Roma 2–1: decisivo l'ex Destro|trans-title=Milan-Roma 2–1: Destro, the decisive ex |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first=Marco |last=Fallisi |date=9 May 2015|access-date=11 May 2015|archive-date=10 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510193217/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Milan/09-05-2015/serie-a-milan-roma-2-1-decisivo-ex-destro-non-basta-totti-110754214922.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/66346/serie-week-35-did-you-know |title=Serie A Week 35: Did You Know? |publisher=Football Italia |date=12 May 2015|access-date=23 December 2015|archive-date=24 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224104315/http://www.football-italia.net/66346/serie-week-35-did-you-know|url-status=live}} On 31 May, in the final match-day of the 2014–15 season, he scored his 299th goal for Roma in a 2–1 home defeat to Palermo.{{cite web |url=http://www.forzaroma.info/2015/05/31/per-totti-i-gol-roma-299/442639 |title=Totti: "I miei gol? Sono ancora 299" – VIDEO |publisher=ForzaRoma.info|access-date=2 June 2015 |date=31 May 2015|archive-date=20 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620043703/http://www.forzaroma.info/2015/05/31/per-totti-i-gol-roma-299/442639|url-status=dead}} Totti finished the season as Roma's leading scorer with ten goals in all competitions, the seventh time in which he had been the team's top scorer.{{cite web |url=http://www.asroma.it/en/news/fulltime_roma_v_palermo/ |title=ROMA 1–2 PALERMO, FULLTIME No. 50 |publisher=AS Roma |date=1 June 2015|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-date=4 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704224455/http://www.asroma.it/en/news/fulltime_roma_v_palermo/|url-status=live}}

== 2015–2017: Final years as a super sub ==

On his second league appearance of the 2015–16 Serie A season, Totti scored his 300th career club goal in all competitions with Roma in a 2–2 home draw with Sassuolo, on 20 September 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0257-0defff92b1bd-bf9135e0fee0-1000--timeless-totti-bows-out-a-roma-legend/ |title=Why do Roma fans love Francesco Totti? |publisher=UEFA |first=Paolo |last=Menicucci |date=20 September 2015|access-date=20 September 2015|archive-date=22 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922023057/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2273554.html|url-status=live}} On 26 September 2015, the day before his 39th birthday, he sustained an injury, straining his right hip flexor in a 5–1 win over Carpi, ruling him out for three months.{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/as-roma/story/2634474/roma-duo-francesco-totti-and-edin-dzeko-out-for-four-weeks |title=Roma duo Francesco Totti and Edin Dzeko sidelined for four weeks |publisher=ESPN FC |date=27 September 2015|access-date=27 September 2015|archive-date=27 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927212513/http://www.espnfc.com/as-roma/story/2634474/roma-duo-francesco-totti-and-edin-dzeko-out-for-four-weeks|url-status=live}} He returned to the pitch as a substitute in a 1–1 home draw against Milan, on 9 January 2016,{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/ac-milan-draws-at-roma-1.420579 |title=AC Milan draws at Roma |publisher=TSN |date=9 January 2016|access-date=11 January 2016|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113003526/http://www.tsn.ca/ac-milan-draws-at-roma-1.420579|url-status=live}} equalling Gianluca Pagliuca as the third all-time highest appearance holder in Serie A history, with 592 appearances.{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/club/as-roma/104/blog/post/2783927/as-roma-second-half-capitulation-indicative-of-poor-season |title=AS Roma's second-half capitulation vs. Milan indicative of poor season so far |publisher=ESPN FC |first=Terry |last=Daley |date=10 January 2016|access-date=11 January 2016|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112220138/http://www.espnfc.com/club/as-roma/104/blog/post/2783927/as-roma-second-half-capitulation-indicative-of-poor-season|url-status=live}}

On 21 February 2016, Totti publicly criticised returning manager – and Rudi Garcia's replacement – Luciano Spalletti in the media for his lack of playing time since his return from injury. He was subsequently dropped for Roma's 5–0 win over Palermo, with the decision causing an uproar among the fans and in the media,{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/club/as-roma/104/blog/post/2812892/francesco-totti-faces-uncertain-roma-future |title=Francesco Totti faces uncertain Roma future after controversial comments |publisher=ESPN FC |first=Terry |last=Daley |date=22 February 2016|access-date=23 February 2016|archive-date=25 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225070555/http://www.espnfc.com/club/as-roma/104/blog/post/2812892/francesco-totti-faces-uncertain-roma-future|url-status=live}} while rumours once again began to circulate that Totti would be leaving the club once his contract had expired at the end of the season, as a result of his limited appearances and clashes with Spalletti.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/02/20/20556722/totti-admits-he-is-considering-roma-exit |title=Totti admits he is considering Roma exit |publisher=Goal.com |first=Jamie |last=Smith |date=20 February 2016|access-date=30 July 2016|archive-date=21 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721043150/http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/02/20/20556722/totti-admits-he-is-considering-roma-exit|url-status=live}} On 8 March, Totti came on as a substitute for Stephan El Shaarawy in the return leg of the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid, and was given a standing ovation by the fans at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid; Roma lost the match 2–0, however, and were eliminated from the competition following a 4–0 aggregate loss.{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/as-roma/story/2825492/roma-striker-francesco-totti-overwhelmed-by-bernabeu-ovation |title=Roma striker Francesco Totti overwhelmed by Bernabeu ovation |publisher=ESPN FC |first=Ben |last=Gladwell |date=9 March 2016|access-date=9 March 2016|archive-date=10 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310031039/http://www.espnfc.com/as-roma/story/2825492/roma-striker-francesco-totti-overwhelmed-by-bernabeu-ovation|url-status=live}} On 20 April, he came off the bench in the 86th minute, one goal down to Torino at home to rescue the team with a brace; one in the 87th minute and a penalty in the 89th minute to win the match 3–2.{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.us/club/as-roma/104/blog/post/2855212/francesco-totti-rescues-roma-with-miracle-brace-vs-torino |title=Francesco Totti's late rescue gives Roma miracle win vs. Torino |publisher=ESPN FC |first=Terry |last=Daley |date=20 April 2016|access-date=21 April 2016|archive-date=22 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422145326/http://www.espnfc.us/club/as-roma/104/blog/post/2855212/francesco-totti-rescues-roma-with-miracle-brace-vs-torino|url-status=live}} With his 69th goal in Serie A from the penalty spot, he overtook Roberto Baggio as the outright top scorer of penalties in Serie A history.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2016/04/22/22675912/totti-riscrive-la-storia-baggio-superato-sui-calci-di-rigore |title=Totti riscrive la storia: Baggio superato sui calci di rigore, Higuain per media-goal|trans-title=Totti rewrites history: Baggio overtaken on penalties, Higuain in terms of goalscoring average |publisher=Goal.com |language=it |date=22 April 2016|access-date=25 April 2016|archive-date=29 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429085337/http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2016/04/22/22675912/totti-riscrive-la-storia-baggio-superato-sui-calci-di-rigore|url-status=live}} Totti's double also made him the oldest player in Serie A history to score two goals in a single league match, at the age of 39 years, 6 months and 23 days, breaking Silvio Piola's previous record of 39 years, 4 months and 2 days, which he had managed with Novara on 1 February 1953, after scoring a brace against his former team Lazio.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Roma/08-05-2016/roma-chievo-record-totti-600-partite-in-a-zanetti-piola-giggs-maldini-costacurta-150540661176.shtml |title=Roma-Chievo, che ovazione per le 600 in A di Totti: ora punta Zanetti a 615|trans-title=Roma-Chievo, what an ovation for Totti's 600 appearances in Serie A: now he looks to Zanetti at 615 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first=Chiara |last=Zucchelli |date=8 May 2016|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=9 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509110019/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Roma/08-05-2016/roma-chievo-record-totti-600-partite-in-a-zanetti-piola-giggs-maldini-costacurta-150540661176.shtml|url-status=live}}

On 2 May, Totti came off the bench and scored from a free kick to help Roma to come from behind and achieve a 3–2 away win over Genoa; this was his 21st goal from a free kick in Serie A, which put him alongside Baggio as the joint all-time fourth-highest scorer of free kicks in Serie A history, behind only Alessandro Del Piero, Andrea Pirlo, and Siniša Mihajlović. Totti came off the bench in each of the past five Serie A games and contributed four goals and an assist.{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/83762/serie-week-36-did-you-know |title=Serie A Week 36: Did You Know? |publisher=Football Italia |first=Susy |last=Campanale |date=3 May 2016|access-date=3 May 2016|archive-date=4 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504185202/http://www.football-italia.net/83762/serie-week-36-did-you-know|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/italian-serie-a/match/431915/genoa-as-roma/report |title=Francesco Totti helps Roma rally to victory at Genoa |publisher=ESPN FC |date=2 May 2016|access-date=3 May 2016|archive-date=3 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503110346/http://www.espnfc.com/italian-serie-a/match/431915/genoa-as-roma/report|url-status=live}} On 8 May, Totti came off the bench to set up Roma's final goal in a 3–0 home win over Chievo in his 600th Serie A appearance, becoming the third player ever to reach this milestone.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/08/francesco-totti-serie-a-roma-chievo |title=Francesco Totti makes 600th Serie A appearance as Roma beat Chievo 3–0 |work=The Guardian |date=8 May 2016|access-date=9 May 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thescore.com/news/1023086 |title=Francesco Totti records 600th Serie A appearance |publisher=The Score |first=Carlo |last=Campo |date=8 May 2016|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818235054/https://www.thescore.com/news/1023086|url-status=live}} Overall, Totti only made 13 league appearances throughout the season but scored four goals in the final six matches as a substitute.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36473471 |title=Francesco Totti: Roma legend signs final contract with his only club |work=BBC Sport |date=7 June 2016|access-date=7 June 2016|archive-date=10 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610103853/http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36473471|url-status=live}} On 7 June, he renewed his contract for another year, stating that he would be retiring at the end of the 2016–17 season;{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/85510/confirmed-totti-renews-roma |title=Confirmed: Totti renews with Roma |publisher=Football Italia |date=7 June 2016|access-date=7 June 2016|archive-date=9 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609075523/http://www.football-italia.net/85510/confirmed-totti-renews-roma|url-status=live}} he also revealed he had signed a six-year contract to become Roma's technical director once the season ended.{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/85513/totti-%E2%80%98i%E2%80%99ll-be-technical-director%E2%80%99 |title=Totti: 'I'll be technical director' |publisher=Football Italia |date=7 June 2016|access-date=7 June 2016|archive-date=9 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609075218/http://www.football-italia.net/85513/totti-%E2%80%98i%E2%80%99ll-be-technical-director%E2%80%99|url-status=live}}

On his first appearance of the 2016–17 season against Sampdoria on 11 September, Totti equalled Paolo Maldini's record of playing in 25 Serie A seasons. With Roma trailing 2–1 at half time, Totti came off the bench and assisted Edin Džeko's temporary equaliser, later also scoring the match-winning goal from a penalty in injury time to secure a 3–2 home win in Serie A; Totti's goal meant that he had managed to score at least once in each of the past 23 consecutive seasons of his career.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/totti-scores-last-gasp-winner-after-weather-delay |title=Totti scores last-gasp winner after weather delay |magazine=FourFourTwo |date=11 September 2016|access-date=12 September 2016|archive-date=12 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912165300/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/totti-scores-last-gasp-winner-after-weather-delay|url-status=live}} On 25 September, he scored his 250th Serie A goal from the penalty spot in a 3–1 away defeat to Torino, just two days before his 40th birthday.{{cite web |url=http://www.beinsports.com/au/football/video/totti-reaches-250-serie-a-goals-in-roma-defea/341769 |title=Totti reaches 250 Serie A goals in Roma defeat |publisher=beIN SPORTS |date=25 September 2016|access-date=2 October 2016|archive-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003101931/http://www.beinsports.com/au/football/video/totti-reaches-250-serie-a-goals-in-roma-defea/341769|url-status=live}} On his first start two days after his 40th birthday, on 29 September, Totti was praised for his performance and longevity in a 4–0 home win over Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League; he played all 90 minutes of the match, providing two assists, while also being involved in a third goal.{{cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/francesco-totti-will-never-age-grabs-two-assists-for-roma-in-europa-league-092916 |title=Francesco Totti will never age, grabs two assists for Roma in Europa League |work=Fox Sports |first=Aaron |last=West |date=29 September 2016|access-date=2 October 2016|archive-date=4 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004161158/http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/francesco-totti-will-never-age-grabs-two-assists-for-roma-in-europa-league-092916|url-status=live}} On 20 October, Totti made his 100th appearance in UEFA club competitions, setting up two goals in a 3–3 home draw against Austria Wien in the Europa League.{{cite web |url=http://www.beinsports.com/au/football/video/wily-kayode-spoils-totti-milestone/356433 |title=Wily Kayode spoils Totti milestone |publisher=beIN SPORTS |date=20 October 2016|access-date=21 October 2016|archive-date=21 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021194236/http://www.beinsports.com/au/football/video/wily-kayode-spoils-totti-milestone/356433|url-status=live}} In late October, he sustained a muscle injury to the flexor of his left thigh during a training session, which ruled him out indefinitely.{{cite web |url=http://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/roma-official-injured-francesco-totti-to-skip-empoli-clash-36183 |title=Roma, official: injured Francesco Totti to skip Empoli clash |publisher=CalcioMercato.com |date=29 October 2016|access-date=17 November 2016|archive-date=18 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118042032/http://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/roma-official-injured-francesco-totti-to-skip-empoli-clash-36183|url-status=live}} He returned to action as a substitute in a 3–2 home win over Pescara on 27 November.{{cite news |url=http://it.ibtimes.com/roma-pescara-3-2-dzeko-perotti-giallorossi-vincono-ma-fatica-video-1476361|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201015813/http://it.ibtimes.com/roma-pescara-3-2-dzeko-perotti-giallorossi-vincono-ma-fatica-video-1476361|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 December 2016 |title=Roma-Pescara 3-2: Dzeko-Perotti giallorossi vincono ma a fatica [VIDEO] |work=International Business Times |first=Marco |last=Iorio |language=it |date=27 November 2016|access-date=15 December 2017}}

File:Panoramica dello Stadio Olimpico (Roma).jpg

On 1 February 2017, Totti scored a decisive injury-time penalty in the 97th minute of a 2–1 home victory against Cesena in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals; the win enabled Roma to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/97795/coppa-totti-penalty-fells-cesena |title=Coppa: Totti penalty fells Cesena |publisher=Football Italia|access-date=2 February 2017 |date=1 February 2017|archive-date=5 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205052945/http://www.football-italia.net/97795/coppa-totti-penalty-fells-cesena|url-status=live}} On 15 April, he came on as a substitute in a 1–1 home draw against Atalanta to make his 615th appearance in Serie A, equalling Javier Zanetti as the joint third highest appearance holder of all time in Serie A.{{cite web |url=https://it.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0238-0e96af4a1adc-bf6c823c04e9-1000--totti-fa-615-agganciato-zanetti/ |title=Totti fa 615, agganciato Zanetti |publisher=UEFA |language=it |date=16 April 2017|access-date=17 April 2017|archive-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418081154/http://it.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2458711.html|url-status=live}}

On 28 May, Totti made his final appearance for Roma in a 3–2 home win against Genoa, coming on as a substitute for Mohamed Salah in the 54th minute, and received a standing ovation from the fans.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40036023 |title=Roma 3–2 Genoa |work=BBC Sport |date=28 May 2017|access-date=28 May 2017|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518084645/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40036023|url-status=live}}

International career

= Youth career and early senior career =

Totti first came into international prominence while playing in FIFA and UEFA youth tournaments. With the Italy under-16 side, under manager Sergio Vatta, Totti reached the final of the 1993 UEFA European Under-16 Championship in Turkey; Italy were defeated 1–0 by Poland, as Totti missed the final due to suspension.{{cite news |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1993/05/08/ragazzini-di-vatta-al-traguardo.html |title=I RAGAZZINI DI VATTA AL TRAGUARDO|trans-title=Vatta's boys at the finish-line |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=8 May 1993|access-date=5 May 2015|archive-date=2 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002094756/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1993/05/08/ragazzini-di-vatta-al-traguardo.html|url-status=live}} Four months later, Totti played in 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Japan and scored Italy's goal in the tournament as the Azzurrini were eliminated in group stage.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u17worldcup/japan1993/matches/round=191564/match=31280/index.html |title=FIFA U-17 World Championship Japan 1993 |publisher=FIFA |date=22 August 1993|access-date=19 June 2015|archive-date=22 June 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140622185218/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u17worldcup/japan1993/matches/round=191564/match=31280/index.html|url-status=live}} Totti also scored in Italy's 4–1 defeat to Spain in the final of the UEFA Under-18 Championship, in July 1995.{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/luglio/23/Europei_Under_Italia_seconda_co_0_9507231784.shtml |title=Europei Under 18. l' Italia e' seconda |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it |date=23 July 1995|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=19 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919022739/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/luglio/23/Europei_Under_Italia_seconda_co_0_9507231784.shtml|url-status=live}} He subsequently won the UEFA Under-21 Championship with Italy in 1996, under manager Cesare Maldini; in the final, he opened the scoring as the match ended in a 1–1 draw against Spain, although Italy were able to win the final on penalties.{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/giugno/01/Piccola_Italia_tre_volte_grande_co_0_96060111372.shtml |title=La Piccola Italia tre volte grande |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it |last1=Toti |first1=Giuseppe |date=1 June 1996|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101000000/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/giugno/01/Piccola_Italia_tre_volte_grande_co_0_96060111372.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/season=1996/overview/index.html |title=1996: Totti on top for Italy |publisher=UEFA |date=1 June 1996|access-date=5 October 2017|archive-date=6 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006014514/https://www.uefa.com/under21/season=1996/overview/index.html|url-status=dead}} The following year, he also played a key role in helping Italy to win a gold medal at the 1997 Mediterranean Games, on home soil, scoring twice throughout the tournament.{{cite news |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1997/06/26/bari-gran-finale-con-oro.html |title=BARI, GRAN FINALE CON L' ORO |work=la Repubblica |language=it |last1=Chiusano |first1=Mattia |date=26 June 1997|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020010152/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1997/06/26/bari-gran-finale-con-oro.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1997/giugno/26/Ventola_profeta_patria_co_0_97062615256.shtml |title=Ventola fa il profeta in patria |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it |last1=Vulpio |first1=Carlo |date=26 June 1997|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101000000/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1997/giugno/26/Ventola_profeta_patria_co_0_97062615256.shtml|url-status=live}} Due to his contribution in these tournaments, Totti was later included in the all-time Under-21 Euro dream team in 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0233-0f8e34b5d45f-cce50f5a19b5-1000--our-all-time-under-21-euro-dream-team/ |title=Our all-time Under-21 EURO dream team |publisher=UEFA |date=17 June 2015|access-date=19 June 2015|archive-date=21 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121041839/http://www.uefa.com/under21/news/newsid=2256143.html|url-status=live}}

After starring with the Azzurrini in Italy's under-16, under-19 and under-21 sides, Totti earned his first senior cap for Italy under the recently appointed international manager Dino Zoff during a 2–0 Euro 2000 qualifying victory against Switzerland on 10 October 1998.{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2007/luglio/21/Grande_con_Zoff_Lippi_Trap_co_9_070721127.shtml |title=Grande con Zoff e Lippi Trap stravedeva per lui |work=Corriere dello Sport |language=it |last1=Monti |first1=Fabio |date=21 July 2007|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=30 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230104831/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2007/luglio/21/Grande_con_Zoff_Lippi_Trap_co_9_070721127.shtml|url-status=live}} Totti scored his first goal for Italy on 26 April 2000 in a 2–0 friendly win over Portugal in Reggio Calabria.{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2000/aprile/27/Finalmente_gioco_ga_0_00042713617.shtml |title=Finalmente un po' di gioco |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=27 April 2000|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=30 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030112907/http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2000/aprile/27/Finalmente_gioco_ga_0_00042713617.shtml|url-status=live}} He scored his first brace for Italy in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification match in a 4–3 home win over Belarus, on 13 October 2004.{{cite news |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2004/10/14/qualificazioni-mondiali.119qualificazioni.html |title=Qualificazioni mondiali |work=la Repubblica |language=it |last1=Curro' |first1=Enrico |date=14 October 2004|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=28 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728121731/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2004/10/14/qualificazioni-mondiali.119qualificazioni.html|url-status=live}} In total, Totti made 58 appearances for Italy between 1998 and 2006, scoring nine goals and providing 25 assists.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/Primo_Piano/2007/07_Luglio/20/totti.shtml |title=Totti: "Nazionale addio La priorità è la Roma" |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=20 July 2007|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=21 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221182116/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/Primo_Piano/2007/07_Luglio/20/totti.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/nazionali-in-cifre/dettaglio-convocato/?calciatoreId=43333&squadraId=12 |title=Nazionale in cifre: Totti, Francesco |publisher=FIGC |language=it|access-date=24 April 2015|archive-date=6 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406200258/https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/nazionali-in-cifre/dettaglio-convocato/?calciatoreId=43333&squadraId=12|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/francesco-totti-carriera-numeri-esordio |title=30 anni fa Francesco Totti faceva il suo esordio assoluto |work=Sky Sport Italia |language=it |date=28 March 2023 |access-date=16 April 2024 |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604184029/https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/francesco-totti-carriera-numeri-esordio |url-status=live}}

= Euro 2000 =

File:Totti Euro 2000.jpg at Euro 2000. Totti's performances through the tournament earned him the number 10 shirt of Italy.]]

Italy went to Euro 2000 with Totti in excellent form. Overall, he scored two goals and provided an assist during the tournament.{{cite web |title=Euro 2000 Goals & Assists |url=http://soccer-europe.com/Archives/EuropeanChampionships/Euro2000/Data/Performers.html |publisher=Soccer Europe|access-date=12 January 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051404/http://soccer-europe.com/Archives/EuropeanChampionships/Euro2000/Data/Performers.html|url-status=live}} His first goal of the tournament came against co-host nation Belgium in the first round, as Totti headed in Demetrio Albertini's cross from a set-piece;{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/camp_europeo/partita2/partita2/partita2.html |title=L'Italia non si ferma Totti illumina, chiude Fiore |work=la Repubblica |language=it|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153956/http://www.repubblica.it/online/camp_europeo/partita2/partita2/partita2.html|url-status=live}} he was named man of the match for his performance.{{cite news |url=http://www.euro2000.org/en/tournament/matchcomment/0,1074,9668,00.html |title=Italy defence the deciding factor |publisher=UEFA |date=14 June 2000|access-date=30 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010308171934/http://www.euro2000.org/en/tournament/matchcomment/0,1074,9668,00.html|archive-date=8 March 2001}} His second goal of the tournament came against Romania in the quarter-finals, with an accurate strike following Stefano Fiore's assist.{{cite web |url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/eventi/euro2000/200006/24/3955184b02c4f/ |title=Euro 2000: Italia-Romania (2–0) – Azzurri in semifinale |publisher=Rai Sport |language=it |date=24 June 2000|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112223504/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/eventi/euro2000/200006/24/3955184b02c4f/|archive-date=12 November 2018|url-status=dead}} In Italy's semi-final shootout victory over co-hosts the Netherlands, Totti's confidently chipped penalty was named as one of the "magic moments" of the tournament.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2005/j/sezioni/sport/calcio/librototti/librototti/librototti.html |title="Mo je faccio er cucchiaio" Totti sta scrivendo un nuovo libro |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=29 October 2005|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=29 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629004848/http://www.repubblica.it/2005/j/sezioni/sport/calcio/librototti/librototti/librototti.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+10+MAGIC+MOMENTS+FROM+EURO+2000.-a063104967 |title=Football: 10 MAGIC MOMENTS FROM EURO 2000. |publisher=The Free Library |date=4 July 2000|access-date=28 November 2011|archive-date=23 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023062235/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+10+MAGIC+MOMENTS+FROM+EURO+2000.-a063104967|url-status=live}} A few moments before taking the penalty, Totti whispered the famous sentence "Mo je faccio er Cucchiaio" (Roman dialect for "Now I'm scoring with a Panenka") to his teammate and friend Luigi Di Biagio.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/Nazionale/totti-15-anni-fa-il-celebre-mo-je-faccio-er-cucchiaio-_1069817-201502a.shtml |title="Totti, 15 ammo fa il celebre: "Mo je faccio er Cucchiaio" |language=Italian|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=8 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608163622/https://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/Nazionale/totti-15-anni-fa-il-celebre-mo-je-faccio-er-cucchiaio-_1069817-201502a.shtml|url-status=live}}

Though Italy lost to reigning World Cup Champions France 2–1 in extra time in the final, he started the play which led to Marco Delvecchio's opening goal; Totti sent an unmarked Gianluca Pessotto down the right wing with a back-heel pass, allowing him space to cross the ball into the area, where it was put into the net by Delvecchio.{{cite news |url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/SoleOnLine4/Sport/europei-nella-storia/europei-nella-storia-2000.shtml?uuid=9c1964f2-313d-11dd-9186-00000e251029&DocRulesView=Libero |title=2000, Italia battuta in finale. L'Europeo alla Francia |newspaper=Il Sole 24 Ore |language=it|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=20 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220235354/http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/SoleOnLine4/Sport/europei-nella-storia/europei-nella-storia-2000.shtml?uuid=9c1964f2-313d-11dd-9186-00000e251029&DocRulesView=Libero|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=15895/profile/index.html |title=Francesco Totti |publisher=UEFA|access-date=31 May 2011|archive-date=12 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612121717/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=15895/profile/index.html|url-status=dead}} Later, during the second half of the match, Totti provided two scoring opportunities for Alessandro Del Piero, which the Juventus forward was unable to convert.{{cite web |url=https://it.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7b2e7f6a44-ea138a740f34-1000--euro-2000-golden-trezeguet-la-francia-beffa-l-italia-in-f/ |title=Gol d'oro per Trezeguet e la Francia|trans-title=Golden goal for Trezeguet and France |publisher=UEFA |language=it |date=6 October 2003|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518185200/https://it.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season%3D2000/matches/round%3D1461/match%3D65299/postmatch/report/index.html|url-status=live}} Some UEFA sources credit Totti as the man of the match for the Euro 2000 final, due to his performance;{{efn|{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/news/0253-0d7bc734d450-864a19430c15-1000--euro-2000-team-of-the-tournament/ |title=Euro 2000 team of the tournament |publisher=UEFA |date=2 May 2016 |access-date=14 April 2017 |archive-date=21 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721040831/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=1627525.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Saffer |first=Paul |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d81e2cdafba-9461c51771a5-1000--iniesta-holds-off-ronaldo-as-man-of-the-match-master/ |title=Iniesta holds off Ronaldo as man of the match master |publisher=UEFA |date=10 July 2016 |access-date=30 April 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521093806/https://www.uefa.com/news/newsid%3D2383460.html |archive-date=21 May 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=15895/profile/index.html |title=Francesco Totti |publisher=UEFA |date=3 June 2015 |access-date=15 June 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612121717/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=15895/profile/index.html |archive-date=12 June 2015}}}} however, UEFA's Technical Study Group named French forward Thierry Henry as the award winner.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/download/uefa-euro-2000-man-of-the-match-winners/UEFA%20Euro%202000%20Man%20of%20the%20Match%20winners.pdf |title=Euro 2000 Technical Report and Statistics |chapter=The Final – and the Man of the Match |publisher=UEFA |page=107 |year=2000 |access-date=6 January 2023}} Totti was selected for the 22-man Team of the Tournament due to his performances throughout the European Championship.{{cite web |url=http://rivistasportiva.com/rubriche/item/1282-la-storia-degli-europei-2000-francia-italia-e-il-golden-gol |title=Storia degli Europei: 2000, Francia Italia e il golden gol |publisher=Rivista Sportiva |language=it|access-date=29 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031211437/http://rivistasportiva.com/rubriche/item/1282-la-storia-degli-europei-2000-francia-italia-e-il-golden-gol|archive-date=31 October 2014}}

= 2002 World Cup =

After being handed the number 10 shirt and Italy's playmaking duties, much was expected of Totti in his debut World Cup under manager Giovanni Trapattoni.{{cite news |title=Totti: "Quell'arbitro era in malafede" |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/mondiali2002/totticorea/totticorea/totticorea.html |work=la Repubblica |date=18 June 2002|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=2 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002081600/http://www.repubblica.it/online/mondiali2002/totticorea/totticorea/totticorea.html|url-status=live}} Despite a promising start at the 2002 World Cup held in Japan and Korea, as he set-up Christian Vieri's first goal in Italy's 2–0 opening win over Ecuador,{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/mondiali2002/itaecu/itaecu/itaecu.html |title=L'Italia parte bene Battuto l'Ecuador 2–0 |work=la Repubblica |first=Massimo |last=Vincenzi |language=it |date=3 June 2002|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518185149/http://www.repubblica.it/online/mondiali2002/itaecu/itaecu/itaecu.html|url-status=live}} disappointment followed, with Totti failing to score or make a significant impact throughout the tournament. Despite helping to set up Vieri's goal in a disappointing and controversial 2–1 defeat to Croatia in Italy's second group match,{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/mondiali2002/filmcroazia/filmcroazia/filmcroazia.html |title=Il film: la cronaca di Italia-Croazia |work=la Repubblica |language=it |first=Dario |last=Olivero |date=8 June 2002|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=9 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109183847/http://www.repubblica.it/online/mondiali2002/filmcroazia/filmcroazia/filmcroazia.html|url-status=live}} his lacklustre performances throughout the tournament were later criticised by the Italian media, in particular his failure to capitalise on several scoring chances in Italy's 1–1 draw against Mexico in their final group match, as Italy only narrowly qualified for the knockout stage.{{cite news |title=Totti, orgoglio di campione "Mi rifarò contro la Corea" |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/mondiali2002/francesco/francesco/francesco.html |work=la Repubblica |first=Massimo |last=Vincenzi |date=16 June 2002|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020002028/http://www.repubblica.it/online/mondiali2002/francesco/francesco/francesco.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Del Piero e l'Ecuador tengono a galla l'Italia |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2002/giugno/14/Del_Piero_Ecuador_tengono_galla_co_0_02061410306.shtml |publisher=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |date=14 June 2002|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=8 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108204037/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2002/giugno/14/Del_Piero_Ecuador_tengono_galla_co_0_02061410306.shtml|url-status=live}}

Despite setting up Vieri's goal in Italy's second round defeat to co-hosts South Korea from a corner,{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/diretta/online/coreita/ |title=Corea del Sud-Italia 2–1 |work=la Repubblica |language=it |last1=Tonelli |first1=Matteo |date=18 June 2002|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=19 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819091232/https://www.repubblica.it/diretta/online/coreita|url-status=live}} his performance was once again criticised,{{cite news |last1=Costa |first1=Alberto |title=Totti in fuga dalle barzellette "Voglio un anno da scudetto" |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2002/settembre/12/Totti_fuga_dalle_barzellette_Voglio_co_0_0209129866.shtml |work=Corriere della Sera|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=13 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113201825/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2002/settembre/12/Totti_fuga_dalle_barzellette_Voglio_co_0_0209129866.shtml|url-status=live}} in particular as he was sent off in extra time after being handed a controversial second yellow card by referee Byron Moreno for simulation.{{cite news |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2002/06/19/la-gara-choc.html |title=LA GARA CHOC |work=la Repubblica |language=it |last1=Curro |first1=Enrico |date=19 June 2002|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=6 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506031939/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2002/06/19/la-gara-choc.html|url-status=live}}

= Euro 2004 =

Although he was once again expected to be Italy's star player in the number 10 role, Totti acquired a measure of infamy at Euro 2004 after he spat at Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen in a goalless draw in Italy's opening group match of the tournament on 14 June 2004. He was subsequently banned until the semi-finals,{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/diretta/online/sport-calcio-tottiday/index.html |title=Il giorno di Totti |work=la Repubblica |language=it|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518185151/http://www.repubblica.it/diretta/online/sport-calcio-tottiday/index.html|url-status=live}} but never made it back to action and finished the competition scoreless due to Italy's elimination in the first round on direct encounters, following a three-way five point tie with Sweden and Denmark.{{cite web |url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/europei_2004.html |title=La Storia dei Campionati Europei di Calcio – 2004: GRECIA |publisher=Storie di Calcio |language=it|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=1 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101011536/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/europei_2004.html|url-status=live}}

= 2006 World Cup =

File:Italia Campione del Mondo.jpg Giorgio Napolitano and the team celebrate victory in the 2006 World Cup]]

Despite injury troubles, Totti recovered in time to join the national team for their victorious 2006 World Cup campaign, despite a lack of match practice during his three months on the sidelines. Italy manager Marcello Lippi showed enormous faith in Totti, assuring him during his rehabilitation that his spot in Italy's World Cup squad was secure and to focus on recuperating. This encouragement and show of faith fueled Totti's desire to work even harder to overcome what could have been a career-ending injury and make it to the World Cup against all odds (and much of the Italian media's opinion).{{cite news |title=Aspettando Godot, anche al Mondiale |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/06_Giugno/22/godot.html |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=22 June 2006|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=29 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129173300/http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/06_Giugno/22/godot.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/Francesco-Totti/Totti-Italy-World-Cup-2006 |title=Top of the World |publisher=Football Italia |author1=Giancarlo Rinaldi|access-date=17 July 2017|archive-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724152552/http://www.football-italia.net/Francesco-Totti/Totti-Italy-World-Cup-2006|url-status=live}}

Totti did recuperate in time and was eventually named to Lippi's final 23-man squad for the 2006 World Cup.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2006/05/sezioni/sport/calcio/nazionale/conferenza-stampa-lippi/conferenza-stampa-lippi/conferenza-stampa-lippi.html |title=Lippi ha fiducia, nonostante tutto Convocato Buffon: "E' sereno" |newspaper=La Repubblica |language=it |date=15 May 2006|access-date=20 January 2017|archive-date=17 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317232332/https://www.repubblica.it/2006/05/sezioni/sport/calcio/nazionale/conferenza-stampa-lippi/conferenza-stampa-lippi/conferenza-stampa-lippi.html|url-status=live}} Despite initial concerns over his match fitness, Totti was an important player in Marcello Lippi's team,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/10/worldcup2006.sport2 |title=Totti fails the final test and leaves a tattered international reputation |work=The Guardian |first=Jon |last=Brodkin |date=10 July 2006|access-date=18 February 2017|archive-date=1 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501015238/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/10/worldcup2006.sport2|url-status=live}} and played in all seven games for Italy,{{cite web |url=http://www.blitzquotidiano.it/sport/italia-2006-campioni-del-mondo-grosso-jolly-cannavaro-buffon-voto-simpatia-75-1883864/ |title=Home Sport Italia 2006: campioni del mondo. Grosso jolly, Cannavaro e Buffon muro: voto simpatia 7,5 |publisher=BlitzQuotidiano.it |language=it |first=Antonio |last=Sansonetti |date=6 June 2014|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223321/http://www.blitzquotidiano.it/sport/italia-2006-campioni-del-mondo-grosso-jolly-cannavaro-buffon-voto-simpatia-75-1883864/|url-status=live}} including the victorious final against France, which Italy won on penalties, although he was substituted off in the 61st minute.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991652.stm |title=Italy 1–1 France (aet) |work=BBC Sport |last=Stevenson |first=Jonathan |date=9 July 2006|access-date=28 June 2012|archive-date=6 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906192236/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991652.stm|url-status=live}} He played the entire time in Germany with metal plates and screws in his ankle that had yet to be removed following the surgery.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/why-cesare-prandelli-cant-afford-leave-totti-behind-brazil-summer |title=Why Cesare Prandelli can't afford to leave Totti behind for Brazil this summer |magazine=FourFourTwo |author1=Richard Whittle |date=14 April 2014|access-date=17 July 2017|archive-date=30 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330012400/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/why-cesare-prandelli-cant-afford-leave-totti-behind-brazil-summer|url-status=live}} Throughout the tournament, he usually played as an attacking midfielder, in front of deep-lying playmaker Andrea Pirlo, and behind strikers Luca Toni, Alberto Gilardino, Vincenzo Iaquinta, or Filippo Inzaghi; these players were supported defensively by Gennaro Gattuso, Simone Perrotta and Daniele De Rossi in midfield. Totti finished the tournament with the joint-highest number of assists, along with Juan Román Riquelme (4).{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/28123120|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401063434/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/28123120|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 April 2016 |title=World Cup 2014: Today at the tournament – day 23 |work=BBC Sport|access-date=29 January 2015}} Totti set up Pirlo's goal from a short corner in Italy's opening 2–0 win against Ghana,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852746.stm |title=BBC SPORT | Football | World Cup 2006 | Italy 2–0 Ghana |work=BBC News |date=12 June 2006 |access-date=28 June 2012 |archive-date=18 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518185159/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852746.stm |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.calcioblog.it/post/784/mondiali-2006-italia-2-ghana-0 |title=Mondiali 2006: Italia 2 Ghana 0 |date=12 June 2006|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=29 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129183332/http://www.calcioblog.it/post/784/mondiali-2006-italia-2-ghana-0|url-status=dead}} Marco Materazzi's goal from a corner in Italy's final group match, a 2–0 win against the Czech Republic,{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/speciale/2006/mondiali/dati/dirette/1596550.html |title=Rep. Ceca-Italia 0–2 |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=22 June 2006|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518185150/http://www.repubblica.it/speciale/2006/mondiali/dati/dirette/1596550.html|url-status=live}} and two goals in a 3–0 win against Ukraine in the quarter-finals: the opener by Gianluca Zambrotta, and one of Luca Toni's goals.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/speciale/altri/2006mondialipartite/ucraina-italia/ucraina-italia.html |title=La difesa era perfetta, ora anche l'attacco Doppietta Toni, Ucraina sconfitta |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=30 June 2006|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211082854/http://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/speciale/altri/2006mondialipartite/ucraina-italia/ucraina-italia.html|url-status=live}} Totti also scored a goal via an injury-time penalty in Italy's 1–0 round of 16 win over Australia on 26 June,{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/speciale/altri/2006mondialipartite/italia-australia/italia-australia.html |newspaper=La Repubblica |title=Mondiali, l'Italia nei quarti Totti su rigore: vittoria al 95' |language=it |date=26 June 2006|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=5 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205123914/http://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/speciale/altri/2006mondialipartite/italia-australia/italia-australia.html|url-status=live}} and was involved in Del Piero's last-minute extra-time goal in the semi-final, which sealed a 2–0 victory for the Italians over hosts Germany, and a place in the World Cup final.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/05/sports/05iht-wcitaly.2120840.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |title=Italy 2, Germany 0: Jinx holds as Italians reach final – Sports – International Herald Tribune |work=The New York Times |first=Roger |last=Cohen |date=5 July 2006|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=29 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329194421/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/05/sports/05iht-wcitaly.2120840.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|url-status=live}} Throughout the competition, Totti completed 185 passes and took 19 shots; in recognition of a successful tournament, he was selected for the 23-man All-Star Team.{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/news/newsid=31923.html#iazzurrii+prominent+all+star+team |title=Azzurri prominent in All Star Team |publisher=FIFA.com |date=7 July 2006|access-date=31 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614214225/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/news/newsid%3D31923.html#iazzurrii+prominent+all+star+team|archive-date=14 June 2010}}

= Retirement =

Totti intended to retire from international football after the 2006 World Cup, but reneged on his decision and remained undecided on his future for over a year, not being called up in the meantime. He made his retirement official on 20 July 2007, at the beginning of the 2007–08 Serie A season, due to recurring physical problems{{cite news |url=http://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Sport/2007/07_Luglio/20/totti_lascia_nazionale.shtml |title=Totti dice addio alla Nazionale |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it |date=20 July 2007|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=17 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617122609/http://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Sport/2007/07_Luglio/20/totti_lascia_nazionale.shtml|url-status=live}} and in order to focus solely on club play with Roma. Italy's coach at the time, Roberto Donadoni, attempted to get Totti to change his mind for the remaining Euro 2008 qualifiers but was not successful.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6908413.stm |title=Totti ends international career |work=BBC Sport |date=20 July 2007|access-date=1 June 2012|archive-date=28 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728103150/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6908413.stm|url-status=live}}

After Marcello Lippi's reappointment as the national team's manager following Euro 2008, Totti announced that he would play in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa if he were to receive a call-up;{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Roma/02-01-2010/totti-apertura-mondiale-602515730259.shtml |title=Totti, apertura Mondiale "Se Lippi chiama dico sì" |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=2 January 2010|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222170340/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Roma/02-01-2010/totti-apertura-mondiale-602515730259.shtml|url-status=live}} however, there was no official statement release from Totti or Lippi about a possible comeback.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/13/francesco-totti-return-italy |title=Francesco Totti considers Italy comeback |work=The Guardian |date=13 October 2009|access-date=13 July 2014}} For the final tournament, Totti was not named in the 23-man squad, and Italy was subsequently eliminated, failing to win a match and finishing last in their group, their worst-ever World Cup performance. Diego Maradona and former national teammates Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluigi Buffon said one of the reasons for Italy's early exit was due to the lack of creative players like Totti in the team.{{cite web |url=http://www.forzaroma.info/2010/06/26/maradonaqlitalia-eliminata-mi-dispiace-ma-ci-voleva-uno-come-tottiq-21779/27549 |title=Maradona:"L'Italia eliminata? Mi dispiace, ma ci voleva uno come Totti ..." |publisher=Forzaroma.info |language=it |date=26 June 2010|access-date=13 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714192852/http://www.forzaroma.info/2010/06/26/maradonaqlitalia-eliminata-mi-dispiace-ma-ci-voleva-uno-come-tottiq-21779/27549|archive-date=14 July 2014}}

In March 2013, Lippi's successor as Italy's coach, Cesare Prandelli, stated that he would consider Totti for the 2014 World Cup squad.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Mondiali/26-03-2014/mondiale-prandelli-balotelli-ascolta-seedorf-tira-fuori-tue-emozioni-80316055172.shtml |title=Mondiale, Prandelli: "Cassano e Totti? Porte aperte in Nazionale" |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=26 March 2014|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=4 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904180211/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Mondiali/26-03-2014/mondiale-prandelli-balotelli-ascolta-seedorf-tira-fuori-tue-emozioni-80316055172.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://gazzettadireggio.gelocal.it/sport/2013/10/08/news/prandelli-oggi-porterei-totti-ai-mondiali-1.7890792 |title=Prandelli: "Oggi porterei Totti ai Mondiali" |work=La Gazzetta di Reggio |language=it |date=8 October 2013|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=11 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511025140/http://gazzettadireggio.gelocal.it/sport/2013/10/08/news/prandelli-oggi-porterei-totti-ai-mondiali-1.7890792|url-status=live}} In October 2013, Prandelli said, "Totti is in fantastic form. His condition right now does make you reflect. If the World Cup was around the corner, I would have no doubts and would absolutely call him up. But we will evaluate the player's condition one month prior to the World Cup."{{cite news |url=http://www.theworldgame.sbs.com.au/world-cup/news/1169635/Totti-still-in-Prandelli-s-thoughts? |title=Totti still in Prandelli's thoughts |work=SBS |date=8 October 2013}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} However, at the time of the choice of the final 23-man Italian squad for the World Cup, the Italy coach excluded the Roma striker, preferring to focus the team around younger players.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/15-05-2014/prandelli-intervista-esclusiva-forum-totti-rossi-cassano-balotelli-berlusconi-immobile-80680254974.shtml |title=Prandelli: "Italia da finale. Totti? Ci avevo pensato, Immobile come Pablito" |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first1=Andrea |last1=Elefante |first2=Sebastiano |last2=Vernazza |date=16 May 2014|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=21 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621011302/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/15-05-2014/prandelli-intervista-esclusiva-forum-totti-rossi-cassano-balotelli-berlusconi-immobile-80680254974.shtml?|url-status=live}} Some in the media criticised the decision, such as former Brazilian international footballer Cafu, who had been Totti's teammate at Roma, who revealed that he would have liked to see Totti competing for Italy at the World Cup in Brazil, and that he preferred the Roma captain over Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.{{cite web |url=http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2014/06/cafu-messi-or-ronaldo-i-say-totti/ |title=Cafu: Messi Or Ronaldo? I Say Totti |publisher=Forza Italian Football |date=20 June 2014|access-date=13 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714142251/http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2014/06/cafu-messi-or-ronaldo-i-say-totti/|url-status=live}} Without Totti, Italy was eliminated in the first round for the second consecutive time, finishing third in their group.{{cite web |url=http://globalnews.ca/news/1413275/world-cup-italy-bounced-from-world-cup-in-1-0-loss-to-uruguay/ |title=WORLD CUP: Italy bounced from World Cup in 1–0 loss to Uruguay |publisher=Global News |date=24 June 2014|access-date=13 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714231351/http://globalnews.ca/news/1413275/world-cup-italy-bounced-from-world-cup-in-1-0-loss-to-uruguay/|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/foto/calcio/mondiali_2014/girone-d/italia/2014/06/24-91707_3/Italia+fuori+dal+Mondiale%3A+il+web+rimpiange+Totti |title=Italia fuori dal Mondiale: il web rimpiange Totti |work=Corriere dello Sport |language=it |date=24 June 2014|access-date=13 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714174652/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/foto/calcio/mondiali_2014/girone-d/italia/2014/06/24-91707_3/Italia+fuori+dal+Mondiale%3A+il+web+rimpiange+Totti|archive-date=14 July 2014}}

In May 2016, several injuries in the Italian squad, as well as a lack of attacking options and Totti's run of good form as a substitute for Roma, led some in the media to call for manager Antonio Conte to include Totti as a reserve in Italy's Euro 2016 squad; however, he was later left out of Conte's 30-man preliminary Italy squad for the final tournament.{{cite web |url=http://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/should-totti-go-to-euro-2016-vote-now-653726 |title=Should Totti go to Euro 2016? VOTE NOW! |publisher=Calciomercato.com |date=3 May 2016|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034734/http://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/should-totti-go-to-euro-2016-vote-now-653726|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/05/30/italy-euro-2016-squad/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/05/30/italy-euro-2016-squad/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Italy Euro 2016 squad |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=1 June 2016|access-date=1 June 2016}}{{cbignore}}

Player profile

{{blockquote|A great player! What a phenomenon!.|Lionel Messi{{cite news |title=Messi to Totti: "What a phenomenon" |url=http://www.weloba.com/messi-to-totti-what-a-phenomenon |date=6 August 2015|access-date=8 September 2015 |publisher=weloba.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909035754/http://www.weloba.com/messi-to-totti-what-a-phenomenon|archive-date=9 September 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Messi, omaggio a Totti su Instagram: "Un grande, che fenomeno" |url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/2015/08/06/foto/messi_foto_con_totti_un_grande_che_fenomeno_-120509283/1/#1 |date=6 August 2015|access-date=8 September 2015 |work=la Repubblica |language=it|archive-date=24 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150824113255/http://www.repubblica.it/sport/2015/08/06/foto/messi_foto_con_totti_un_grande_che_fenomeno_-120509283/1/#1|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Messi sobre Totti: "¡Qué fenómeno!" |url=http://www.directvsports.net/noticias/article/uuid/11yqm3wxi0q9o1dyv8a0cy6qvz/messi-sobre-totti-que-fenomeno |date=6 August 2015|access-date=8 September 2015 |publisher=DirecTV Sports |language=es|archive-date=2 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002175846/http://www.directvsports.net/noticias/article/uuid/11yqm3wxi0q9o1dyv8a0cy6qvz/messi-sobre-totti-que-fenomeno|url-status=dead}}}}

{{blockquote|Totti is an artist of football, a true Number 10.|Michel Platini{{cite news |url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/rassegna-stampa/platini-totti-artista-del-calcio-46179 |title=Platini: "Totti artista del calcio" |publisher=TuttoMercatoWeb |language=it |date=27 December 2006|access-date=24 April 2014|archive-date=24 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424232303/http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/rassegna-stampa/platini-totti-artista-del-calcio-46179|url-status=live}}}}

{{blockquote|Totti is immortal and he is a symbol of our sport. I only regret not having worked with him.|Carlo Ancelotti{{cite news |url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/rassegna-stampa/platini-totti-artista-del-calcio-46179 |title=Platini: "Totti artista del calcio" |publisher=TuttoMercatoWeb |language=it |date=27 December 2006|access-date=24 April 2014|archive-date=24 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424232303/http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/rassegna-stampa/platini-totti-artista-del-calcio-46179|url-status=live}}}}

= Style of play =

File:Totti back 2011.jpg

Often referred to as Er Bimbo de Oro (The Golden Boy), L'Ottavo Re di Roma (The Eighth King of Rome), Er Pupone (The Big Baby), Il Capitano (The Captain), and Il Gladiatore (The Gladiator) by the Italian sports media,{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/Francesco-Totti/Totti-the-Roman-Icon |title=Totti, the Last Gladiator |author1=Andrea Tallarita |publisher=Football Italia|access-date=18 June 2017|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701102813/http://www.football-italia.net/Francesco-Totti/Totti-the-Roman-Icon|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://roma.corriere.it/foto-gallery/cronaca/17_aprile_26/totti-come-l-ottavo-re-roma-3166a184-2aa7-11e7-aac7-9deed828925b.shtml |title=Totti come "l'ottavo re di Roma" |date=26 April 2017 |publisher=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it|access-date=18 June 2017|archive-date=2 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702011955/http://roma.corriere.it/foto-gallery/cronaca/17_aprile_26/totti-come-l-ottavo-re-roma-3166a184-2aa7-11e7-aac7-9deed828925b.shtml|url-status=live}} Totti is considered to be one of the greatest Italian players of all time,{{cite web |url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2014/02/14/mihajlovic-totti-best-ever-italian |title=Mihajlovic: Totti is best ever Italian |date=14 May 2014 |publisher=The World Game|access-date=6 September 2015|archive-date=28 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928013523/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2014/02/14/mihajlovic-totti-best-ever-italian|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2013/10/ranking-francesco-totti-in-italian-football-doesnt-make-sense/ |title=Where Does Francesco Totti Stand In The Pantheon Of Italian Football? |date=October 2013|access-date=6 September 2015 |publisher=Forza Italian Football|archive-date=6 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906101354/http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2013/10/ranking-francesco-totti-in-italian-football-doesnt-make-sense/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://video.sky.it/sport/calcio-italiano/totti_il_miglior_italiano_di_sempre_roma/v173907.vid |title=Roma, è Totti il miglior calciatore italiano di sempre? |date=9 October 2013 |publisher=Sky Italia |language=it|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=15 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715040622/http://video.sky.it/sport/calcio-italiano/totti_il_miglior_italiano_di_sempre_roma/v173907.vid|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/roma/2013/03/03-307973/Roma,+Totti+nella+storia.+Genoa+ko,+-5+dal+Milan |title=Roma, Totti nella storia. Genoa ko, −5 dal Milan |last=Cotugno |first=Vladimiro |date=3 March 2013 |work=Corriere dello Sport|access-date=15 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924050812/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/roma/2013/03/03-307973/Roma,+Totti+nella+storia.+Genoa+ko,+-5+dal+Milan |archive-date=24 September 2015 |language=it}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Roma/17-02-2013/rivera-totti-piu-un-numero-10-baggio-piero-mancini-scelgo-lui-9256802452.shtml |title=Rivera vota Totti: "Meglio di Baggio e Del Piero. E' il più grande degli ultimi 30 anni" |date=18 February 2013 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713211231/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Roma/17-02-2013/rivera-totti-piu-un-numero-10-baggio-piero-mancini-scelgo-lui-9256802452.shtml|url-status=live}} one of the best players of his generation,{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Roma/08-09-2013/roma-garcia-totti-dei-migliori-storia-calcio-201120629784.shtml |title=Roma, Garcia: "Totti uno dei migliori nella storia del calcio" |last=Calabresi |first=Marco |date=8 September 2013 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713201954/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Roma/08-09-2013/roma-garcia-totti-dei-migliori-storia-calcio-201120629784.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/27/francesco-totti-eternal-quality-roma-manchester-city-champions-league |title=Francesco Totti still providing eternal quality for his beloved Roma |work=The Guardian|access-date=4 January 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/articoli/articolo_585.shtml |title=Totti:Goal, musica, emozioni ... |date=29 November 2008 |work=Corriere dello Sport |access-date=22 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222162302/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/articoli/articolo_585.shtml|archive-date=22 February 2014 |language=it}} and Roma's greatest ever player.{{cite news |url=http://www.football-italia.net/150issue/tottiicon.html |title=Calcio Italia Icons: Francesco Totti |date=February 2008 |access-date=31 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018182910/http://football-italia.net/150issue/tottiicon.html|archive-date=18 October 2011 |publisher=Football Italia}} Totti is also regarded by some as Italy's greatest player ever. Throughout his career, he played predominantly as a classic number 10, functioning either as an offensive-midfield playmaker or as a supporting or deep-lying forward behind the main striker;{{cite web |url=http://www.asroma-calcio.com/roma-squadra-calcio/totti.html |title=Francesco Totti (attaccante e trequartista) |publisher=AS Roma Calcio |language=it|access-date=15 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016100055/http://www.asroma-calcio.com/Roma-squadra-calcio/totti.html|archive-date=16 October 2006}}{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/Francesco-Totti/The-Tactical-Chameleon-part-1 |title=Totti the tactical chameleon |publisher=Football Italia |author1=Gaby McKay|access-date=11 April 2017|archive-date=12 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412061907/http://www.football-italia.net/Francesco-Totti/The-Tactical-Chameleon-part-1|url-status=live}} only in the later years of his Roma career was he mainly employed as a lone striker.{{cite news |first=Riccardo |last=Pratesi |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2007/06_Giugno/24/attacchi.html |title=Attacchi d'Europa Scontro tra titani |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=24 June 2007|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=4 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104091043/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2007/06_Giugno/24/attacchi.html|url-status=live}} An elegant, world-class, and technically gifted attacking midfielder with a good knowledge of the game, Totti was a tactically versatile player, capable of playing anywhere along the front line, and was also occasionally deployed as a winger or as a central midfielder under Zdeněk Zeman,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/sports/soccer/20-creative-years-of-francesco-totti-why-stop.html?_r=0 |title=After 2 Decades of Creativity: Why Stop Now? |work=The New York Times |first=Rob |last=Hughes |date=16 April 2013|access-date=20 April 2016|archive-date=22 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922052143/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/sports/soccer/20-creative-years-of-francesco-totti-why-stop.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2012/06/04/3147225/returnfalse |title=Lamela come Totti: con Zeman si torna al 1997, quando Totti ricamava all'ala. 'Coco' può diventare nuovo idolo della sinistra |publisher=Goal.com |language=it |date=4 June 2012|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=6 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706184316/http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2012/06/04/3147225/returnfalse|url-status=live}} and most notably as a false 9 under Luciano Spalletti and Rudi Garcia.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/oct/27/the-question-false-nines-jonathan-wilson |title=The Question: Why are teams so tentative about false nines? |work=The Guardian |first=Jonathan |last=Wilson |date=27 October 2009|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=10 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110183712/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/oct/27/the-question-false-nines-jonathan-wilson|url-status=live}} Under Luis Enrique, he was also occasionally fielded in a more withdrawn creative role in midfield, functioning as a deep-lying playmaker.{{cite web |url=http://www.calciomercato.com/news/la-roma-a-bologna-due-rossi-e-totti-registi-877298 |title=La Roma è cambiata: De Rossi e Totti registi|trans-title=Roma has changed: De Rossi and Totti deep-lying playmakers |publisher=Calciomercato |language=it |first=Valerio |last=Nasetti |date=22 December 2012|access-date=18 January 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215193745/http://www.calciomercato.com/news/la-roma-a-bologna-due-rossi-e-totti-registi-877298|url-status=live}}

While Totti was a prolific goalscorer, he was also renowned for his ball control, vision, creativity, and range of passing, as well as his ability to set the pace in midfield and provide through-balls and assists for his teammates, often through his trademark use of the no-look pass or backheel, in particular when holding up the ball or playing with his back to goal. Throughout his career, Totti drew particular praise from pundits for his excellent vision, technique, and precise long passing ability, which allowed him to play the ball first-time.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/roma/articoli/89072/roma-totti-punta-ai-mille-tacchi.shtml |title=Roma, Totti punta ai "mille tacchi" |publisher=Sport Mediaset |language=it |date=8 September 2012|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924131517/http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/roma/articoli/89072/roma-totti-punta-ai-mille-tacchi.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/premium/plus/Calcio/Squadre/Roma/08-09-2012/totti-insegue-tacco-n-1000-912544472134.shtml |title=Totti, altro traguardo Insegue il tacco n° 1000 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first=Andrea |last=Pugliese |date=8 September 2012|access-date=16 February 2016|archive-date=10 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310141412/http://www.gazzetta.it/premium/plus/Calcio/Squadre/Roma/08-09-2012/totti-insegue-tacco-n-1000-912544472134.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/fantasisti/fantasisti/fantasisti.html |title=Del Piero, Totti e Baggio la fantasia al potere |work=la Repubblica |language=it |first=Andrea |last=Di Nicola |date=6 October 2001|access-date=16 February 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104335/http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/fantasisti/fantasisti/fantasisti.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/roma/2015/11/11-5783810/la_roma_e_il_rientro_di_totti/?cookieAccept |title=La Roma e il rientro di Totti |work=Corriere dello Sport |language=it |date=11 November 2015|access-date=16 February 2016|archive-date=17 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217034657/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/roma/2015/11/11-5783810/la_roma_e_il_rientro_di_totti/?cookieAccept|url-status=live}} Due to his movement and range of skills, his role has at times been described as that of a hardworking, unselfish and dynamic centre-forward, known as a centravanti di manovra in Italian (which literally translates to "manoeuvring centre-forward"). Known for his work rate, longevity, and willingness to contribute defensively, Totti underwent an athletic development during his time under Zeman: he undertook a muscle-strengthening programme to adapt to the rhythms of 21st-century football, gaining physical strength, stamina, fitness and shooting power to the detriment of some of his speed and agility, which also enabled him to maintain a consistent level of performance in his later career.{{cite news |first=Giorgio |last=Rondelli |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/novembre/07/Totti_piu_muscoli_servizio_della_co_0_9811078539.shtml |title=Totti, piu' muscoli al servizio della fantasia |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it |date=7 November 1998|access-date=22 April 2014|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101000000/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/novembre/07/Totti_piu_muscoli_servizio_della_co_0_9811078539.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Paddy |last=Agnew |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jun/24/euro2000.sport8 |title=Del Piero fuels passionate debate |work=The Guardian |date=24 June 2000|access-date=25 November 2016}}

File:Francesco Totti Chelsea vs AS-Roma 10AUG2013.jpg

Throughout his career, Totti utilised his balance, dribbling skills, and acceleration in order to get past opponents; despite being naturally right-footed, he possessed a powerful and accurate shot from both inside and outside the area with either foot, and was also an accurate penalty kick{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/roma/2011/07/17/news/totti_segna_primo_gol-19251032 |title=Totti lascia subito il segno "Ancora tanto da lavorare" |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=17 July 2011|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=24 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624035513/http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/roma/2011/07/17/news/totti_segna_primo_gol-19251032/|url-status=live}} and free kick taker,{{cite web |url=http://www.asromachannel.eu/notizie-as-roma/serie-a-totti-al-sesto-posto-nella-classifica-dei-re-dei-calci-di-punizione-dal-2005-ad-oggi-39198 |title=Serie A, Totti al sesto posto nella classifica dei re dei calci di punizione dal 2005 ad oggi |publisher=AS Roma Channel |language=it |date=11 May 2015|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818235056/https://www.asroma.com/|url-status=live}} who was capable of striking the ball either with power or swerve from set pieces.{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it//2004/marzo/13/Professione_cecchino_sw_0_040313908.shtml |title=Professione cecchino |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |author1=Fabrizio Salvio |date=13 March 2004 |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029232438/http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it//2004/marzo/13/Professione_cecchino_sw_0_040313908.shtml |url-status=live}} Totti also scored several goals from chipped shots throughout his career, and often used the technique on penalties, which was also known as the cucchiaio technique (or "spoon" in Italian);{{cite news |url=http://sport.ilmessaggero.it/calcio/news/panenka-inventore-cucchiaio-totti-voeller-zidane/1042245.shtml |title=Auguri Panenka, l'inventore del "cucchiaio": da Voeller a Zidane e Totti, ecco i suoi eredi |work=Il Messaggero |language=it |first=Benedetto |last=Saccà |date=1 December 2014|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=17 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817081023/http://sport.ilmessaggero.it/calcio/news/panenka-inventore-cucchiaio-totti-voeller-zidane/1042245.shtml|url-status=dead}}In Italian football jargon, fare il cucchiaio ({{langx|en|do the "spoon"}}, take a "spoon" shot) is a colloquial expression used when taking a chip shot or a Panenka penalty. one of the most famous instances in which Totti performed this type of penalty was in the victorious shootout of Italy's Euro 2000 semi-final match against the Netherlands. One of his most famous lobbed goals, in which he dribbled past Inter's Marco Materazzi before chipping the ball over goalkeeper Júlio César, was later named the best goal in Serie A of the 2005–06 season.{{cite news |url=http://video.repubblica.it/sport/totti-i-cinque-gol-indimenticabili-il-pallonetto-contro-l-inter/121245/119730 |work=la Repubblica |title=Totti, i cinque gol indimenticabili: il pallonetto contro l'Inter |first=Pier Luigi |last=Pisa |language=it |date=4 March 2013|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=1 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201045553/http://video.repubblica.it/sport/totti-i-cinque-gol-indimenticabili-il-pallonetto-contro-l-inter/121245/119730|url-status=live}} He scored another notable goal using this technique against Lazio in the 2002 Derby della Capitale, which ended in a 5–1 win for Roma.{{cite news |url=http://video.repubblica.it/sport/totti-la-rete-nel-derby-del-2002/121249?video |title=Totti, la rete nel derby del 2002 |work=la Repubblica |first=Pier Luigi |last=Pisa |language=it |date=4 March 2013|access-date=15 June 2015|archive-date=22 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922234220/http://video.repubblica.it/sport/totti-la-rete-nel-derby-del-2002/121249?video|url-status=live}} The title of Totti's 2006 autobiography Tutto Totti: Mo je faccio er cucchiaio ({{langx|en|All about Totti}}: I'm gonna chip him now) referenced this technique, as well as the statement made to his Italy teammates before his memorable Euro 2000 semi-final shootout penalty against the Netherlands.Mo je faccio er cucchiaio ({{langx|it|adesso gli faccio il cucchiaio}}) is actually Romanesco, the Roman-Italian dialect Totti regularly speaks. Having served as Roma's captain for several years, Totti was praised for his leadership.{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/44948/totti-leadership |title=Totti on leadership |publisher=Football Italia |date=7 February 2014|access-date=2 October 2016|archive-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003055619/http://www.football-italia.net/44948/totti-leadership|url-status=live}} Italian former footballer Roberto Mancini likened Totti's playing style to his own in 2016, due to his movement, quality, and intuition.{{cite web |url=https://www.fcinter1908.it/copertina/mancini-totti-prima-lui-e-poi-gli-altri-dieci-la-roma-dovrebbe/ |title=Mancini: "Totti? Prima lui, poi gli altri 10. E' di un altro livello, rinnovo d'obbligo" |publisher=FC Inter 1908 |language=it-IT |date=9 May 2016 |access-date=25 March 2024 |archive-date=25 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325172653/https://www.fcinter1908.it/copertina/mancini-totti-prima-lui-e-poi-gli-altri-dieci-la-roma-dovrebbe/ |url-status=live}}

Despite his talent and ability, however, Totti drew criticism at times for his character and lack of discipline on the pitch, which occasionally caused him to commit bad fouls and receive unnecessary bookings; with eleven red cards, he has the joint-sixth highest number of sending offs in Serie A history.{{cite news |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101101/football/ranieri-defends-irate-totti-after-red-card.334125 |title=Ranieri defends irate Totti after red card |work=Times of Malta |date=1 November 2010|access-date=2 October 2016|archive-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003102942/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101101/football/ranieri-defends-irate-totti-after-red-card.334125|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://romanews.eu/it,a112023/Totti-11-Espulsioni-Nessuno-Rosso-Come-Lui-Giocatori-In-Attivita-Serie-Br,m82 |title=Totti, 11 espulsioni. Nessuno 'rosso' come lui tra i giocatori in attività della Serie A |publisher=RomaNews.eu |language=it|access-date=11 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808122414/http://romanews.eu/it,a112023/Totti-11-Espulsioni-Nessuno-Rosso-Come-Lui-Giocatori-In-Attivita-Serie-Br,m82 |archive-date=8 August 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.contra-ataque.it/2016/02/16/calciatori-espulsi-serie-a-montero.html |title=I calciatori più espulsi nella storia della Serie A: Montero irraggiungibile |publisher=contra-ataque.it |language=it |author1=Claudio Agave |work=Contrataque |date=16 February 2016|access-date=2 May 2017}}

= Goal celebrations =

Totti was known for his exuberant and humorous goal celebrations. One of his famous celebrations took place on 11 April 1999 in the second Derby della Capitale of the 1998–99 season, in which he scored during the final minutes of the game and celebrated by flashing a T-shirt under his jersey, which read "Vi ho purgato ancora" ("I've purged you guys again"), in reference to events at the previous derby against Lazio on 29 November 1998 when Totti helped Roma come back from 3–1 down with an assist to Eusebio Di Francesco for 3–2 and finally a goal of his own for 3–3.{{cite news |title=Dal "Sei unica" al selfie, tutte le esultanze di capitan Totti nei derby|trans-title=From "you're one of a kind" to a selfie, all of captain Totti's goal celebrations in the Rome derby matches |url=http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2015/01/12/foto/dal_sei_unica_al_selfie_tutte_le_esultanze_di_capitan_totti-104794789/1/#1 |work=la Repubblica|access-date=4 May 2015 |language=it |date=12 January 2015}} Another derby goal against Lazio saw him take over a sideline camera and aim it at the Roma fans.

Totti has displayed numerous T-shirts with messages on them from under his jersey over the years, including two for his wife; "6 Unica" ("You're One of a kind") and "6 Sempre Unica" ("You're Still the One"), and a political one "Liberate Giuliana" ("Free Giuliana") in honor of Giuliana Sgrena, an Italian journalist kidnapped in 2005 by insurgents in Iraq who was later freed. The most recent message was "Scusate il Ritardo" ("Sorry for the delay") which he flashed on 8 January 2012 as an apology to fans for his goalscoring drought after scoring his first goal of the season versus Chievo.

As a tribute to his then-pregnant wife, Ilary Blasi, Totti imitated a childbirth scene by stuffing the ball under his shirt and lying on his back while his teammates extracted the ball. His current ritual of sucking his thumb after a goal began after his son was born and continued after the birth of his daughter. Blasi has revealed that Totti also sucks his thumb in dedication to her and not just for their children.{{cite web |url=http://www.francescototti.com/main.html |title=Face to Face|access-date=1 June 2012 |work=Totti.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615170114/http://www.francescototti.com/main.html|archive-date=15 June 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.footballitaliano.org/2626/tottis-goal-celebration-is-for-wife-blasi.html |title=Totti's Goal Celebration Is For Wife Blasi |date=5 January 2009|access-date=31 May 2011 |publisher=Football Italiano|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113115443/http://www.footballitaliano.org/2626/tottis-goal-celebration-is-for-wife-blasi.html|archive-date=13 January 2010 |url-status=dead}} On 11 January 2015, Totti scored twice against Lazio in the Derby della Capitale as Roma came back from 2–0 down; he then took a selfie with Roma fans.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/30719796 |title=Roma 2–2 Lazio |work=BBC Sport |date=11 January 2015|access-date=16 February 2016}}

After retirement

On 17 July 2017, Totti confirmed his retirement from professional football and announced that he had accepted an offer from his former team to become a club director.{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/as-roma/story/3159323/francesco-totti-confirms-retirement-and-accepts-offer-to-be-club-director-at-roma |title=Francesco Totti confirms retirement, accepts offer as club director at Roma |publisher=ESPN FC |author1=Ben Gladwell |date=17 July 2017|access-date=17 July 2017}} On 18 September, Totti began studying for a course in order to obtain his UEFA B coaching licence.{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/as-roma/story/3207932/roma-director-francesco-totti-starts-uefa-b-licence-coaching-course |title=Roma director Francesco Totti starts UEFA B Licence coaching course |publisher=ESPN FC |author1=Ben Gladwell |date=19 September 2017|access-date=21 September 2017}} However, he withdrew from the course two weeks later, as he was unable to attend the course regularly due to his commitments as a director of Roma; his former teammate Simone Perrotta took his place.{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/as-roma/story/3220213/roma-director-francesco-totti-withdraws-from-coaching-course-after-two-weeks |title=Roma director Francesco Totti quits coaching course after two weeks |publisher=ESPN FC |author1=Ben Gladwell |date=4 October 2017|access-date=5 October 2017}}

On 17 June 2019, he announced his resignation from his role at Roma, in an hour-long press conference held at the Italian Olympic Committee headquarters, where he publicly accused chairman James Pallotta and the management for not involving him enough in the club's decision making, stating he would reconsider a comeback only under a different ownership. This marked the end of his 30-year association with the club.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jun/17/francesco-totti-hits-out-at-roma-hierarchy-as-he-leaves-club-after-30-years |newspaper=The Guardian |title=Francesco Totti hits out at Roma hierarchy as he leaves club after 30 years |access-date=18 June 2019 |date=17 June 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48663777 |title=Francesco Totti leaves Roma after 30 years as he resigns as director |date=17 June 2019 |work=BBC Sport|access-date=27 August 2019}}

Outside of professional football

= Personal life =

File:Totti 2007.jpg

Totti married Ilary Blasi, a former showgirl and a co-host of Italia 1's Le Iene, on 19 June 2005 at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli. Their wedding was aired on television, with the proceeds being donated to charity. They had their first child on 6 November 2005. Their second child, a daughter, was born on 13 May 2007. The couple had often been referred to as the "Italian Beckhams", and their private lives are often speculated upon in Italian magazines and tabloids.{{cite news |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2009/02/06/societa/i-beckham-de-noantri-97q3FKw7MjHUJMK5VMiGmI/pagina.html |title=I Beckham de noantri |newspaper=La Stampa |language=it |date=6 February 2009|access-date=12 April 2016}} On 10 March 2016, the couple had their third child.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Roma/10-03-2016/totti-nata-figlia-la-terza-volta-capitano-roma-diventa-papa-140968765899.shtml |title=Totti, è nata la figlia Isabel: il capitano della Roma è papà per la terza volta|trans-title=Totti, his daughter Isabel is born: the Roma captain is a father for the third time |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |first=Chiara |last=Zucchelli |date=10 March 2016 |access-date=11 March 2016}}

On 12 October 2020, Totti's father, Enzo, died at 76 years old due to COVID-19, amid the pandemic in Italy.[https://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/10/12/news/roma_morto_enzo_il_papa_di_francesco_totti_era_positivo_al_coronavirus-270340777/ Roma, è morto Enzo Totti, il papà di Francesco. Era positivo al coronavirus], la Repubblica In the aftermath, Totti struggled with his mental health and discovered evidence of Blasi's infidelity.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-27 |title=Ilary Blasi, Corona: "Anche lei tradiva Totti, prima del ragazzo del caffè ce ne sono stati altri" |url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/persone/ilary_blasi_fabrizio_corona_tradimenti_totti_cosa_ha_detto_noemi_bocchi_unica_ultime_notizie-7781617.html |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=www.ilmessaggero.it |language=it}} On 11 July 2022, it was announced that Totti and Blasi had separated.{{cite web |url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2022/07/11/ilary-blasi-allansa-il-mio-matrimonio-con-totti-e-finito_a5b8c9aa-ed21-48d7-8b4d-e0402aafc90d.html |title=Ilary Blasi all'ANSA, il mio matrimonio con Totti è finito |publisher=ansa.it |date=11 July 2022 |language=Italian}} Totti has since started a relationship with Noemi Bocchi.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-31 |title=Francesco Totti e gli auguri a Noemi Bocchi a mezzanotte in punto: "Happy Birthday" dalla Cappella Sistina |url=https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/24_agosto_31/francesco-totti-e-gli-auguri-a-noemi-bocchi-a-mezzanotte-in-punto-happy-birthday-dalla-cappella-sistina-6c079cdf-6e9f-429f-8acc-f3d45d82fxlk.shtml |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Corriere della Sera |language=it-IT}}

In October 2024, Totti ended his relationship with Bocchi, and began a new relationship with sports journalist Marialuisa Jacobelli.{{cite news |title=Francesco Totti e Marialuisa Jacobelli in hotel a Roma, lei: "C'è una liaison" |url=https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/people/francesco-totti-marialuisa-jacobelli-hotel-roma-liaison-flirt_89283074-202402k.shtml |access-date=24 October 2024 |agency=tgcom24.mediaset.it |publisher=tgcom24.mediaset.it |date=24 October 2024}}{{cite news |title=Francesco Totti e Marialuisa Jacobelli paparazzati insieme in un hotel, lei ammette: "Sì, c'è una liaison" |url=https://www.vanityfair.it/article/francesco-totti-marialuisa-jacobelli-flirt-albergo |access-date=24 October 2024 |agency=vanityfair.it |publisher=vanityfair.it |date=24 October 2024}}

Totti is a Roman Catholic.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Sport_Vari/Altro/11-02-2013/papa-totti-sorpreso-molto-triste-petrucci-persona-straordinaria-914250723085.shtml |title=Papa, Totti: "Sorpreso e molto triste" Buffon: "Grande responsabilità". |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=11 February 2013 |access-date=12 April 2016}}

Totti's brother Riccardo serves as his agent,{{cite web |url=http://www.topendsports.com/athletes/football-soccer/totti-francesco.htm |title=Francesco Totti: Football (Soccer) |publisher=Topend Sports|access-date=23 February 2017}} and manages many of his brand and business interests, under the name Number Ten, including the Francesco Totti Academy, a football training school, and the Totti Soccer School, a football camp for children with disabilities. Totti also owns a motorcycle racing team called Totti Top Sport.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/19/football-star-flats-homeless-housing-francesco-totti-rome |title=The football star, the run-down flats and the sky-high rent for homeless housing |work=The Guardian |first=John |last=Hooper |date=19 June 2015|access-date=12 April 2016}}

= Philanthropy =

Totti became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF in 2003,{{cite web |url=http://www.unicef.org/people/people_14222.html |title=Goodwill ambassadors |publisher=UNICEF|access-date=18 June 2010|archive-date=7 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607113503/http://www.unicef.org/people/people_14222.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/italy_francesco_totti.html |title=Francesco Totti |publisher=UNICEF|access-date=18 June 2010|archive-date=7 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607113613/http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/italy_francesco_totti.html|url-status=dead}} and an ambassador for the FIFA/SOS Children's Villages in January 2006. As a fundraiser for a children's charity, he published two best-selling, self-effacing joke books, containing jokes the locals often told about him and his teammates. Some of the jokes were filmed in short sketches, featuring himself with good friends and national teammates Alessandro Del Piero, Gianluigi Buffon, Christian Vieri, Antonio Cassano, Marco Delvecchio, Alessandro Nesta and former national team coach Giovanni Trapattoni in a short show called La sai l'ultima di Totti. On 16 January 2008, he appeared as "PaperTotti" in the Disney comic series Topolino. The proceeds of the subscriptions were given to charity. The Roma captain's official testimonial was a fundraising match between singers and celebrities played on 12 May 2008 to help raise money for the construction of the Campus Produttivo della Legalità e della Solidarietà (Productive Campus of Legality and Solidarity).{{cite news |title=Maradona, Totti, Zico, Rocchi e altri fenomeni All'Olimpico la Partita del cuore |url=http://www.ilmessaggero.it/home_roma/citta/maradona_totti_zico_rocchi_e_altri_fenomeni_alolimpico_la_partita_del_cuore/notizie/24014.shtml |date=11 May 2008|access-date=17 April 2014 |work=Il Messaggero |language=it|archive-date=18 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418220636/http://www.ilmessaggero.it/home_roma/citta/maradona_totti_zico_rocchi_e_altri_fenomeni_alolimpico_la_partita_del_cuore/notizie/24014.shtml|url-status=dead}}

In 2009, Totti helped launch a new campaign promoting Football Adopting Abandoned Children, which came about in collaboration with the Friends of Children and the Association of Italian Players. In the project, he adopted a team of around eleven young Kenyans to play football in Nairobi, and then to coach them along the way.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/06/20/1335771/roma-captain-francesco-totti-to-coach-team-of-abandoned-children- |title=Roma Captain Francesco Totti To Coach Team Of Abandoned Children For Charity |publisher=Goal.com |date=20 June 2009|access-date=3 July 2015}} In 2015, Totti and several of his teammates took to the pitch for "Tennis with Stars" in the Foro Italico in Rome, an event to help disadvantaged children. Tennis players such as Novak Djokovic and Flavia Pennetta participated at the event.{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/tennis/2015/05/11/foto/djokovic_e_totti_danno_spettacolo-114139648/1/#1 |title=Tennis, Internazionali: Djokovic e Totti danno spettacolo per beneficenza |work=la Repubblica |date=11 May 2015|access-date=27 June 2015 |language=it}} On 27 September 2016, Totti celebrated his 40th birthday live on his new Facebook page,{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.us/club/as-roma/104/blog/post/2959339/roma-legend-francesco-totti-40-things-to-know-on-his-40th-birthday |title=Roma legend Francesco Totti: 40 things to know on his 40th birthday |publisher=ESPN FC |first=Terry |last=Daley |date=27 September 2016 |access-date=2 October 2016}} at the Tor Crescenza castle in Rome.{{cite news |first=Maria Egizia |last=Fiaschetti |url=http://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/16_settembre_30/quartant-anni-totti-maria-sensi-non-ci-ha-invitati-ingrato-64b17d2e-8733-11e6-b094-d674d9773420.shtml |title=Quarant'anni di Totti, Maria Sensi: "Non ci ha invitati. Ingrato" |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it |date=30 September 2016|access-date=2 October 2016}}

Totti recorded a video message for a comatose hospital patient who awoke from her coma when his voice was played; Totti visited the patient in the hospital in September 2020.{{Cite news |title=Football Legend Francesco Totti Visits Girl Awakened From Coma By His Voice |url=https://sports.ndtv.com/football/football-legend-francesco-totti-visits-girl-awakened-from-coma-by-his-voice-2302296|access-date=30 September 2020 |newspaper=Ndtvsports.com}}

= Television, cinema and publicity =

In 2002, Fiat principal executive Gianni Agnelli, a lifelong fan and ex-president of Juventus, chose Totti to publicize the launch of the new Stilo instead of a Juventus player.{{cite news |title=Ma la Fiat tradisce i bianconeri Totti il testimonial della Stilo |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2002/04/14/ma-la-fiat-tradisce-bianconeri-totti-il.html |date=14 April 2002|access-date=16 April 2014 |work=la Repubblica |language=it}} Having been signed to sportswear company Nike, Totti featured in Nike's "Secret Tournament" advertisement, directed by Terry Gilliam, in the buildup to the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. He appeared alongside Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Luís Figo, Roberto Carlos and Hidetoshi Nakata, with former player Eric Cantona the tournament "referee".{{cite news |title=A lighter shoe, cooler kits, a faster ball, a Secret Tournament – every touch counts |url=http://www.nikebiz.com/story/stry_scorpion.shtml |work=NikeBiz |publisher=Nike |access-date=16 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020602055510/http://www.nikebiz.com/story/stry_scorpion.shtml |archive-date=2 June 2002}}{{cite news |first=Claire |last=Cozens |title=Cantona hosts World Cup with a difference |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/apr/03/advertising.worldcupfootball2002?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |work=The Guardian |date=3 April 2002 |access-date=16 February 2015}}

Totti has featured in EA Sports' FIFA video game series; he appeared on the cover of the Italian edition of FIFA 2002.{{cite web |title=Fifa 2002 & Totti |url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/giochi/200106/27/3b3a505001915/ |publisher=Rai Sport|access-date=17 March 2015 |language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222104504/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/giochi/200106/27/3b3a505001915/|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=dead}} He also featured on the cover of Pro Evolution Soccer 4, along with Thierry Henry and Italian referee Pierluigi Collina.{{cite news |url=http://www.totalvideogames.com/Pro-Evolution-Soccer-4/news/Konami-Sign-Henry-Totti-and-Collina-6062.html |title=Konami Sign Henry, Totti and Collina News |date=9 September 2004|access-date=31 May 2011 |publisher=totalvideogames.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503200655/http://www.totalvideogames.com/Pro-Evolution-Soccer-4/news/Konami-Sign-Henry-Totti-and-Collina-6062.html|archive-date=3 May 2015}} Between 2005 and 2008, his sponsors changed to sportswear company Diadora and soft drink Pepsi Twist, with a commercial filmed in the camps of Trigoria by director Gabriele Muccino. Since May 2006, he has appeared in advertisements for telephone company Vodafone. In December 2006, Totti and his wife Ilary Blasi lent their voices to an Italian dubbing of an episode of the television series The Simpsons entitled "Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play", in which Totti voiced Buck Mitchell.{{cite news |title=Totti voce dei Simpson: "Che intelligenti!" |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2008/maggio/03/Totti_voce_dei_Simpson_Che_ga_10_080503024.shtml |date=3 May 2008|access-date=30 April 2014 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |first=Stefano |last=Boldrini |language=it}}

In 2007, he appeared in the movie L'allenatore nel Pallone 2, in the role of a defense attorney. Since 2008, he has participated several times in the television program C'è posta per te, in the second series of the Italian drama Cesaroni, in the reality show Grande Fratello 8 and in an episode of Paperissima. In September 2008, a collection of figurines dedicated to him appeared in newsstands in the Lazio region entitled "Francesco Totti, the captain".{{cite news |title=Album di figurine solo su Totti |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2008/settembre/19/Album_figurine_solo_Totti_ga_10_080919071.shtml |date=19 September 2008|access-date=17 April 2014 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it}} In 2009, Totti sent a message of support to Iranian youths during the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests.{{cite web |url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-305559 |title=Top striker Francesco Totti sends greetings to Iranian youth |publisher=CNN |date=28 July 2009}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pfdctv.com/?p=1749 |title=Totti sends a message in "Farsi" to Iranian Youth |publisher=Persian Football |date=12 March 2012 |access-date=13 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100204/http://www.pfdctv.com/?p=1749 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=usurped}} In February 2010, Totti was named an ambassador for online poker company Party Poker.{{cite press release |url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/legendary-signing-for-partypokerit-1122148.htm |title=Legendary Signing for PartyPoker.it! |publisher=PartyPoker.it |via=Marketwired |date=25 February 2010 |access-date=17 May 2014}}

In May 2010, Totti appeared alongside actor Russell Crowe in Rome to promote the special edition of the film Gladiator, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the film's release.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ozasp-soccer-italy-roma-ranieri-idAFJOE64E03T20100515 |title=Bored by Mourinho, Roma's gladiators fight to the end |work=Reuters |date=15 May 2010|access-date=6 October 2015}} In December 2014, two murals of Totti, sponsored by Nike, were created in Rome.{{cite web |title=Roma, mega murales di Totti su una scuola a S. Giovanni |url=http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/sport/2014/notizia/roma-mega-murales-di-totti-su-una-scuola-a-s-giovanni_2026170.shtml |date=10 February 2014|access-date=10 June 2014 |publisher=Tgcom24 |language=it}}{{cite news |title=Ancora un murales per Totti: il Capitano sulla facciata dell'ex deposito di Piazza Ragusa |url=http://www.romatoday.it/sport/murales-totti-piazza-ragusa.html |date=28 May 2014|access-date=10 June 2014 |work=RomaToday |language=it}} In 2014, the Swiss artist David Diehl painted Totti as one of 16 football icons most beloved by their fans.{{cite web |url=http://www.forza27.com/football-icons-paintings-by-david-diehl/ |title=Football Icons – Paintings by David Diehl |publisher=Forza27 |date=20 October 2014|access-date=27 June 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/media/Calciatori-o-icone-il-football-come-religione-d9c141fe-6328-463e-a82f-c3a7d8567a06.html |title=Totti santo subito. Calciatori icona, il football come religione |date=29 December 2014 |publisher=Rai News |language=it|access-date=27 June 2015}} In 2015, France Football rated him one of the ten best footballers in the world over the age of 36.{{cite web |url=http://www.francefootball.fr/news/Le-top-10-des-meilleurs-vieux/559763 |title=Le top 10 des meilleurs vieux|trans-title=The top 10 of the best oldies |publisher=France Football |language=fr |first=Thomas |last=Simon |date=19 May 2015|access-date=4 August 2015}} In 2015, Totti's famous selfie goal celebration was included amongst the goal celebrations available for FIFA 16 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2016; he also took a selfie in the official trailer of the video game on YouTube.{{cite web |url=http://www.forzaroma.info/news-as-roma/esultanza-selfie-totti-dopo-pes-fifa-16-annuncia/ |title=Esultanza "Selfie di Totti", dopo PES anche FIFA 16 lo annuncia |publisher=ForzaRoma.info |date=19 June 2015|access-date=18 August 2015 |language=it}}{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/ultra-realistic-neymar-totti-selfie-5861936 |title=Ultra realistic Neymar and Totti selfie celebration: New PES trailer looks AWESOME |work=Daily Mirror |date=11 June 2015|access-date=18 August 2015}} On 1 August 2017, a rocket carrying Totti's number 10 shirt from his final game with Roma against Genoa was launched into space from French Guiana.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40801467 |title=Francesco Totti: Roma legend's final shirt launched into space |work=BBC Sport |date=2 August 2017|access-date=2 August 2017}}

In 2020 he was the subject of My Name Is Francesco Totti (Mi chiamo Francesco Totti), a documentary film by Alex Infascelli.Luca Ceccotti, [https://cinema.everyeye.it/notizie/chiamo-francesco-totti-capitano-presenta-social-documentario-vita-465431.html "Mi chiamo Francesco Totti, il Capitano presenta via social il documentario sulla sua vita"]. Everyeye, 29 August 2020.

In March 2024, Betsson launched its [https://Betsson.Sport Betsson.Sport] infotainment platform in Italy with Totti as ambassador.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-18 |title=Betsson.sport debuts in Italy with Francesco Totti as Ambassador |url=https://www.betssongroup.com/betsson-sport-debuts-with-francesco-totti-as-ambassador/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Betsson Group |language=en-GB}} Totti, along with Bebe Vio, will be ambassadors for the 2026 Winter Olympics hosted in Milano and Cortina d'Ampezzo.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-24 |title=Totti, Bebe Vio become Milano-Cortina 2026 ambassadors - TopNews - Ansa.it |url=https://ansabrasil.com.br/english/news/2021/06/24/totti-bebe-vio-become-milano-cortina-2026-ambassadors_cc4499bc-8c29-4787-9800-b12d4f087b8f.html |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Agenzia ANSA |language=it}}

Career statistics

= Club =

rowspan="2" style="width: 100pt"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Coppa Italia !colspan="2"\|Continental{{efn\|Includes appearances in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League}} !colspan="2"\|Supercoppa !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division\|\|Apps\|\|Goals\|\|Apps\|\|Goals\|\|Apps\|\|Goals\|\|Apps\|\|Goals\|\|Apps\|\|Goals
rowspan="25"\|Roma \|1992–93 \|Serie A \|2	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	2	0
1993–94 \|Serie A \|8	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	10	0
1994–95 \|Serie A \|21	4	4	3	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	25	7
1995–96 \|Serie A \|28	2	1	0	7	2	colspan="2"\|—	36	4
1996–97 \|Serie A \|26	5	1	0	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	30	5
1997–98 \|Serie A \|30	13	6	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	36	14
1998–99 \|Serie A \|31	12	3	1	8	3	colspan="2"\|—	42	16
1999–2000 \|Serie A \|27	7	2	0	5	1	colspan="2"\|—	34	8
2000–01 \|Serie A	30	13	2	1	3	2	colspan="2"\|—	35	16
2001–02 \|Serie A	24	8	0	0	11	3	1	1	36	12
2002–03 \|Serie A	24	14	5	3	6	3	colspan="2"\|—	35	20
2003–04 \|Serie A	31	20	0	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	32	20
2004–05 \|Serie A	29	12	7	3	4	0	colspan="2"\|—	40	15
2005–06 \|Serie A	24	15	2	0	3	2	colspan="2"\|—	29	17
2006–07 \|Serie A	35	26	5	2	9	4	1	0	50	32
2007–08 \|Serie A \|25	14	3	3	6	1	1	0	35	18
2008–09 \|Serie A	24	13	0	0	7	2	1	0	32	15
2009–10 \|Serie A \|23	14	2	0	6	11	colspan="2"\|—	31	25
2010–11 \|Serie A \|32	15	0	0	7	2	1	0	40	17
2011–12 \|Serie A	27	8	2	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	31	8
2012–13 \|Serie A \|34	12	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	37	12
2013–14 \|Serie A \|26	8	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	29	8
2014–15 \|Serie A \|27	8	2	0	7	2	colspan="2"\|—	36	10
2015–16 \|Serie A \|13	5	0	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	15	5
2016–17 \|Serie A \|18	2	4	1	6	0	colspan="2"\|—	28	3
colspan="3"\|Career total !619\|\|250\|\|59\|\|18\|\|103\|\|38\|\|5\|\|1\|\|786\|\|307

= International =

National team\|\|Year\|\|Apps\|\|Goals
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="9"\|Italy \|1998	3	0
1999	6	0
2000	12	4
2001	6	1
2002	6	0
2003	5	1
2004	6	2
2005	5	0
2006	9	1
colspan="2"\|Total\|\|58\|\|9

:Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Totti goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Francesco Totti
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1 \|26 April 2000 \|Stadio Oreste Granillo, Reggio Calabria, Italy \|{{fb\|Portugal}} \|align="center" \|2–0 \|align="center" \|2–0 \|Friendly
align="center"\|2 \|14 June 2000 \|Koning Boudewijnstadion, Brussels, Belgium \|{{fb\|Belgium}} \|align="center" \|1–0 \|align="center" \|2–0 \|UEFA Euro 2000
align="center"\|3 \|24 June 2000 \|Koning Boudewijnstadion, Brussels, Belgium \|{{fb\|Romania}} \|align="center" \|1–0 \|align="center" \|2–0 \|UEFA Euro 2000
align="center"\|4 \|7 October 2000 \|Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy \|{{fb\|Romania}} \|align="center" \|3–0 \|align="center" \|3–0 \|2002 FIFA World Cup Qualification
align="center"\|5 \|2 June 2001 \|Boris Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia \|{{fb\|Georgia\|1990}} \|align="center" \|2–0 \|align="center" \|2–1 \|2002 FIFA World Cup Qualification
align="center"\|6 \|11 June 2003 \|Helsingin olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland \|{{fb\|Finland}} \|align="center" \|1–0 \|align="center" \|2–0 \|UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
align="center"\|7 \| rowspan="2" \|13 October 2004 \| rowspan="2" \|Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma, Italy \| rowspan="2" \|{{fb\|Belarus}} \|align="center" \|1–0 \| rowspan="2" align="center" \|4–3 \| rowspan="2" \|2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification
align="center"\|8 \|align="center" \|3–1
align="center"\|9 \|26 June 2006 \|Fritz Walter Stadion, Kaiserslautern, Germany \|{{fb\|Australia}} \|align="center" \|1–0 \|align="center" \|1–0 \|2006 FIFA World Cup

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Francesco Totti

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

|26 April 2000

|Stadio Oreste Granillo, Reggio Calabria, Italy

|{{fb|Portugal}}

|align="center" |2–0

|Friendly

align="center"|2

|14 June 2000

|Koning Boudewijnstadion, Brussels, Belgium

|{{fb|Belgium}}

|align="center" |1–0

|align="center" |2–0

|UEFA Euro 2000

align="center"|3

|24 June 2000

|Koning Boudewijnstadion, Brussels, Belgium

|{{fb|Romania}}

|align="center" |1–0

|align="center" |2–0

|UEFA Euro 2000

align="center"|4

|7 October 2000

|Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy

|{{fb|Romania}}

|align="center" |3–0

|2002 FIFA World Cup Qualification

align="center"|5

|2 June 2001

|Boris Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia

|{{fb|Georgia|1990}}

|align="center" |2–0

|align="center" |2–1

|2002 FIFA World Cup Qualification

align="center"|6

|11 June 2003

|Helsingin olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland

|{{fb|Finland}}

|align="center" |1–0

|align="center" |2–0

|UEFA Euro 2004 qualification

align="center"|7

| rowspan="2" |13 October 2004

| rowspan="2" |Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma, Italy

| rowspan="2" |{{fb|Belarus}}

|align="center" |1–0

| rowspan="2" align="center" |4–3

| rowspan="2" |2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification

align="center"|8

|align="center" |3–1

align="center"|9

|26 June 2006

|Fritz Walter Stadion, Kaiserslautern, Germany

|{{fb|Australia}}

|align="center" |1–0

|2006 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Roma{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/francesco-totti/92/ |title=F. Totti |publisher=Soccerway|access-date=18 December 2015}}

Italy U21

UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1996

Italy U23

Mediterranean Games: 1997

Italy

FIFA World Cup: 2006
UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2000

Individual

Guerin d'Oro: 1998, 2004
Serie A Young Footballer of the Year: 1999{{Cite web |title=Albo d'Oro |url=http://www.assocalciatori.it/Pagine/AlbodOro/tabid/161/language/en-US/Default.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515095258/http://www.assocalciatori.it/Pagine/AlbodOro/tabid/161/language/en-US/Default.aspx|archive-date=15 May 2013 |access-date=15 May 2013 |website=AssoCalciotori.it |language=it}}
UEFA European Championship Teams of the Tournament: 2000{{Cite web |date=1 January 2011 |title=UEFA Euro 2000 team of the tournament |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/memories/newsid=1627525.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507014709/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/memories/newsid=1627525.html |archive-date=7 May 2016 |access-date=31 March 2015 |publisher=UEFA}}
Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2000, 2003
Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007
ESM Team of the Year: 2000–01, 2003–04, 2006–07{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/esm-xi.html |title=ESM XI |website=RSSSF |first=Karel |last=Stokkermans |date=14 March 2007 |access-date=29 November 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207144925/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/esm-xi.html |archive-date=7 February 2016}}
FIFA 100{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm |title=Pele's list of the greatest |work=BBC Sport |date=4 March 2004|access-date=15 June 2013}}
Serie A Goal of the Year: 2005, 2006
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/france-italy-dominate-world-cup-all-star-squad-1.572395 |title=France, Italy dominate World Cup all-star squad |publisher=CBC Sports |date=7 July 2006|access-date=27 May 2015}}
FIFA World Cup top assists provider: 2006{{cite web |url=http://soccer-europe.com/Archives/WorldCup/WorldCup2006/GoalsandAssists.html |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Goals & Assists |publisher=Soccer-Europe|access-date=30 July 2016}}
Serie A top assists provider: 1998–99,{{cite web |url=http://www.football-lineups.com/tourn/Serie_A_1998-1999/stats/top_goal_scorers/ |title=Serie A 1998/99 Stats |publisher=Football-Lineups.com|access-date=30 July 2016}} 2013–14{{Cite web |title=Italian Serie A Scoring Stats – 2013–14 |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/stats/_/league/ITA.1/season/2013 |access-date=5 March 2021 |publisher=ESPN}}
Capocannoniere: 2006–07
European Golden Shoe: 2006–07{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/gboot.html |title=Golden Boot ("Soulier d'Or") Awards |website=RSSSF |first1=Sorin |last1=Arotaritei |first2=Roberto |last2=Di Maggio |first3=Karel |last3=Stokkermans |date=20 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2015}}
Serie A Goalscorer of the Year: 2007{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Primo_Piano/2008/01_Gennaio/28/oscar.shtml |title=Oscar Assocalciatori Kakà miglior giocatore |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=28 January 2008|access-date=27 November 2017}}
Pallone d'Argento: 2007–08{{Cite web |date=8 May 2016 |title=A Florenzi il "Pallone d'Argento" Coppa Giaimè Fiumano |url=http://ussi.it/2016/a-florenzi-il-pallone-dargento-coppa-giaime-fiumano/ |access-date=18 May 2016 |publisher=Unione Stampa Sportiva Italiana |language=it}}
Golden Foot: 2010{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/winner-details.php?l=en&WinnerID=5&Title=francesco-totti |title=Francesco Totti |publisher=Golden Foot |date=11 October 2010|access-date=29 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208135525/http://www.goldenfoot.com/winner-details.php?l=en&WinnerID=5&Title=francesco-totti|archive-date=8 December 2015}}
Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare "Gaetano Scirea": 2014{{cite web |url=http://www.nordmilano24.it/2014/07/25/memorial-scirea-totti-vince-premio-carriera-esemplare/ |title=Memorial Scirea: Totti vince il premio "carriera esemplare" |date=25 July 2014 |publisher=Nordmilano24 |language=it|access-date=20 January 2015}}
Premio internazionale Giacinto Facchetti: 2014{{cite web |url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/sport/calcio/2014/11/05/il-premio-facchetti-assegnato-a-totti_7904a702-17db-491b-95b3-5d684d28ff59.html |title=Il premio Facchetti assegnato a Totti |work=Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata |date=5 November 2014|access-date=20 January 2015}}
UEFA European Under-21 Championship All-time XI: 2015
AS Roma Hall of Fame: 2017{{cite web |url=http://www.asroma.com/en/news/2017/5/as-roma-induct-totti-into-hall-of-fame |title=AS Roma induct Totti into Hall of Fame |publisher=AS Roma |date=29 May 2017|access-date=31 July 2017}}
UEFA President's Award: 2017{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/president/news/newsid=2474521.html |title=Francesco Totti to receive UEFA President's Award |publisher=UEFA |date=1 June 2017|access-date=1 June 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0255-0f8e705cf955-a181275bddd8-1000--uefa-president-s-award/ |title=UEFA President's Award |publisher=UEFA |date=2 January 2014|access-date=1 June 2017}}
Gazzetta Sports Awards Legend: 2017{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/12-12-2017/gazzetta-sports-awards-buffon-uomo-anno-totti-contador-leggende-240179017831.shtml |title=Gazzetta Sports Awards: Buffon l'uomo dell'anno, Totti e Contador leggende |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=12 December 2017|access-date=12 January 2017}}
Globe Soccer Player Career Award: 2017{{cite web |url=https://www.globesoccer.com/winners/francesco-totti-career-award/ |title=Globe Soccer Awards: Francesco Totti (Career Award) |publisher=Globe Soccer |date=28 December 2017|access-date=29 December 2017}}
Laureus Academy World Sports Exceptional Achievement Award: 2018{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/11270150/roger-federer-wins-sportsman-and-comeback-of-the-year-at-laureus-awards |title=Roger Federer wins Sportsman and Comeback of the Year at Laureus Awards |publisher=Sky Sports |author1=Nicholas Wright |date=27 February 2018|access-date=27 February 2018}}
AIC Lifetime Achievement Award: 2018{{Cite web |date=4 December 2018 |title=Totti receives Career Award at Gran Galà del Calcio |url=https://www.asroma.com/en/news/2018/12/totti-receives-career-award-at-gran-gala-del-calcio |access-date=5 February 2019 |publisher=AS Roma}}
Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2018{{cite web |url=https://www.figc.it/it/formazione-ed-eventi/news/totti-zanetti-e-allegri-tra-i-premiati-dell-8-edizione-della-hall-of-fame-del-calcio-italiano/ |title=Totti, Zanetti e Allegri tra i premiati dell'8ª edizione della 'Hall of Fame del calcio italiano' |publisher=FIGC.it |language=it |date=19 February 2019|access-date=20 May 2019|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116220807/https://www.figc.it/it/formazione-ed-eventi/news/totti-zanetti-e-allegri-tra-i-premiati-dell-8-edizione-della-hall-of-fame-del-calcio-italiano/|url-status=dead}}

File:Totti Champions Promenade Monaco.jpg]]

Orders

:*File:ITA_OMRI_2001_Com_BAR.svg 3rd Class / Commander: Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2 June 2022{{cite web |title=Totti Sig. Francesco |url=https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/375570 |website=quirinale.it |access-date=24 October 2024}}

:*File:Nastrino Stella Merito sportivo 2008.svg CONI: Golden Collar of Sports Merit: Collare d'Oro al Merito Sportivo: 2006{{cite news |url=http://www.coni.it/it/news/primo-piano/49-primo-piano-2006/2935-coni-_consegna_dei_collari_d’%3Boro_e_dei_diplomi_d’%3Bonore-_premia_il_presidente_del_consiglio_romano_prodi-_diretta_tv_su_rai_2.html |title=Coni: Consegna dei Collari d'Oro e dei Diplomi d'Onore. Premia il Presidente del Consiglio Romano Prodi. Diretta Tv su Rai 2 |publisher=Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano |work=Coni.it |language=it |date=16 October 2006 |access-date=23 December 2016}}

:*File:ITA OMRI 2001 Uff BAR.svg 4th Class / Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2006

:*File:Cavaliere OMRI BAR.svg 5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2000{{cite news |url=http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=79735 |title=Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana |date=12 July 2000|access-date=31 May 2011 |publisher=Presidenza della Repubblica |language=it}}

Records

Roma all-time leading goalscorer: 307 goals
Roma all-time leading goalscorer in Serie A: 250 goals
Roma all-time leading goalscorer in UEFA Champions League: 17 goals
Roma all-time leading goalscorer in UEFA Europa League: 21 goals
Roma all-time leading goalscorer in UEFA competitions: 38 goals
Roma all-time appearance maker: 786 matches
Roma all-time appearance maker in Serie A: 619 matches
Roma all-time appearance maker in UEFA Champions League: 57 matches
Roma all-time appearance maker in UEFA Europa League: 46 matches
Roma all-time appearance maker in UEFA competitions: 103 matches
Serie A youngest club's captain: aged 22 years 34 days
Most goals for a single club in Serie A: 250 goals
Second-most goals scored in Serie A: 250 goals
All-time most assists in Serie A: 162{{cite news |url=https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/2023/10/30-115838922/campionato_di_calcio_serie_a_record_primati_numeri_e_statistiche |title=Campionato di Calcio Serie A: record, primati, numeri e statistiche |work=Il Corriere dello Sport |language=it |date=30 October 2023 |access-date=12 February 2024}}
Derby della Capitale all-time leading goalscorer in Serie A: 11 goals
Most penalties scored in Serie A: 71 goals{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/fantacalcio/2014/10/20/news/la_juve_si_inceppa_honda_e_callejon_da_urlo-98532188/ |title=La Juve si inceppa, Honda e Callejon da urlo|trans-title=Juve stalls, Fantastic Honda and Callejon |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=20 October 2014|access-date=9 March 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.football-italia.net/83190/serie-week-34-did-you-know |title=Serie A Week 34: Did You Know? |publisher=Football Italia |date=21 April 2015|access-date=23 April 2016}}
Most different teams scored against in Serie A (alongside Roberto Baggio and Alberto Gilardino): 38{{cite web |url=http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/sport/gilardino-come-totti-e-baggio-gol-da-record-al-carpi_2157706-201602a.shtml |title=Gilardino come Totti e Baggio: gol da record al Carpi |publisher=Mediaset |language=it |date=30 January 2016|access-date=6 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131210710/http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/sport/gilardino-come-totti-e-baggio-gol-da-record-al-carpi_2157706-201602a.shtml|archive-date=31 January 2016|url-status=dead}}

Bibliography

Tutte le barzellette su Totti. (Raccolte da me), Milano, Mondadori, 2003. {{ISBN|88-04-52337-9}} (All the jokes about Totti. Collected by me) {{in lang|it}}
Le nuove barzellette su Totti. (Raccolte ancora da me), Milano, Mondadori, 2004. {{ISBN|88-04-52482-0}} (The new jokes about Totti. Collected by me again) {{in lang|it}}
«Mo je faccio er cucchiaio». Il mio calcio, Milano, Mondadori, 2006. {{ISBN|88-04-55733-8}} (I'm gonna chip him now. My football) {{in lang|it}}
Tutto Totti, Milano, Mondadori, 2006. {{ISBN|978-88-04-56753-0}} (All about Totti) {{in lang|it}}
La mia vita, i miei gol (book + DVD), Milano, Mondadori, 2007. {{ISBN|88-04-57241-8}} (My life, my goals) {{in lang|it}}
Quando i bambini fanno "ahó" (book + DVD), Milano, Mondadori, 2009. {{ISBN|88-04-59004-1}} (When the children shout "Ahó") {{in lang|it}}
E mo' te spiego Roma. La mia guida all'antica Roma, Milano, Mondadori, 2012. {{ISBN|88-04-62401-9}} (And Now I Explain Rome to You. My Guide to Ancient Rome) {{in lang|it}}
"Totteide", Franco Constantini Imprimatur 2013. {{ISBN|978-88-68-3003-40}}
Roma 10. In giro per Roma col Capitano, Milano, Mondadori, 2014. {{ISBN|978-88-04-64042-4}} (Roma 10. Around Rome with the Captain) {{in lang|it}}

References

Bibliography

Fernando Acitelli, Francesco Totti. Il tribuno di Porta Latina, Arezzo, Limina, 2002. {{ISBN|88-86713-79-7}} (Francesco Totti. The tribune of Porta Latina) {{in lang|it}}
Mario Sconcerti, La differenza di Totti, Arezzo, Limina, 2004. {{ISBN|88-88551-45-X}} (The difference of Totti) {{in lang|it}}
Francesco Bovaio, con Cristiano Ditta, Francesco Totti. Semplicemente numero dieci, Milano, Giunti Editore, 2006. {{ISBN|88-09-04780-X}} (Francesco Totti. Simply number ten) {{in lang|it}}
Massimo Cecchini, Francesco Totti. Vita, parole e impresse dell'ultimo gladiatore, Roma, Aliberti, 2009. {{ISBN|88-7424-493-2}} (Totti. Life, words and feats of the last gladiator) {{in lang|it}}
Tonino Cagnucci, Francesco Totti. dai politici al cuore, Roma, Limina, 2010. {{ISBN|88-6041-056-8}} (Francesco Totti. From politicians to heart) {{in lang|it}}
Gianluca Tino, L'invasione degli UltraTotti, Roma, Eraclea, 2010. {{ISBN|88-88771-22-0}} (The invasion of UltraTotti) {{in lang|it}}
Francesca Spaziani Testa, Francesco Totti minuto per minuto, Firenze-San Casciano V.P, Castelvecchi, 2012. {{ISBN|88-7615-685-2}} (Francesco Totti minute by minute) {{in lang|it}}
Francesco Costantini, Totteide. (Poema epico), Roma, Imprimatur, 2013. {{ISBN|88-6830-034-6}} (Totteide. Epic poem) {{in lang|it}}

External links

{{Official website}}
{{Sports links}}
{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703163415/http://www.asroma.com/en/teams/players-and-staff/francesco-totti |date=3 July 2018 |title=Francesco Totti profile at the official AS. Roma website }}
{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713141907/https://www.legaseriea.it/it/giocatori/francesco-totti/TOTFR |date=13 July 2017 |title=Lega Serie A profile }}
[http://aic.football.it/scheda/202/totti-francesco.htm AIC profile] {{in lang|it}} {{dead link|date=March 2019}}
{{TuttoCalciatori|Totti_Francesco}}
{{ESPN FC|10293}}
[https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/nazionali-in-cifre/dettaglio-convocato/?calciatoreId=43333&squadraId=12 FIGC national team archive] {{in lang|it}}
[http://www.italia1910.com/giocatori-partite-disputate.asp?Pagina=2&IDGiocatore=632&IDStagione=0&IDCompetizione=0 Italia1910 profile] {{in lang|it}}
{{FIFA player|165247}}
{{UEFA player|15895|archive=20190414082145}}