A worldwide impact: Fans from across globe remember Francesco Totti's emotional farewell

On Sunday 28 May 2017, a day that will live forever in Roma history, the great Francesco Totti retired from football after an incredible one-club career.

After more than 24 years, 786 games and 307 goals, a whole generation of football fans who grew up knowing no other Roma No. 10 than Totti were forced to say an emotional, tearful farewell to one of the greatest players ever to play the game.

The Stadio Olimpico was sold out for the occasion, but many thousands - millions - more fans watched the farewell all across the globe.

These are some of their stories; some of their memories from a poignant, powerful day.

“I have never visited the Stadio Olimpico, because I live in Serbia, but Roma is my favorite football club. It's been a year now since Totti played his last match and it still burns. Those last five minutes seemed like an eternity, but I still hadn't accepted what was happening - that one of the greatest football players ever was leaving the field and would never return.

“To put it mildly, I wept. And I don't mean like shedding a tear, I cried like a little kid. The aftermath of the game didn't make it easier, either, as Francesco was taking a walk around the field with tears in his eyes.

“Someone said that we shouldn't be sad for something has ended, but we need to be happy that it happened in the first place. Therefore, I'm happy that the greatest player of all time had dedicated his whole career to Roma and that he went of the field with head held high. Thank you for everything Francesco!”

- Sladjan Teodosin, Serbia

“I'll remember that day forever. I was watching the game at home with my wife, who was heavily pregnant at that time. The game gave me so many emotional feelings. From the Perrotti goal that clinched us the UCL spot and then finally Totti's farewell. I've been supporting AS Roma since the 97-98 season and Francesco is my favourite player, therefore I felt very sad to see him finally hang up his boots. What a career he's had. What a player. What a phenomenon.

“Although she isn't a Calcio fan, my wife was very impressed with the level of support the tifosi showed towards Totti. Lots of grown men and women cried as he made the parade around the pitch and waved goodbye to every spectator and then finally gave the speech. It was beautiful.

“The next day, our daughter was born. We named her Francesca. I've never been to Rome but when my daughter is the right age, I'll take the three of us there. Ciao from Jakarta! Forza Roma!”

- Arie Priyanto Tandio, Indonesia

“To understand what I felt on May 28 2017, you must first understand Totti's importance to me. I'm a refugee from Kosovo, now living in Sweden. I come from a country where sports are not something for girls. The first day I saw Totti play was on June 29, 2000 at the Euros. Totti against Van der Sar. I only remember the panenka from that day, his long hair and Totti with number 20 on his back. Since that day, I was Totti. I said I would be like Totti.

"I've seen every Roma game since that day, just to see Totti play. If you love Totti, you love Roma. I started playing football in a Swedish football association. I've been in Rome and watched many games. I've stood outside Trigoria in 40 degrees heat for five hours just to meet him. I never met him and I never became Totti but today I can thank Totti and my family for the most I've achieved in my life today. I am studying coaching and sports management at Linnaeus University where the dream is to work with football when I graduate. It's strange that a person you've never met before has so much impact on your life but that's right. If I had not seen Totti's panenka that day, I do not know what I would be today. Totti changed my life! I am grateful, very grateful!

“May 28 2017 was one of the hardest days of my life. I cried as soon as the thought came up, that after May 28, I could never see him doing what he's best at. I cried all that day. I cry every time I see him. I could not be in Rome that day because of an exam, something I regret today. But someday I'll meet him, even if I have to stand outside the Trigoria for 24 hours! He was and will always be my hero."

- Arbresha Bega, Sweden

"As one of the Iranian AS Roma fan base administrators, my fellow friends and I started planning something special for Totti Day. We arranged to book out a cafe in Tehran, Iran. There were about 70 of us in that cafe on May 28th, the gloomiest Sunday ever. I couldn't imagine how I could bear with the extreme emotions and difficulties of that night alone. Luckily, it was easier to cope with the situation along with the other friends of mine.

The most memorable moment of that night is sharply taken on camera by one of my close friends. I have attached that very specific photo of that night. It shows me wiping out my tears using my sacred Roma/Totti scarf."

- Saeid Mohammadzade, Iran

"I became a Roma fan as a child because of Francesco Totti, and my dad followed suit by taking part in his son's biggest interest. It was only fitting that my father and I both sat at home on our couches like every other Roma game we had watched together over the last 15 years. We watched the game with sheer excitement as we had hoped Totti could provide one last goal or a magical assist.

"When the final whistle blew and Totti did his victory lap, we both knew we had been blessed to watch the magic that is Francesco Totti for so long. Thank you for the memories Francesco."

- Vincenzo Riccio, Italy

"Totti’s last game for Roma is still one of the most emotional days of my life. I remember waking up at 2:45am as, living in Western Australia, this is what I have to do to watch a lot of Roma games, I remember thinking there is a lot on the line in this game. Not only did we need to secure the Champions League position but we had to win for our captain's last game.

"As the game went on the substitution was finally made. On came the captain. Tears started running down my face as a player who I idolised as a young boy in Australia was going to play for the very last time for his beloved Roma. Every touch he took, every pass he made I cheered on - almost waking up my poor parents. Eventually the finally whistle sounded, with Roma getting the win and securing Champions League football. But then it set in. That was it. Totti was done. Again the tears started to flow and the emotion took over.

"The proceedings after the game were nothing short of beautiful and truly showed what an amazing player he was. After the TV broadcast ended I climbed back into bed and watched the livestream on my phone of the after game celebrations again and again. That is how I experienced Totti’s last game for AS Roma."

- Alec Da Silva, Australia

"I remember dreading the day of Totti's farewell, then parading around in his shirt throughout the day. I watched the match in bed with my dogs, crying on his shirt. Celebrating Perotti's goal and seeing Totti be such a vital part of our team one last time was very emotional.

"I watched his farewell with my mum and sister, who don't really care about football, but they cried with me throughout. Seeing Il Capitano's own emotional state, as well as that of his teammates, was a moment that I will remember forever: we're so lucky to be fans of a team which makes loyalty seem so easy and makes it feel so difficult to leave."

- Nadette, Malta

"I decided to watch the game at home in my room alone. As I figured it was going to be an emotional day and I’m not one known to cry. I don’t know where to begin... there was something in Francesco’s speech that really got me sobbing uncontrollably.

"'To the children of yesterday, who have grown up and become parents and to the children of today, who perhaps shout ‘Tottigol’...I’d like to think that for you, my career has become a fairytale for you to pass on.'

"Just like that someone who I idolised and loved as a young boy just put it in perfect perspective for me. And there I was crying uncontrollably as a man. You know I can recall all the fantastic matches, the wonderful goals and telepathic passes and touches Francè gave us all. I can recall the Scudetto win and how emotional and happy I was in 2000-01. The Real Madrid Champions League upset, the World Cup win in 2006...and as much as I understood that we were truly lucky to have such a loyal and amazing talented player, I never realised how much I loved Francesco Totti. How much he means to me in my life.

"He was there for me my whole life. In my best and worst times. He had become a part of my Sundays just like going to church or eating a nice plate of pasta was. And although I knew the end of his playing career was imminent, I was never going to be ready to face it.

"I recently watched him playing in the ‘Notte Del Maestro’, Pirlo’s Farewell match. And it brought such joy and pleasure for me again. Although I wasn’t surprised to see him effortlessly setting up beautiful passes to Inzaghi and Iaquinta put a permanent smile on my face for a hours. I think I’ve watched Francesco’s farewell speech over 100 times and I cried every single time. And truthfully I don’t cry for anything. I think the last time I cried was when my Nonno passed away. Thank god for YouTube. I can at least always watch my idol and recall all the beautiful times in my life where Francè made things better."

- Mike Tedesco, Canada

"My memory from Totti’s farewell was watching it on television crying with my mom. My mom cried even more and she’s a hardcore Napoli fan but also an ex-football player. She didn’t say anything, but I’m sure she re-lived the day she had to stop playing, she understood exactly what Totti was feeling. So it was a very emotional day, for many reasons.

- Fabiola Givens

"I was sitting at home on my sofa with my six-year-old son on my knees. As the tears first started to flow, he asked: 'Papa, why are you are crying?'. 'Because I am happy to have watched the greatest Romanista of them all - and because I am sad I will not watch him any more.' He began to cry with me, and so I asked him why. 'Papa, if you cry then I cry too - but remember that you can always watch him again on YouTube...'"

- Maurizio Marino

"Hi guys, I am from Vietnam and i would like to share story. I was 10 years old, knew nothing about soccer and just randomly switched channels and consequently saw the match as Roma won over Parma 3-1 in the legendary season 2000-2001, I was surprised and did not know what was happening and why all the fans rushed into the field and tried to take away our heroes’ uniforms. Thanks to the commentator I knew they just won the Scudetto. The scene that made me so impressed was that there was a man with nothing but his underpants standing on the field and he was TOTTI. I was just like “Wow, what the hell is happening, are these guys crazy'. Not just Totti but the other players also. The next day I saw many newspapers telling about this tremendous history win of Roma and got more even impressed.

"Afterwards, I fell in love with Roma and started watching Totti playing and his talent is one that I will not have to say again. And now I have a baby and I named him Totti.
I was watching on the TV and crying with the supporters witnessing your farewell speech. Thank you, you brought me to football and i will never forget you my idol."

- Dang Ba Dat, Vietnam

"I was on the phone with my son watching the farewell together. We were both crying and sharing our memories of Totti and Roma. I will never forget the first match we watched together at Olimpico and I will never forget that magic night when Totti ended his career."

- Margaretha Karlsson, Sweden

"It was absolutely the most beautiful game and at the same time the worst game I have seen... I tried to watch the video again a few evenings ago and just like on the day I was in tears.

"I grew up with the legend of Totti and his No. 10 shirt. For me he will always be Il Capitano, because c'è solo un capitano!:

- Reginadi Cuori, Italy

"I'm from Venezuela and I've never been able to see a game at the Olimpico, but I love Roma with all my heart and Totti was the player that made me a Giallorossi. I watched the game in my home, in Caracas. At the moment I asked everybody that stayed away so I could watch the last game of the man who made me fall in love with football.

"I can say that I don't remember anytime I cried more than with this game. First with the extraordinary comeback so we could win and go to the Champions League and then with the finish of the game. Since the referee marked the finish, I started to cry like a baby... Then with the walk around the pitch and the speech he gave... One of the most emotional moments of my life, and one I will never forget."

- Sergio Becerra, Venezuela

"I could not find a ticket for the game, and perhaps it was better that way. In the morning I had to take a walk along the beach to clear my head - when I returned Rome was semi-deserted, and I realised that this was not a normal day. I remember that silence, and then the game, and then the never-ending tears. At 31 years of age... the end of my childhood. A point of reference that we all lost. There is a pain and sense of loss that even after all these months still has not completely faded. Totti was, is and will always be the eighth king of Rome. We miss you, Francesco."

- Francesca Muzio, Italy

"I was in my room in Freiburg, Germany, where I live right now. All was calm at the final whistle. Then Totti came on, being strong for a few minutes, and then so too arrived his wife and his kids. Then he began to cry, and I did too.

"For 30 minutes or more I sat there, repeating 'It's not true, it's not true, you cannot stop.' My roommates came to ask me if i was okay - I could not even answer."

- Simone Curcio, Germany

"For those that grew up with Francesco - from his debut to his farewell - this was not just a goodbye to him, but a goodbye to our past. Because every moment of our growing up had been spent alongside him, and ever moment of ours is associated with a goal or a game of his. That day I cried remembering and savouring my history with him. I cried watching the end of the career of a Roma fan who as a child dreamed of putting on the No. 10 shirt and be the captain and, perhaps, win a Scudetto with the experience of scoring in a derby too.

"Totti made real the dream of every Roma fan - for this I cried, because I saw him live that dream."

- Mirko Barca, Italy

"I was at home and I cried like a baby. The greatness of this man can be seen in the reactions of the thousands of people, at home and in the stadium, crying at his retirement - because they knew that a man and a player like Totti does not come along very often. It was a tribute to a player, but more so a man who tought us to love our team and our city above all.

"A day later I watched the farewell again, and I cried again. Men this great, and this humble, are born once in a millennium. He will always be in my heart."

- Luca Dell'aquila, Italy

"I was in my car, listening to it on the radio. Somehow it seemed more emotional, to hear it than to live it. In a strange twist of fate, the last words I heard on the radio from Totti were followed by some words from the Pope. I will never ever forget it."

- Giancarlo Izzo, Italy

"I was at my house in Southampton, in tears. I have been to the Olimpico more than 25 times, although this time unfortunately it was not possible. I dedicated that entire day to him, indeed all the days before that on social media I was posting photos and videos. Capitano I still miss you like you would not believe, but I am also so proud to have grown up watching you. Immense thanks, Capitano, always!"

- Lee Roberts, United Kingdom

"It was the second day holly Ramadan and i was fasting, and the match started during our fast breaking (eating). I was eating and crying at the same time, I was in my room all alone, and i remember at the end when Totti said his speech i was crying so loud my Mom came to me and made sure that i didnt lose my mind yet.

"I cried the whole night to the next morning without sleeping for a second. I watched all of his goals and interviews, I was watching anything related to him. After few hours my eyes couldn't handle the tears and I stopped for a few minutes... then I started crying again.

"If you count all the other tears I have cried in my lifetime on one hand, and the tears that I cried during Totti's farewell in the other - I guarantee the second hand will contain a lot more. Francesco built my personality and the way I look at life and the loyalty I have to the things I love. Like Roma. Like Totti."

- Waheed, Middle East