Francesco Totti – 201 not out

Few players divide opinion quite like Francesco Totti.

In his native Italy he is an Adonis, the golden boy, and one of the finest players of an extraordinarily talented generation.

Throughout the rest of Europe though, he is treated with some scepticism, particularly over here where he is largely viewed as an overrated enigma who is drawn to controversy.

Remember the dives in World Cup 2002 and 2006, spitting at Christian Poulsen at Euro 2004, and who could forget the elbow on Martin Keown in 2003.

But whatever your personal opinion of the player, nobody can argue against the Roman idol being one for the romantics. 

On March 20 his two strikes away to Fiorentina took his tally of Serie A goals to 201 – putting him sixth in the all-time goalscoring list, and just four behind ‘The Divine Ponytail’, Roberto Baggio.

Totti has since continued to roll back the years, netting another three, and now has seven in Vincenzo Montella’s first five league games in charge.

Sky Sports Italia has chronicled his first 201 goals, and thankfully it’s made its way on to Youtube.

Amongst the dazzling array of exquisite volleys, delicate “cucchiaio” chips, penalties, free-kicks, long-range screamers, headers, tap-ins, and the celebrations, two stand out.

The first, an insultingly impudent chip at the San Siro versus Inter Milan, and the second an impossible left-footed volley at Sampdoria. It’s enough to make Marco Van Basten’s infamous effort look simple.

So if you’ve got a spare 45 minutes to procrastinate, then why not kick back with an ice-cold Peroni and enjoy.

Francesco Totti – Bellisimo.

James Riley