Opinion: Six reasons Francesco Totti is no ordinary footballer

Versatility

The way Francesco Totti has continually managed to adapt and tweak his game over the course of his career has been remarkable. Since making his Roma debut in 1993, his versatility has undoubtedly been a vital part of his ability to remain such an influential, relevant and successful figure at the highest level.

He's played out wide, as a true trequartista and in a false 9 role, with the latter now synonymous with the great man such was his success in the position during Luciano Spalletti's first stint at Roma. But importantly, no matter where he's been deployed, he has always done what attackers are meant to do - score and create goals.

“I prefer playing behind the strikers. I almost liked making assists more than I did scoring,” Totti has said. “But when I became a sort of centre-forward, I discovered that I like scoring goals."

Attributes

Blessed with a multifaceted set of attributes – encompassing an exceptional understanding and appreciation of space, lethal finishing skills, fantastic vision and a mesmerising range of passing - it quickly becomes obvious why he's such a truly rare and special talent. Add in his leadership qualities and his incredible relationship with the city of Rome, and this only serves to amplify his uniqueness.

Marcello Lippi, Italy’s World Cup 2006 winning manager, sums him up suitably, noting: "Totti is one of the few players who doesn’t have a substitute because there is nobody around who plays like him.

“There are no alternatives for Totti.”

Stats and trophies

By the numbers Totti’s 250 goals (which place him second behind Silvio Piola in Serie A history) and 90 assists in his 605 league games are a testament to his overwhelmingly consistency and quality.

In addition, his overall tally of over 300 goals and 750 plus appearances in a Roma shirt aptly accentuates how reliable and durable he's been.

Although he's only won one Serie A title and two Coppa Italias to go with his 2006 World Cup victory with Italy, he does boast a tremendous number of individual accolades: including two Serie A footballer of the year awards, five Serie A Italian footballer of the year trophies, one Capocannoniere and a European golden shoe.

Loyalty and dedication

Possessing an exemplary attitude has aided his longevity hugely too, he's always shown an insatiable appetite for hard work, to improve his game and to stand by the club through thick and thin. Despite receiving offers from the likes of Real Madrid during his prime, Totti's loyalty to his boyhood club will see him go down in history as one of the few one club greats.

"I’m proud of my career with the club, what I’ve done and what I’m still doing," he has said.

“This was my childhood dream, I’ve dreamt of wearing this shirt all my life. I don’t know if I’ll be the last to only play for one club, but it’s a big source of pride.”

He's still got it at 40

Although he's slowed down physically, there's no doubting what an integral component of the Giallorossi squad he remains. He still possesses that innate ability to change a game in an instant with a moment of pure genius - something he's demonstrated on countless occasions already in the 2016/2017 season.

Spalletti does not see any reason why he can't go on for another season, saying: "For me, he can play next year too. The way he’s training and playing – he can do it. I’ve never seen him train with such enthusiasm. He loves this shirt and these fans.”

"Totti can make something out of nothing. I want the team to learn from him."

Legacy

Instinctive, technically gifted and incomparable, there will never be a player quite like Totti again. He's been the eternal player for the Eternal City and he deserves all the praise that will inevitably come his way on his 40th birthday.

After 27 years of unbroken service to his beloved club and city, he unquestionably deserves it.