Totti: "Only Messi is better than me"

The veteran forward sees himself as one of the best ever, while he believes Mario Balotelli is not a phenomenon just yet
Roma legend Francesco Totti says only Barcelona star Lionel Messi is better than him in world football.

The 36-year-old, who has been linked with a return to the Italian national team following his fine form this season, has admitted that the Argentine forward is on another level, but is adamant that nobody else is a cut above him.

"There is only one player who is doing things that I could never do and that is Messi," Totti was quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I do not think there is an Italian footballer who I would place above myself in a list, though. The numbers speak for themselves."

The experienced attacker then went on to praise Marcello Lippi, while he would love to work with Jose Mourinho at some point in the future.

He added: "For me, Lippi is the best coach I have ever worked with. He had such incredible charisma. But Fabio Capello and Luciano Spalletti are true greats as well.

"Who I would like to work with? Mourinho..."

Totti also had his say on AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, and stressed that the former Manchester City attacker is not a phenomenon yet.

"I would say that he can become a phenomenon, but it all depends on his attitude and his behaviour. It's about the things you do outside the pitch, too."

"There is only one player who is doing things that I could never do and that is Messi,"

This is 100% correct IMO.

BC and his deceiving headlines

I usually steal the headline right from goal.com, don't shoot the messenger

BarrileteCosmico wrote:I usually steal the headline right from goal.com, don't shoot the messenger

Can Totti score 60 goals a season.

Yohan Modric wrote:Can Totti score 60 goals a season.

Ronaldo gets more shots than Totti in a league that's nowhere near as defensively minded. I assume you were talking about Ronaldo

agreed, totti is once in a generation player, those forwards that can do everything, pure technique, vision passing scoring, playmaking, name it he can do it. Cant blame Totti for feeling himself.

Cassano was next in line but he is a flawed genius.

No doubt, im with him.

I wouldnt compare him to Xavi and or Pirlo or someone like that, its too different.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:
"I would say that he can become a phenomenon, but it all depends on his attitude and his behaviour."

Totti saying this after he kicked the shit out of him lol ...

Great player Totti is amazing but 0 char for me. As for the thread's headline I don't agree even thou he is up there

I wonder if Messi can lead Roma to a Scudetto :hmm;

AbraKebabra Alacalamb wrote:

Yohan Modric wrote:Can Totti score 60 goals a season.

Ronaldo gets more shots than Totti in a league that's nowhere near as defensively minded. I assume you were talking about Ronaldo

Ronaldo would dominate Italia brah.

I should mention Totti has been outstanding this season one of the best performers in Europe full stop.

Real throw back to performances gone by, it reminds me of a time when Del Piero did similar and Raul to some extent.

I love it when ageing players do that, because half the time i think they are past it and BAM they roll back the years.

Great to see.

Zealous wrote:

AbraKebabra Alacalamb wrote:

Yohan Modric wrote:Can Totti score 60 goals a season.

Ronaldo gets more shots than Totti in a league that's nowhere near as defensively minded. I assume you were talking about Ronaldo

Ronaldo would dominate Italia brah.

He'd struggle on a warm night in Sicily

Zeal pls,

Marco Motta would pocket him on a bad day.

AbraKebabra Alacalamb wrote:Zeal pls,

Marco Motta would pocket him on a bad day.

So everyday then?

Let's be honest here, Totti has nothing to envy to Ronaldo. Is there anything Totti cant do with the ball in his feet? dont think so.

Pretty much agree with Totti.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

AbraKebabra Alacalamb wrote:Zeal pls,

Marco Motta would pocket him on a bad day.

So everyday then?

After watching him start for us for a year. Yes

something like 1357% of the goals we conceded to the opposition came from his flank.

So everyone here thinks there was nothing Ronaldo, Zidane or Dinho could do that Totti could not?

With the ball at his feet, probably he couldn't run at devastating pace like Ronaldo. Besides that, Totti probably could do what those 3 could do.

I dont think Ive ever seen Totti play..Atleast in club level, so Im going for his word by now.

Not in Messi-Ronaldo class, but right behind them. One of the best players in the last 20 years for sure. The reality is that he didn't need pace, he was pure technique.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:So everyone here thinks there was nothing Ronaldo, Zidane or Dinho could do that Totti could not?

Zidane aside and its as close as someone can get to someone like Zidane in this department ( footballing IQ) he probably was better technically and had a better brain and vision than Dinho or Ronaldo.

They were of course better athletically but Totti never needed athletic ability.

Just one of those players you watch and the whole game seemed to have been paused for his benefit, he had and still does the ability to make it look like time has been frozen.

A rare breed indeed, i will miss him.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:So everyone here thinks there was nothing Ronaldo, Zidane or Dinho could do that Totti could not?

All 3 are retired, I was only talking about players still playing.

Yes, im aware technically Ronaldinho is still playing but you know.

Meh, Ronaldinho's 3 years younger than Totti and he's levels below Totti at the moment. And when you're closer to 40 than 30 as a footballer that's a big deal.

Technically speaking there are very few players in the history of football who can do what Totti can do, also keeping in mind his footballing intelligence is up there with the best.


The likes of Totti and ADP will be sorely missed in serie A.