Batistuta scores twice at 57 as Fiorentina celebrates its centennial

He touched the ball ahead of himself one more time. That move he repeated hundreds of times back in the 90s, the finishing style that made him unmistakable, showed up again right in the middle of Artemio Franchi Stadium. And no, it wasn't an old clip or a tribute on the big screen: it was Gabriel Batistuta, at 57 years old, scoring a real goal on a real field.

The occasion was Fiorentina's centennial celebration, which included a legends match to mark the club's hundred years. Bati didn't just show up, he was the absolute star of the day. He scored two goals, picked up an assist from Franck Ribery, and finished the afternoon just as emotional as the fans who watched him run again in the purple shirt.

What stood out is that Batistuta arrived at the match far from peak physical shape, something he admitted himself without hesitation.

I really wasn't in shape, but there was no way I could miss Fiorentina's 100th anniversary celebration. I know what this means for the city and for the fans. I had to come. I'm part of these 100 years, so I wanted to be here.Gabriel Batistuta

Years of broken ankles and pain

To understand what it meant to see him play again, you have to look back at what Batistuta went through over the last decade. The former Argentine striker dealt with serious ankle problems for years, a direct result of a long career built on pure physical effort. In September 2019 he had surgery on his left ankle in Switzerland, and at the time he was blunt about what he hoped to get out of it.

I hope to not have pain when I'm sitting down, and then be able to walk, ski, or play a little golf. The goal is to get rid of the pain. These are the aftereffects of football. That's how it goes, I gave everything I had, there's nothing left.Gabriel Batistuta

On top of that came a four-year treatment to ease the pain in his right leg. With that history, it's easy to see why watching him touch the ball forward and celebrate a goal in Florence carried a different weight than a simple friendly among former players.

A celebration with several idols, but one king

Fiorentina's centennial brought together other historic figures from the club, including Roberto Baggio, but the attention stayed fixed on Batistuta. That's no surprise: in Florence, he remains one of the biggest symbols of the institution, the name that comes up first when people talk about the club's greatest idols.

Even the goal he scored into wasn't chosen at random. Batistuta picked the same end of the field he used to prefer during his playing days at the Artemio Franchi, and he explained it with a laugh.

I won the coin toss and chose to attack that goal because it feels familiar to me.Gabriel Batistuta

There were no points on the line and no titles at stake. But for Bati, and for the fans who got to see him celebrate a goal in Florence once again, it was quite a bit more than just a legends match.