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.
But in those 18 years, he has not lost his magic touch in front of goal.
He played in a Maxi Rodriguez testimonial alongside Argentine hero Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick on his 36th birthday.
However, it was the ex-striker who looked completely different as he dispatched a classy penalty into the top corner for the Newell’s Old Boys XI – although the grey goatee could be a giveaway.
With his side trailing 2-0, he stepped up and delivered from 12 yards before hugging the beaten goalkeeper.
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Previously, the former footy ace was spotted at tennis’ ATP Cup in Australia.
A photo, taken back in January 2020, shows the serial goalscorer watching his compatriots Argentina taking on Spain in Perth.
Look carefully and again you may recognise the goatee 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.
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The mystery man is, believe it or not, Gabriel Batistuta.
Batistuta, now 54, started his career at Newell’s Old Boys – the same club as 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.
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 and now is clear on 103, has more strikes for the Albiceleste.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
