One day, when the science of cloning has been perfected and genetic engineers plot to create the ultimate football player, you can bet Gabriel Batistuta's DNA will be worth a pretty penny, right up there with DNA of other football greats like Pele and Maradona. Argentina's greatest goal-scorer has written himself into football folklore with his amazing scoring record for both country and club, and is looking to end his amazing career with the greatest football prize: a World Cup medal.

Basketball First?

After an early flirtation with basketball, Batistuta joined his first professional club in his late teens and, within a few years, was donning the jerseys of Argentina's top clubs. It was with Boca Juniors that he established his reputation as an emerging talent. Argentina's football scouts were not blind to his scoring prowess, and Batistuta made a significant foray onto the world stage in the 1991 Copa America, emerging as the top scorer while leading the country to the championship.

Bound for Italy

When Argentina's rising star was being courted by the top clubs of Europe, the lure of romantic Florence proved too much for the emotional Batistuta. The next nine years would see him rewriting Fiorentina's record books. His amazing club record of 166 league goals in 265 games is hard to beat.

After almost a decade with Florence's finest, Batistuta moved to Rome at the turn of the 21st century and became the game's highest-paid player. The move, prompted by Fiorentina's messy management, was controversial, but he believed that it was his best bet to win the Scudetto and take part in the prestigious Champions League. Critics were saying that the goal king was over the hill, but he swiftly silenced the doubting Thomases by helping his new club, Roma, win its first Scudetto since the mid-'80s.

Bronze God

By choosing to stick with Fiorentina as long as he did, Batistuta sacrificed personal honour and fortune to please rabid supporters, and spent a large part of his career leading the charge for club honours. Even when the club was relegated in the 1993-94 season to Serie B, he stayed on despite the many offers to relocate. Batistuta's loyalty was reciprocated when the city rewarded its favourite adopted son by erecting a bronze statue of its god of goals at the entrance of the stadium.

Brit Model

Batistuta is a complete striker: commanding in the air, quick on the ground, strong and brave in challenges, with a lethal right foot to boot. He has the ability to exploit the smallest openings. When he is in form, few defenders can contain him. His resum?oasts an astounding record of 55 goals in 75 international appearances, including a rare pair of hat tricks in two separate World Cup finals. It is a reputation that is held in near-holy reverence: the current European Footballer Of The Year, Michael Owen, has reportedly modelled himself after the Argentine.

Benevolent Beauty

With his wild locks, good looks and brooding manner, Batistuta has been hailed as one of football's sexiest man. Like the Biblical Samson, his success seems to lie in his hair. His unmistakable lion's mane is the last thing defenders see as he whizzes past them. But his looks belie his inner strengths. His genial character and humility have endeared him to many, while his faithfulness to his wife, Irina, whom he first met at her birthday party when he was only 16, is legendary.

Best and Last Chance

This is surely Batistuta's last and best chance to claim the biggest prize in football. As he approaches the end of a brilliant career, he must surely be hoping the 'third time lucky' saying holds true, following two disappointing campaigns in 1994 and 1998. For all his achievements, his trophy cupboard is quite sparse, with only one Italian Cup, two Copa America and a Serie A medal to show for. He has never won the South American Player Of The Year nor the European Player Of The Year titles - such travesty is lamentable. But for this modest and affable goal machine, the chance to play the game is reward enough and football purists cannot but be thankful that such a rare breed still exists.

Hunkability Quotient: 9/10
Batigol impresses not only with his goal-poaching prowess and sexy, Latino looks, but also with his faithfulness to his wife. Aww.

Back to Interviews / Articles