There is one statistic that tells you everything you need to know about Gabriel Batistuta the player: that he is his country's all-time leading scorer with 56 goals, surpassing even the great Diego Armando Maradona. After turning 36 last March, the Argentinian who played for some of the biggest teams in the world finally called it a day with his final clubs, Al Arabi of Qatar.

Two months on, the veteran of three FIFA World Cups talks exclusively with FIFAworldcup.com about Argentina past and present, his farewell, his career highs and lows, Jose Pekerman's current side and their imminent clash with Brazil. Forthcoming as ever, he says "playing at a FIFA World Cup was a personal victory for me".

Señor Batistuta, you have said quite a few times since you retired that you do not miss football. What about pulling on the Argentina shirt?
Of course! If 50 years from now someone offered me the chance to wear my country's colours, I'd jump at the opportunity regardless of whether I was fit to walk or not. There is no feeling quite like playing for your country.

What are the best things you remember from your time with Argentina?
I'm a pragmatist and I've never held back in my career. I've put my heart and soul into everything I've done and so I have no regrets. For me, that knowledge is priceless. I never thought, 'If only I'd run more or tried something different then things would have been different in this or that game'. On the contrary. I gave everything I could, and when you do that, then you can never reproach yourself.

You have played for great clubs like River Plate, Boca Juniors, Fiorentina, AS Roma. How does playing for the national team compare with playing for them?
Everything I did in my career was done with Argentina in mind. It's not easy to combine the demands of top-flight European football with those of international duty and still stay on top of your game. The public only sees one side of things when you perform. What most people don't pick up on are all the mammoth journeys, the knocks and a whole host of other little things that you have to overcome. But I don't believe we should moan. Those are the rules of the game.

If you were able to bequeath your Argentina shirt to an up-and-coming player, who would you choose?
No, no. I couldn't single out anyone. I don't have the authority to do that.

Surely being your country's all-time top scorer gives you a certain amount of authority?
Well, it's just that if I chose one player, I'd be in the bad books of all the rest (laughs). Honestly, I think it would be out of place for me to answer that publicly. I just hope whoever wears it plays well for the side. That's all that matters.

Could you see yourself being Argentina coach some day?
I'm in the process of getting my coaching badges, although I have no immediate plans to get into that side of things. But if, just for argument's sake, someone was to offer me the position today, I might well be tempted. It must be a unique experience.

You were a huge figure in Argentine football. You won titles in Italy and you were also twice a winner of the Copa America. Basically, you have had success everywhere except at the FIFA World Cup. Do you have a sense of unfinished business in this respect?
Yes there is a sense of something missing. It was always my dream to play in a World Cup final, but as I said earlier, I did everything humanly possible to make it happen. If there was someone better than me, then I take my hat off to him and offer my congratulations.

Was there any elimination that you remember as particularly painful?
Two spring to mind: USA 94 and Korea/Japan 2002, because coming into both competitions our form made us genuine candidates. Also in 1998 it was my intention to score a hatful in France and come home as world champion. Alas, it wasn't to be. It's water under the bridge now. I gave everything so I've no regrets.

What is the fondest memory you have of a FIFA World Cup?
My first ever game, against Greece in 1994. Walking out on the pitch, soaking up the atmosphere, singing our national anthem. Just thinking about it now gives me goose bumps. It's hard to put into words how good it felt, knowing that only five years before I was nobody. Suddenly, there I was taking my place alongside the likes of Diego Maradona, Claudio Caniggia, Fernando Redondo, Diego Simeone and Abel Balbo. It was a personal victory for me.

There is still this perception that in spite of all your goals, there was more than one disagreement or falling out with coaches at the finals. Was it really like that?
That only happened during Daniel Passarella's tenure before France 98, and it stemmed from a rumour about our previous player-coach relationship. It was said at the time that he wasn't going to play me because he hadn't picked me when he was in charge at River Plate.

As a player, does it bother you when journalists meddle in this type of affair?
It can make things uncomfortable for us at times. We know we're subject to constant criticism and evaluation, but there is a limit. When people cross that line, you have to wonder about their intelligence. When the press offer constructive analysis or criticism, then I respect that, but when I hear some someone stupid who is just spouting worthless drivel, I simply change the channel. Better still, I don't watch it in the first place.

What have you made of the current South American qualifiers?
I don't watch football. I wasn't inclined to watch games even in my playing days, and I'm even less so now (laughs). I know Argentina are top of the table and follow what is going on, but I don't break off from a game of golf or tennis to sit down and watch a game of football.

Have you formed an opinion on Jose Pekerman?
Yes, of course. He's a very capable coach who knows 80 per cent of his players from the youth sides. That means there should be no personality clashes or player issues in the squad.

Argentina-Brazil is on the horizon. How would you explain the rivalry between the sides?
I don't know if there is a logical explanation. I've played alongside Brazilians all my life and we’ve got on wonderfully. We have our little differences, but we share many things in our cultures. However, when our national sides meet, all those friendships go out the window. It's a fixture everyone wants to see. The next one in June will even be broadcast in Asia, where both teams have their followings. That says it all.

You have scored against Brazil. Is it a special feeling?
Personally, I got the same satisfaction from scoring in a friendly as I did in a Copa America match against Brazil, Chile or whoever. All goals are worth the same. Well except those for Argentina, they're special.

Back to Interviews / Articles