I don't need the Ballon d'Or, I won everything with Roma

Francesco Totti reaffirmed this week that he holds no regrets about dedicating his entire professional career to AS Roma, the club where he became not just a footballer, but an eternal symbol of loyalty, identity, and passion.

In an era defined by big-money transfers and player power, Totti stood apart a one-club man whose bond with Roma became inseparable from his own personal story. It’s a legacy that many consider impossible to replicate in today’s football landscape.

Speaking during an episode of the podcast Viva el Futebol!, where he was joined by former teammates Antonio Cassano and Nicola Ventola, Totti, now 48, reflected on his remarkable journey with the giallorossi. From his debut as a fresh-faced teenager in 1993 to his emotional farewell in 2017, Totti’s career spanned 25 years an extraordinary feat in modern football, particularly at a club that, despite its massive fanbase, rarely competed at the very top of European football.

During that quarter-century in the iconic red and yellow shirt, Totti collected one Serie A title (in 2000-01), two Coppa Italia trophies, and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. Though Roma never consistently matched the financial muscle or sporting dominance of Juventus, Milan, or Inter, Totti’s brilliance ensured the club always remained relevant. His loyalty to Roma was rewarded internationally, too, as he played a key role in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph in Germany a crowning moment in a career filled with both personal accolades and deep emotional connections to club and country.

When asked if he regretted never winning the Ballon d’Or an individual prize that often defines careers Totti’s response was both typically humble and proudly defiant. “I don’t need the Ballon d’Or,” he said. “I won everything with Roma. I have no regrets at all. Now we laugh and joke about it, but that’s the truth. For me, staying at the same club for 25 years was a huge victory.”

For Totti, that loyalty wasn’t a sacrifice it was a privilege. While many outsiders wondered whether he would have thrived at Real Madrid, where he was once heavily courted, or at Manchester United, where Sir Alex Ferguson was an admirer, Totti never felt the pull to leave. Rome wasn’t just his workplace; it was home. The Curva Sud wasn’t just a fan section; it was family. And for Totti, every goal at the Stadio Olimpico carried far more weight than any trophy won in a distant city ever could.

During the podcast, Totti also took time to share his thoughts on some of the game’s rising stars including Barcelona’s teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal. While Totti praised the young winger’s undeniable talent, he also offered some gentle criticism, urging Yamal to sharpen his killer instinct. “He still scores too few goals,” Totti observed. “He’s incredibly talented. During the Euros, he looked like he was flying unstoppable. Then his form dropped a little, but now he’s back on track. Even so, for a player of his talent, he needs to be scoring more. That’s the next step.”

Turning his attention back to Serie A, Totti reserved particular praise for Paulo Dybala a player who, in many ways, embodies some of Totti’s own qualities. Technically gifted, capable of moments of pure magic, and blessed with a creative flair that transcends statistics, Dybala has become a fan favorite at Roma, even as injuries have disrupted his momentum. “He’s one of the most talented players in the world,” Totti said. “If I compare today’s Serie A with my era, I’d say there’s less overall talent now. But Dybala is different he’s special. Right now, I’d say he’s the best player in Italy. His form now is so much better than it was two months ago. And when he has the ball at his feet, the ball sings.”

Totti went on to praise Dybala’s newfound physical resilience, noting that the Argentine seems to have turned a corner in terms of fitness. “Paulo is a machine now,” Totti smiled. “Before, he was always slowed down by injuries. But now? He gets the ball in the 90th minute and still has the legs to make a difference.”

Naturally, the conversation also turned to Roma’s future specifically, the ever-uncertain managerial position at the club. When asked who he would appoint if he had the power to choose Roma’s next coach, Totti didn’t hesitate: Carlo Ancelotti. Despite Ancelotti’s current success at Real Madrid, Totti dreams of seeing the iconic Italian manager return to the club where he once played in the 1970s.

“If I were Roma’s sporting director, my first call would be to Ancelotti,” Totti stated bluntly. “Gasperini? No, he drives me crazy.” Totti’s criticism of Gian Piero Gasperini reflects a broader frustration many Roma legends share a belief that certain managers, despite tactical acumen, don’t fit the unique cultural and emotional DNA of Roma.

“As I’ve always said, if you want to win, you need great players and great managers. Ranieri has done well, but I’m not sure if the club will give him another shot. If he decides to stay next season, I think they’ll focus on him and see how far he can go.”

Totti’s words carry immense weight in Rome. Even in retirement, his voice is treated with reverence by fans and media alike. His status transcends football Totti is a cultural icon, a symbol of loyalty and Roman pride in a sport increasingly shaped by money and short-term success. His story reminds fans everywhere that greatness is not only measured by silverware, but also by the strength of one’s principles and the depth of one’s connection to a club and its people.

While modern football often celebrates players who collect trophies across multiple countries and clubs, Totti stands as a counterpoint proof that a player can achieve immortality not by leaving, but by staying. And for Roma, no trophy could ever mean more than knowing their greatest ever player gave them everything, from his debut to his farewell, without ever considering the grass might be greener somewhere else.

As the podcast wrapped up, Totti’s relaxed smile said it all a man at peace with his choices, still proud of the road less travelled, still adored by millions who saw not just a footballer, but a symbol of loyalty in a sport where loyalty is becoming increasingly rare.