When I think of a standard 40-year-old male, I imagine a portly man with a fondness of overindulging, especially with a few pints, at the same time dreaming of how they can land that one big score where all mid-life crisis essentials can be obtained. However, in Rome the timeless Francesco Totti is doing his best to single-handedly quash all the stereotypes.
Despite celebrating his 40th birthday last week, Totti put in a commanding performance in the 4-0 Europa League victory against Romanian opposition Astra Giurgiu. As usual Totti was full of the flair and imagination which he has become renown for since making his Serie A debut back in 1992.
He set up the first goal with an inch perfect free kick, giving the resurgent Kevin Strootman a simple task of tapping it in. Next up he unleashed a projectile missile, which the keeper could only managed to tip onto the bar, before dropping kindly to ex Spurs defender Fazio who nodded in.
In the second half he felt the crowd deserved one more piece of brilliance, picking the ball up 35 yards out, he dropped a lofted through ball on a sixpence for Mohammed Salah to poke it past the keeper.
Goll Strootman Assist Totti! #SepuhAmpuh #Roma #UEL pic.twitter.com/y8YIuMhriP
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Ni Pelé ni Maradona hacían lo que hace Francesco Totti a los 40 años. Leyenda inconmensurable del fútbol mundial. pic.twitter.com/r0gHC6Fn5L
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La GRAN asistencia de Francesco Totti para el cuarto gol de la Roma ante el Astra. Gran definición de Mohamed Salahpic.twitter.com/HMBJjGYln8
Bonus content, because who doesn't love back-heeled through ball, which left the entire back four chasing shadows.
Touch of genius. #Totti pic.twitter.com/nlHd6UCpYX
Totti stated that he would retire at the end of this season when he signed his last one year extension, although on evidence of this display who is to say that he hasn't got at least one more contract left in him.