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Gabriel Batistuta is known as the highest scorer in the history of the Argentine national soccer team. He spent most of his career playing for Fiorentina, as opposed to his childhood when it looked like he would be playing basketball instead of soccer. Soccer came naturally to the atheltic young man and eventually he became one of the greatest soccer players in the world, even being named to FIFA’s Top 100 players list by Pele, the great, himself.

Internationally, he began to play for the national team in 1991 in the Copa America cup race. That year, not only did Argentina win the Copa America tournament but he also came home as the top scorer with six goals during his time on the pitch. It was because of that tournament Batistuta gained a spot on Fiorentina and despite their rocky relationship with going back and forth between the second and first divisions; eventually Fiorentina became one of the best teams in the country. Batitutsa flourished at Fiorentina and crafted his skill as one of the most versatile players on the field. Disappointment at home gave way to new confidence and spirit from Batitutsa that helped him with continued success in Italy.

His first World Cup competition came in 1998, and most of his time in the qualification tournament was spent on the bench. However, when Argentina made it into the official tournament, Batistuta scored five goals before his national team lost to Netherlands in the quarterfinals. This disappointment was almost a time-honored tradition for Argentina, and Batistuta was beginning to shop around for a club that would bring home a championship. Batistuta was out for blood. He wanted to taste the sweet victory of winning the World Cup for his home country. Unfortunately, Argentina just wasn’t ready skill-wise to be a big contender at the World Cup, yet. His talent flourished on the field, but it just wasn’t enough to bring home a championship.

Batistuta transferred to AS Roma for more than $30 million after the 1999 – 2000 season. Despite injuries, he scored 20 goals in his first season and finally earned a championship in the form of the Italian scudetto giving AS Roma its first championship since 1983. For someone who was prone to injury and prone to being a disappointment, Batistuta proved himself worthy of that $30 million under the circumstances. His talent, skill and leadership on the field gave him the courage and understanding to help guide you and old players alike on their quest for championship, glory and all things in soccer history. Batistuta is the stuff legends are made of.

He traveled to the 2002 World Cup with the Argentine national team and after being thrown into what some dubbed, “the group of death,” Argentina was sent home in the second round. After returning to AS Roma, defeated, Batistuta lost his edge and was eventually loaned to Internazionale. From there, not the player he once was, he was traded to Al-Arabi in Qatar where injuries forced his career to an end in March 2005.