There was a practice in Ancient Rome whereby a victorious general would be welcomed back into the city by throngs of celebrating citizens. As the triumph marched through the streets, with compliments and adoration showered upon the commander by the men and women of Rome, there was always a slave stationed beside his ear.
Even as the adulation and worship reached fever pitch, the slave would lean in close and whisper in the general’s ear: "Remember, you are only a man." Even amid the general’s greatest triumph, there was a pressing reminder of the fleeting nature of mortality.
In Rome, the Eternal City, this fixation with relics, ruins and crushing mortality is as rife as ever. Scattered throughout the city are constant reminders of the great heights the Roman Empire once reached, but, along with that greatnesses, is the obvious passage of time and resulting destruction.
Even if parts of the city have seen better days and now exist primarily at the other end of a tourist’s camera, there is one part of Italy’s capital which remains immune to decay. While twenty years might not seem long in historical terms, the two decades of Francesco Totti’s rule as the King of Rome have defied the mortality suffered by most men. Still, Totti remains one of the domineering figures in Serie A.
So, why spend two paragraphs pretentiously admiring one of football’s elder statesmen? Most of the time, such admiration is couched in obituaries, written as a career tails off towards a MLS sunset. But, as demonstrated this weekend, Totti has persisted like few other footballers have before him. Though he might be a few weeks shy of 40, Roma can still depend on him to deliver when it matters most.
Let’s take this weekend as an example. The weather, at first, seemed to be the story. While some parts of Italy were clinging to the summer’s fading heat, other regions got their first taste of the autumn rains. In Genoa, the storm was so bad that the game was cancelled.
In Rome, beneath the sodden overhangs of the Stadio Olimpico, the authorities took an 80 minute break before deciding that the game could go ahead. Despite hail stones the size of cherries and the car parks beneath the stadium beginning to flood, the men in charge decreed that the football could continue.
Even amid the farcical nature of the storm, there was one man who had seen it all before. These days, Totti does not tend to start matches. Ever since Luciano Spalletti arrived last year, the question of whether the insistently venerable Totti had a place at the club remained a puzzle. After much back-and-forth between the player, the coach, the management and the ultras, it was decided that Totti would remain as a player.
This was helped by a string of late substitute appearances towards the end of the season in which the living legend broke free from the bench, grabbed a losing game by the scruff of the neck and secured the points.
Such appearances led Roma to a play-off spot for the Champions League, which they ultimately managed to squander.
After the turmoil of last year, a spot of rain was hardly enough to stop the club captain from warming up. Even as the crowd and the players sheltered from the storm, Totti could be seen stretching; preparing himself to enter the fray. And he would be needed.
Warming up in the heavy rain in Rome...
Francesco Totti, ladies and gentleman!
Il eterno capitano!!! pic.twitter.com/18a7QPA8Hv— Panini World Cup (@paniniWCUSA) September 12, 2016
Even before the extended break, before the heavens had opened, Roma had managed to throw away a lead. After a Salah goal had put them ahead, Sampdoria had replied twice and seized the lead. Not only that, but Samp were comprehensively outplaying Roma.
After the extended interval, Spaletti decided that it was time for a change. He brought on Totti and the much-maligned Edin Dzeko and the game changed.
By the 60th minute, the game was completely in Totti’s grip. Even under the heaving rain, the ball behaved exactly as he wanted.
While other players’ passes rolled short of their intended targets and the wind drove shots this way and that, Totti was able to pick out his team mates with ease. He put Dzeko through on goal, only for the Bosnian to scupper the chance.
Totti tried again, this time bouncing between the raindrops to loft a first time pass over the heads of two defenders and into the path of the big striker, who couldn’t miss this one. The score was levelled.
From there, Roma should have roared into a comprehensive lead. Totti was instrumental in setting up Salah, Dzeko and others again and again. But the score remained at two apiece.
The storm lashed down, the home side unable to find the net for a third time. As the time ticked away, it seemed that Totti’s heroics would be rewarded with only a single point. But, once again, the man found himself with the chance to win the game. A tug back on Dzeko’s shirt led to a penalty, awarded in injury time.
It was always obvious who would take it. Later, the captain would admit that this was the first time he had ever felt nervous taking a penalty. It didn’t matter. Totti struck the ball into the bottom right corner, running straight to the soaked legions of adoring fans. Drenched in rain and adoration, Totti relished his plaudits. Even the sun had started to come out. Sometimes the narrative defies belief.
Francesco Totti with a last minute winner today. So much love for this guy.
Absolutely timeless. pic.twitter.com/BqzvNUcJ3D— footbilly (@footbilly) September 11, 2016
Francesco #Totti's injury-time penalty winner was just too much for this young fan! #RomaSamp pic.twitter.com/kQYxikGVc7
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) September 11, 2016
But there’s no reason to shy away from the raw facts of Totti’s career. He has been playing for twenty five seasons. When he first scored, Google was not a company, much less a verb. Winning teams in Serie A only received two points. Marcus Rashford was barely a twinkle in his father’s eye.
Totti has scored in 23 consecutive seasons, all for one club. Even now, as expectations of his impending retirement are everywhere, the man himself has been wondering aloud whether he might still continue. Few would begrudge such a decision.
Even amid the ruins of Rome, even as Roma succeed in shooting themselves in the proverbial foot over and over again, even as the weather itself conspires against the Giallorossi, one man stands firm.
When it comes time for Totti to retire, the triumph through the streets of Rome will be one of the most heartfelt in millennia. Even if journalists, managers, and god himself try to remind Totti that he is only human, Roma’s greatest player chooses not to listen.
