“He knows what he…

By Elsa Girard-Basset | Web journalist

Icon of Italian football, Francesco Totti lived his illustrious career on his own terms, without ever denying himself or tempering his character. He also demonstrated it just before the 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy with a well-felt tackle on Zinédine Zidane. Who, obviously, didn't hold it against him!

When we think of AS Roma, we inevitably think of Francesco Totti. Player of the capital club between 1993 and 2017, the Roman by birth is a true icon in the eyes of La Louve supporters, embodying a loyalty that no longer exists in the world of football today. But the striker with more than 300 goals was also a “bad boy”, a temperament, and Zinédine Zidane knows this better than anyone.

It was on the sidelines of the 2006 World Cup final that Totti, as intrepid as ever, launched what the Anglo-Saxons call “mind games”, in the hope of disconcerting Zizou and gaining the psychological advantage. a few hours before the big meeting.

Impervious to the pressure, like his partner Andrea Pirlo who had spent the day playing video games in his hotel room, Totti had a smile on his face as he boarded the bus:

You know, I've already beaten Zidane… With Rome in 2002, we dominated Real (1-0) and it was even me who scored!

Zinédine Zidane's public support for Francesco Totti

Although he did not score in the 2006 final, “Er Pupone” once again got the better of Zidane with the Italian victory on penalties, a few moments after Zizou's famous header on Marco Materazzi. Totti nevertheless forgot to talk about the Euro 2000 final, during which, this time, the Blues defeated the transalpines…

Whatever the case, Zidane was in no way offended by the words of his rival, whom he had the opportunity to confront on numerous occasions during his 5 years spent at Juventus between 1996 and 2001. Many years later, in 2016, and when a Totti at the end of his career had been sidelined by Roma due to public criticism, Zizou had come to his aid at a press conference:

He has done incredible things for football, as everyone knows. I heard his interview, he knows what he can bring to this team. Every time he plays, it's a joy for him, and it's completely normal that he wants to improve the last years of his career.

Coincidence or not, Totti was then reinserted into the squad, playing a 24th and final season with his long-time club.

Regardless of the little piques linked to the competition, Francesco Totti and Zinédine Zidane are above all two exceptional athletes who spoke the same language: the love of football, beautiful game and loyalty. In fact, it is not surprising that it is respect that prevails between these artists, and even more so after all the battles they have engaged in against each other.