'Batigol' Is Simply The Best
Date: Oct/Nov, 1999
By: Dave Smith
Source: Champions League Guide Magazine
Transcribed by: Jasparina
A devout catholic, Gabriel Batistuta was once granted a private audience with the Pope. But such is the level of hero-worship bestowed on Fiorentina's favourite son, there might be an element of truth in the rumour that it was actually the Pope who requested an audience with the supreme striker they simply call 'Batigol'.
Such adulation, glorification even, is commonplace within the beautiful Italian city of Florence where a statue has already been erected by adoring supporters in his honour; a tribute more traditionally dispensed posthumously. Back home in his Argentine homeland too Batistuta is held in high esteem, despite leaving for Italy as long ago 1991.
Yet while such enourmous recognition of his talents and achievements clearly exists in certain quarters, it is hard to believe that Gabriel Batistuta, one of the most consistent goalscorers in arguably the world's toughest league for strikers, has never been rewarded by those responsible for handing out such prestigious individual awards as European or ever World, Player of the Year titles.
Sure, there is incredible competition for such personal prizes. Las year, for example, there could have been few arguments that Zinedine Zidane was a worthy winner after brilliantly master-minding France's historic World Cup triumph on home soil in 1998. The juventus playmaker walked off with both European and World awards, an rightly so.
But where did Batistuta figure in all of this? For all intents and purposes, nowere. In the European nominations he finished sixth, despite ending another successful, goal-laden season with Fiorentina by going to the World Cup and claiming the Adidas Silver Shoe award as the tournament's second leading goalscorer behind Croatia's Davor Suker.
Hardly a standing worthy of his enormous contribution to club and country. And that seems to have been an all-too familiar story for the popular striker whose recent injury problems, coupled with the fact that he is now the wrong side of 30 in what is increasingly becoming a young man's role, might mean his best chance of individual glory is behind him.
That would be a shame because Batistuta, in my view, is one of the most compete, all-round strikers in the world. What's more, he's consistent. Take a look at his goalscoring record for Fiorentina and the figures speak for themselves. Also take into account the high standard of the league in which he plays and the fact that Fiorentina have never exactly been 'la creme de la creme' in Serie A.
| GOALS, GOALS, GOALS | |||
| Batistuta's goalscoring record, especially in Serie A, is second to none... |
|||
| Year | Club | Appearance | Goals |
| 1988-89 | Newell's Old Boys (Arg) | 16 | 4 |
| 1989-90 | River Plate (Arg) | 7 | 4 |
| 1990 | Boca Juniors (Arg) | 10 | 2 |
| 1990-91 | Boca Juniors (Arg) | 19 | 11 |
| 1991-92 | Fiorentina (Ita) | 27 | 13 |
| 1992-93 | Fiorentina | 32 | 16 |
| 1993-94 | Fiorentina | 26 | 16 |
| 1994-95 | Fiorentina | 32 | 26 |
| 1995-96 | Fiorentina | 31 | 19 |
| 1996-97 | Fiorentina | 32 | 13 |
| 1997-98 | Fiorentina | 31 | 21 |
| 1998-99 | Fiorentina | 28 | 21 |
He has all the skills and attributes of a truly great skriker and, what's more, he has courage and intelligence
Maybe this season will be different because, after briefly threatening to claim a rare league title last term, the club has invested massively in quality players with a view to giving the likes of Milan, Juve and Inter a serious run for their money this time around. The club's ambitious president reckons he has created a 'legendary squad' and it would be fitting for Batistuta to play out the remainder of his Fiorentia contract in a successful side. He deserves that at least.
And I am not lone in my seemingly over-the-top praise of a player who has rarely been very far away from the top of the Serie A scoring charts; plundering more than 150 senior goals (at an admirable ratio of one every two games) for the Florence club since he joined them from Boca Juniors of Argentina eight seasons ago.
Fiorentina coach Giovanni Trapattoni is expertly placed to assess the phenomenon that is Batistuta, and his verdict is both succinct and accurate;
"He is a wonderful player; one of the greatest goalscorers I have ever seen. I was delighted when he signed a new contract (until 2003) because he is so important to this club."
Batistuta set a Serie A scoring record in 1994 by scoring in each of the first 13 games of the season which ended as the league's leading scorer with 26 goals. While the last few seasons have not been quite as prolific, Batigol's consistency is something to be applauded. Not least by teammate Rui Costa who hits the nail on the head when he suggests: "If anything he is under-rated and that is incredible given his record."
Fiorentina's Portuguese star continues; "It is no accident that he has scored so many goals. He has all the skills and attributes of a truly great striker and, what's more, he has courage and intelligence."
A glowing tribute indeed but, in the mind of Batistuta the perfectionist, he is still ot the finished article even at the age of 30. "I am still working on my left foot shooting," confesses Argentina's record scorer. "I don't know if you ever stop trying to get better. I certainly don't."
Those comments alone are a measure of his dedication and reason enough to suggest that a European Footballer of the Year award may still not be beyond him after all. Either way, he gets my vote as one fo the modern day game's true greats.