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The Gladiator: When Francesco Totti Played the 2006 World Cup With 13 Screws in His Ankle
This is the story of the day "il Capitano" proved why they called him The Gladiator
On February 19, 2006, Italy came to a halt. During a match between AS Roma and Empoli, Francesco Totti suffered one of the most serious injuries of his career. He fractured his fibula, and several ligaments and nerves in his ankle were severely damaged. But the worst news was something else: the World Cup in Germany was only 109 days away. For many, the captain of AS Roma would not make it to the tournament.
The Injury That Put the World Cup in Doubt
He was immediately operated on by doctor Paolo Mariani. The surgery lasted more than two hours, and doctors had to place 13 screws and a permanent titanium plate in his ankle. Before entering the operating room, Francesco Totti told the surgeon a sentence that reflected all of his determination:
“ I will play in the World Cup, but a lot depends on you.”
Those words not only put pressure on the doctor, they also showed the mental strength of the eternal captain of AS Roma.
Meanwhile, across Italy, most media outlets and specialists were convinced that Francesco Totti would not play in the World Cup. Discussions had already shifted toward who should replace him and who would have the honor of wearing the number 10 jersey for the Azzurra.
But there was one person who never stopped believing in him—and he was the one who mattered most: Italian national team coach Marcello Lippi. The manager was clear from the very beginning. He said Francesco Totti would make it to the World Cup and personally spoke with him to assure him that he trusted his talent and would include him in the squad traveling to Germany.
The Recovery and the Return to the Pitch
The recovery was remarkable. Just five weeks after the surgery, Francesco Totti was already running and putting weight on the injured leg. Even the doctors were surprised by his progress. What once seemed impossible was becoming reality.
On May 11, 2006, in a Coppa Italia match, Francesco Totti returned to the pitch wearing the AS Roma jersey. He was back.
When the World Cup began, the Italian captain was still not at 100 percent physically, so Marcello Lippi decided to carefully manage his minutes. The message from the coach was clear: he would not play every match in full, but the minutes he spent on the field needed to make a difference.
The Penalty That Kept Italy’s Dream Alive
And Francesco Totti delivered.
During the group stage, he recorded four assists, becoming Italy’s top playmaker in the tournament. But his most memorable moment came in the Round of 16 against Australia. Italy was struggling and the match seemed headed for a draw. Francesco Totti came off the bench in the second half and, in the 90+5 minute, the decisive moment arrived: penalty for Italy.
With all the pressure in the world—and with his ankle held together by 13 screws and a titanium plate—the Roman Gladiator took the ball and sent it into the back of the net. Italy was through to the quarterfinals.
Weeks later in Berlin, the Azzurra claimed its fourth star by defeating France in the final. Just 140 days after his surgery, Francesco Totti was celebrating a World Cup title.
Later on, Francesco Totti said he wanted to show the world the character of the Romans.
The screws are still in his ankle.
And the fourth star still shines on the crest of Italy.
