Serie A legend looks unrecognisable after ditching iconic long locks 17 years after retiring
A SERIE A legend looks totally unrecognisable after ditching his iconic long locks.
The former player hung up his boots and retired way back in 2005.
GettyThe mystery footballer looks completely different in his retirement[/caption]
He enjoyed an illustrious career, especially in ItalyGetty
But in those 17 years, his love of sport has not slowed down as he was spotted at tennis’ ATP Cup in Australia.
The photo, taken back in January 2020, shows the serial goalscorer watching his compatriots Argentina taking on Spain in Perth.
Look carefully and you may recognise the goatie beard – a lighter shade of silver these days.
But the hairstyle is a neater clipped cut – a drastic change from the flowing mane with which he scored 350 career goals, including 219 in Italy’s top flight.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
The mystery man is, believe it or not, Gabriel Batistuta.
Batistuta, now 53, started his career at Newell’s Old Boys – the same club as Lionel Messi – before a year apiece with rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors.
But it was in Italy he enjoyed most of his success, spending nine seasons with Fiorentina – returning 203 goals in 331 appearances.
He joined Roma in 2000 and had a loan spell with Inter Milan in 2002-03 before finishing his club career in Qatar with Al-Arabi.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
Batistuta won one Serie A, a Serie B, the Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italianas and was the top scorer in Italy’s top flight in 1994-95.
The Argentina international managed an impressive 56 goals in 78 caps and lifted the Copa America twice.
Only Messi, who took his tally to 98 with two in the World Cup final, has more strikes for the Albiceleste.
Gabriel Batistuta in action for Fiorentina, for whom he scored 203 timesNews Group Newspapers Ltd
He made the controversial switch to Roma in 2000EPA
