"In Your Head There is a Goal"
Date: July 1998
Gabriel Batistuta is the great star of the Argentine national team. He is the most feared by opposing defenders, the best liked by the fans, and voted most sexy by the women. Sunday, he was the best player in the debut of our team in the World Cup. At 29 years old, he is in his best moment.
The man who passed the ball over Japanese goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi not is just anyone. He is, without doubt, the chosen one.
He is the one elected by children when they are asked which football player they would most want to be like some day.
He is the most mentioned by the fans when they are consulted about who is the most irreplaceable of the national team.
His is the name most chosen by the women when asked which player they would most like to wake up with.
He is the one most wanted by the most important football clubs in the world who ask for his pass, valued at more than 25 million dollars.
He is the most preferred of the publicists who look for a player to sell their products.
There is definitely a "Batimania" that exceeds the limits of a football field. His name is Gabriel Omar, he is 29 years old, born in Santa Fe, and his fame is known around the world. And this is not an understatement. The best demonstration was last Sunday, Argentina-Japan. When the formations of the two teams were announced on the loudspeakers, the name Batistuta was the most applauded by fans of both sides.
The man who, with 44 goals, is the highest scoring player in the history of the national team (above even the great Maradona) does not behave outside the soccer field as on it. Outside, Bati is very shy and, although it seems untrue, he still blushes when he has to speak before television cameras or has to pose for pictures. It is not a secret that the last thing he enjoys in life is to give interviews and to take photos without end. Imagine then, how much the Italian magazine "Max" had to offer him to make his debut in 1995 as a model, dressed by Giorgio Armani and photographed by the famous Nicola Majocchi. At that time, Gabriel made a confession: "When I have to shop for clothing, I take Irina along. The truth is that without her, I would not know what to buy." Irina is his wife and first love, who he married in December 1990. They live in the beautiful city of Florence, in Italy, where his club is Fiorentina. He has two sons, Thiago and Lucas. The third is on the way because Irina is expecting a baby. His domestic facts: a two-story house, five minutes from the stadium, a housekeeper, a German Shepard dog, a convertible Mercedes Benz and a 4x4 truck. From France, he calls Irina three times a day and also has a photo of her and his sons in the room he shares with Leonardo Astrada. Although most already know this story, it is worth repeating: Bati dedicated a goal to Irina by running to the television camera and shouting "Irina I love you." He's not too romantic, is he?
The game against Japan was not easy. Those who expected a simple victory were mistaken. Bati was the star of the game, besides the author of the only goal scored, which permitted Argentina to take three points in its first appearance. The Japanese fans applauded him at the end of the game. "It was our debut, and we had to win," said Bati after the game. "I know that the fans expected something greater from this team, but I think that it is important to have won." Of course he is questioned about the possibility of becoming the top scorer of this World Cup. He answers, "What is most important to me is for the team to do well." The climate in the dressing room was calm, without euphoria. Bati answered the many questions with ice on his sore ankle, and before boarding the team bus, he made sure to compliment Claudio Lopez, who was feeling bad for not playing well on this day. And off they went back to L'Etrat to wait for the next rival, Jamaica.
It's not only the top clubs of Europe that fight to hire him. Sporting companies also want him to represent their products. He now has a personal contract with Reebok, but when he plays for Fiorentina, he wears Fila, and with the national team, Adidas. He also did a commercial for Brahma beer with the Brazilian Ronaldo.
A few days ago, Batistuta was elected by the French magazine "Paris Match" as the sexiest football player in the world, after a poll was taken among its 26 female journalists. In Argentina, the results are the same.
Here are some more of his thoughts:
"Yes, it could be that I am a star. Many people recognize me and that makes me happy. But it doesn't change anything, does it?"
"I can never be seen in a nightclub photo. My wife would kill me."
"If I could give advice to a child, I would say to study. I had to leave school when I began my professional career, and that's not good."
He is a gentleman to the end, an enemy of the grandiose, of the excessive, of controversy. He prefers a low profile and a soft voice to go through life. He knows that he has to score goals, a thing that he does very well. He is the one in the plans of many clubs, in the throats of cheering fans, on posters owned by many children and in the dreams of many women.
By: Beto Casella
Gente (Argentina)
Translated by: Humbird