Italian legend: "If I weren’t a footballer, I would’ve worked at a gas station"

Throughout its history, Rome had over 100 rulers—from Octavian, Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero to Constantine Dragases. Some were more beloved than others, but none ever earned the nickname The Prince of Rome. In the world of football, there is hardly a more iconic title, and when you hear it, there's no doubt about who it belongs to.

Francesco Totti wrote Roma’s history—he is its most loyal son, a club symbol like few others. The Giallorossi's eternal captain has largely stayed out of the media since hanging up his boots, but now he has finally spoken—and he had plenty to say.

"When they call you a legend, it means you’ve done something important and significant. You become a legend after building your own footballing path. My successor? He hasn’t been born yet. My dream was to wear the Roma shirt and stay there my entire career," said Totti.

He also reflected on what he might have done if he hadn’t pursued football.

"If I weren’t a footballer, I would’ve worked at a gas station—I love the smell of gasoline. Joking aside, I think I would’ve been a tennis player. My reference point in tennis is Roger Federer; he is tennis, just as Maradona is football. Those people are not from this planet."

The former Serie A champion also addressed comparisons to Diego Maradona.

"Never compare me to him—I don’t want that. In football today, there aren’t even 100 players who can do with the ball what Diego could. When he stepped onto the pitch, everything else became secondary."