AS Roma icon, Francesco Totti, has suggested that Lionel Messi might not have won eight Ballon d’Or titles if he had spent his entire career with the Italian club.
Totti, who dedicated all 25 years of his playing career to Roma, made this claim while speaking on the Viva El Futbol podcast.
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He highlighted the importance of team quality in individual success, using Messi as an example.
“But do you really think that if Messi had spent 25 years at Roma with [Alessandro] Frau, Cesar Gomez, and [Matteo] Pivotto, he would have won all those Ballon d’Ors?” Totti questioned.
The Roma legend’s loyalty to the club was unwavering, despite lucrative offers. In his autobiography, Gladiator, he revealed that in 2001, Real Madrid president
Florentino Perez was willing to make him the highest-paid player in the world. However, his deep connection to Roma and the city of Rome kept him from making the move to Spain.
“I never thought about playing for another team. It wouldn’t have made sense,” Totti said. “Only [Paolo] Maldini and I played 25 years with the same club.”
His remarks emphasize the impact of club environment on a player’s career, sparking debate about how Messi’s legacy might have been different in Serie A.
