Gabriel 'Batigol' Batistuta: The Man Luis Suárez Idolized

The Argentine goalscoring legend began with Newell's Old Boys and blossomed wearing the purple kit of Florence's most famous team: Fiorentina. Gabriel 'Batigol' Batistuta has been regarded by some of the most respected players as a world-class striker and naturally gifted finishers. Internationally and at club level, he broke records through goalscoring so relentlessly.
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Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:40 - Gabriel’s Upbringing
1:17 - His time in Argentina
3:21 - Gabriel’s transfer to Florence
4:00 - Fiorentina falling short
5:21 - World Cup woes
5:57 - Loyalty
8:15 - Fluctuating Form
12:27 - Outstanding Batigol
13:17 - Moving On
16:11 - International Intentions
17:09 - Exiting Italy
17:28 - The Legacy of Batigol
#batistuta #batigol #fiorentina #seriea

[@theretroroute]

Hi all, apologies for the error: Batistuta was born in 1969, not ‘64. My mistake.

[@arijitsengupta1101]

Thank you....I share my Birthday and Birth Year with him...I too was born on 1 Feb, 1969....:)

[@robs9237]

What's the music in this video? I like it.

[@HP_Dogra]

His name is Gabriel Omar Batistuta so i think he's Muslim.

[@drewlskelly]

I believe the away win against Arsenal was actually at Wembley stadium 😉

[@AthelstanEngland]

The other error was saying Maradona was the greatest player of 20th century... That was Pele.

[@fraji1]

In 1999 Fiorentina came to the US to play in the Gotham Cup. I was fortunate to be placed with the team by the event organizers. Bati was a class act as a person and a player. For the short time I spent with the team , Bati looked out for me and even asked me to drive him and his manager to the airport the day after the tournament ended. Once there he invited me to stay with them at the airport club , he would not take no for an answer. Those were pre 9/11 days and luckily no one towed the van that I parked curbside. Bati is a class act.

[@usmanrulezzz]

Batistuta was the man who made me fall in love with football! No one can be like him! Absolute monster!

[@antonyjohnsonchittilapilly8498]

Same!

[@PTminatoPT]

Batistuta is my 2nd favorite player of all time,just behind another legendary argentinian player called Fernando Redondo(arguably the best defensive midfielder of all time). While Bati wasnt a football prodigy,he showed what hard work and ethics could achieve! He was a complete striker with brute force,power,and had that special gift of knowing where the ball would be! REFUSED multiple offers from Real,Barcelona,Man Utd because he said it wasnt fun to win in those clubs,lmao! A true legend and without doubt 1 of the top 3 strikers in the 90´s!

[@bradleydolphin1049]

Redondo was an absolute beast

[@MagicMo1]

Fernando Redondo was amazing

[@g.d.m.1315]

I don't understand why no one talla about Redondo. Ppl seems to remember more players like Cambiasso than Redondo

[@rodnejean9880]

@@g.d.m.1315the reason is that cambiaso was more of an offensive player ,imagine messi didn’t scored much of those goals few people would have talked about him or imagine iniesta Ronaldinho,okocha scored as much as messi?.that’s how people view the game 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@EagleEyes77]

Redondo was talented, very much, but the likes of Rijkaard were better.

[@Rookshana.Takolia786]

One of the GREATEST strikers ever to grace the football pitch.

[@bilalkhan817]

Batistuta was a beast of a striker, I got the privilege to watch him play in person in a all star game in 2002, when he hit the ball it stayed hit and the sound echoed in the whole 🏟 . Only second to R9 as a striker for me from the 90s. Love u Bati goal... u could've achieved so much more, but Loyalty trumps trophies back in those days

[@Mad_Intalect]

The 90's had so many world class strikers...crazy.

[@jankowalski4080]

R9 was the best striker of all time but in the 90s i could never pick between the Romario and Batigol for me they were both equally nr2s in the world

[@AshleyBD15]

100% Spot on..only 2nd to R9 but I have to give to Batistuta the title of being the cleanest striker of a football ive seen period! Even till this day, I havent seen a player that can hit a ball with as much power and accuracy as this man could. A real definition of a striker..Just imagine if he went to a bigger club how many more goals he would have scored 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@liamspivey5106]

I always watched football Italia on a Saturday morning in the 90’s when I was a kid . Although the league was packed with world class players and teams . Batistuta and Fiorentina was my team to support . Rui Costa ,Olivera and Batistuta was a great trio to watch . I wished for years that Batistuta would come to my boyhood club Liverpool , but that wasn’t to be .

[@tam310]

Good old Football Italia. I liked the Inter team of that era. Ronaldo, Recoba, Zamorano, Zanetti etc. still have a soft spot for Inter.

[@cristianfuentes2597]

@@tam310 bam bam Zamorano my boy

[@louisritnagellarsen687]

Juve

[@billysmith1989]

Golden era!!

[@scotmac5143]

I've got to jump in here mate, sorry. Sat morning was Gazzetta football, telling you any news, showing goals from the week before etc. Sunday was when the games were played. I remember watching Batistuta beating the record of scoring in the first 13 or 14 games of the season. That record might still stand to this day.

[@lorenzobalestri5596]

Batigol made my city proud, he was an amazing player that made the whole city dream big! If it wasn't for his injury and Edmundo madness, 1998-99 could've been our year to win the scudetto...

[@mauriziogiusti1769]

Ehhhh but someone, Edmundo, had to go back to Brazil to attend the fucking carnival during Batistuta's injury and the serie A decisive period...

[@libanwarsame5428]

I was a big fan of Batistuta when he played for Fiorentina. Rui Costa, Toldo, Oliveira and Edmondo were among his most notable team mates at Viola.

[@mucaadabdirahman884]

this man could win every trophy in the globe but he choose family and loyalty over fame and money.

[@vincentekwunife1544]

‘Controlled violence in both feet’ one heck of a striker

[@BongDiggidee]

Shearer and Battistuta the two most loyalist strikers to ever grace the game. Both formidable goal scoring machines!

[@edwardjones2202]

Totti also

[@malamation]

Le tissier

[@malamation]

Steve bull - Wolverhampton

[@dandan3521]

A man of honor indeed ... Family and Club Loyalty. I tip my hat to Sir. Bati 🎩

[@tetelestai5736]

Born and raised in a country where football is not the main sport but got into it because of watching this man play My favorite back then and still to this day

[@rivolinho]

Always wished Ferguson had managed to get him to United after Fiorentina. What a monster he would have been in the Prem.

[@peterwitton5497]

Same

[@ItaThe3rd]

Seria A was by far the best league in Europe at the time, he made the right decision to stay in Italy

[@nmarcus7233]

I think he would’ve fared like an Argentine Shearer.

[@eazyredz2051]

Fiorentina legend! With Rui Costa behind him... back when Serie A was the best league in the world.

[@quxantipe]

In PES game, I always tried to buy BatiGoal asap. Legend striker

[@alphaneek2571]

He is one of my fav in pes Got his iconic moment version Gotta say he is among the top 3 finishers in the game

[@AurioDK]

Batistuta was a low key player, romantic, loyal and with both feet solidly planted on the ground, the opposite of many other Argentinian players at the time and definitely the exact counter of most modern money starving footballers. I loved watching him play, he played for the love of the game and his talent was immense, he was simply respected by almost every football fan world wide. As for being the best striker ever, I won´t go there, many on the list but Batistuta ranks highly due to his sense of loyalty, something sorely missed in modern football.

[@whiskeyadams1863]

Im born in 83 in Canada. I still have my fiorantina Toyota jersey to this day. My wife used to wear it now I do. Crespo with Gabriel was my favourite Argentina team. I hope his skill isnt lost upon the new kids

[@davidjames1646]

Batistuta!!!!!!!!! Legend used to watch him on football itallia when that man hit the ball it flew like a bullet top 10 striker of all time

[@marshmilo8641]

Grew up watching and hearing about this beast of a player , growing up in chile back in the 90s I remember playing on the street pretending we were bati everytime whomever scored..forever a great

[@MEDICHI_AD]

He was the player who got me interested in football waaaay back in 1995. Lol. A true legend.

[@ambrosiuspinpinwijaya953]

The player that made me love football. My all time favourite football player. Arguably the best pure striker in the world.

[@sukjeetsandhu8794]

The reason why I started watching football. Love you Batigol

[@creative_soul-recolo]

One of the greatest strikers I never got to witness 😬😬🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️ . The way his career went is quite extraordinary inspite the personal silverware for lack of a better term. I believe that he was good in any era especially with modern day strikers like Lewandowski, Kane, Benzema, Suarez were and still EXCELLENT. Homie played in the 90s with crazy-talented players like Pavel Nedved ,Del Piero, Inzaghi, Crespo , Vieri, Weah, Baggio, Vialli, Ravanelli , Zidane, Davids, Rijkaard, Gullit, Bergkamp, Van Basten (despite retiring at the age of 28 in 1995), Savevivic ,Jugovic ,Mijhailovic , Baggio, Totti, Rui Costa, Maldini, Ronaldo, Zamonaro, Recoba (All in The Serie A) could go almost day and managed to be of the most ELITE STRIKERS IN THE WORLD. HE COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHERE FROM 1994-2000 BUT CHOSE ROMA. WON THEM THEIR THIRD LEAGUE TITLE EVER AND HE WON 2 COPA AMERICA. Fantastic Career BATIGOAL. A TRUE PLAYERS PLAYER.

[@darj617]

I used to collect Panini football cards back in the 90s as a kid, and Batistuta's was always highly prized amongst my friends. This video brought back memories, thanks (and great choice of background music, it really adds emotion).

[@theretroroute]

I appreciate that! Thanks for the support. 90s Serie A, what a period!!🔥🔥

[@studentfmk9084]

What is this music?

[@niklastorshagen6365]

it takes me back to childhood to see Batistuta, what a legend

[@rajkiranthomas3579]

My all time favorite... The legend who made me love with the beautiful game... Still I celebrate like him like his gun shot... Miss u my idol BATIGOL... As MARADONA said the BEST STRIKER EVER.... GABRIEL OMAR BATISTUTA.... BATIGOL❤❤❤ Thanks for the video Brother ❤❤❤ Love from India ❤🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@theretroroute]

Glad you enjoyed the video! BATIGOL!!!!

[@Cizdipak]

Fok man, me too. Love the guy, he means everything for me, cus of him i watch football and AS Roma every week.

[@johnamarukmc2181]

My mom loves Bautista, Him and Ortega was the reason why we supported Argentina in WC... As a kid, i don't really remember how their WC journey went but i remember that our Neighbours, Friends and relatives all gather in our house to watched W.C. it was so fun watching with a house full of people. Everyone has their own favourite country but me my mom were rooting for Argentina.

[@aleksapostolov6345]

I haven't watched the whole video but this background music made Batistuta an Egyptian story about Prince Gabriel.

[@gillespendragon]

They don’t make like this anymore, what a beast as a Italian I saw him playing for quite a while and really enjoyed Batigol

[@nimascolari1508]

Loyalty over personal accolades. True legend.

[@OJxiii]

The man who made me an Argentine Football Fan… Batistuta ❤️🇰🇪

[@paulduke9424]

The Batistuta goal against Arsenal was at Wembley - That CL campaign was played there.

[@JustinSpakable]

I love gabi batigol. As a boy, he used to storm down doors. I remember vividly his game against man u. It was mean and fast. He's a legend. God bless him

[@diegomaradona8076]

Batigol,Ronaldo fenomeno,Bergkamp,Kluivert,Raúl,Vieri,Owen,Shearer,Henry,Trezeguet,Zamorano,Suker,Mijatovic,Shevchenko and much more almost every country had world class strikers in the 90‘s,great times.

[@scipioafricano2637]

Van basten

[@garethluvsthetruth6782]

had goosebumps for 18 mins

[@poshgurung2906]

Batistuta is a Goal Machine

[@librikurniadi6147]

he's the reason why i became a fiorentina fan, from 90's til now, always la viola

[@stephenking8505]

Absolute sniper in front of goal and so powerful on the ball. One of my favourites when I was a child.

[@williamlee7672]

If he moved to a bigger club early rather than be loyal to Fiorentina. He would perhaps be regarded as the greatest number 9 if he scored and won many trophies.

[@khaledmadani3695]

Great video , thank you.

[@theretroroute]

Glad you enjoyed, more on the way very soon

[@giancarlopaolini7529]

One of the truly best strikers ever seen in Italy. All Italians do still have fond memories about him despite not being supporters of Fiorentina, Roma and Inter Milan. My utmost respect champion.

[@sigitprabowo363]

Shearer, Batistuta, Ronaldo Nazario, my all time favourites striker

[@gibsonotoo8254]

Batistuta has been my favourite striker until now! He is the reason I support Fiorentina! I love him so much! Batigoal is name!

[@Liquidcadmus]

He was my football hero when I was a kid. he was truly inspiring and the greatest striker in the history of Argentina.

[@ombrahmbhatt2432]

Batigol 🇦🇷

[@gonzalesreza5571]

BATIGOL BEST🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷

[@lovinDaMusik]

i played 9 years football, Batistuta for me was jesus in this sport. So underrated, and the most vicious striker i have ever seen, I wanted him at barcelona So Bad. Can you imagine?

[@craigcullen28]

4 amazing and very similar strikers that I loved coz they were proper centre forwards: ALAN SHEARER 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 CHRISTIAN VIERI 🇮🇪🇮🇪 OLIVER BIERRHOFF 🇩🇪🇩🇪 GABRIEL BATISTUTA 🇦🇷🇦🇷

[@pauldizzly]

Vieri is my favourite player of all time. All 4 players you mentioned are champions but also and strangely, underrated by some.

[@BongDiggidee]

Shearer for me dude

[@ov9322]

@@BongDiggidee 😆😂🤣 What are you smoking pal, Batistuta was much better

[@nmarcus7233]

@@ov9322 Shearer wasn’t that far off. Absolute monster too pre-injury.

[@feskayani81]

batigol no1 Shearer 2

[@nr126]

Legend.

[@longliveavalon]

Thank you so much for this video! He's one of my all-time heroes! Cheers mate!

[@theretroroute]

Glad you enjoyed it! Check out some of the others on the channel

[@longliveavalon]

@@theretroroute will do mate and keep up the great work!👌🏻

[@miguelLDiablo]

Great video. Bati is my favourite forward of all time, one of the best ever. Thanks for the post!

[@Anggelos876]

As a 🇯🇲 I hate him and Ortega for scoring on us in 98 world Cup to this day. 😂 But on a real he a has my biggest respect as a player. We were scared of 🇦🇷, and rightly so.

[@johnnybee358]

He’s a football equivalent of Lady Diana in politics, admirable, graceful, and even though misfortune, still most highly regarded! Story of true People’s Champion!

[@figeroa256]

What a player, flowing hair. Amazing shot. Clinical. Ny favorite striker along with ronaldo el phenomeno

[@DutchDixon94]

Thank you for this video. My favourite striker of all time.

[@theretroroute]

Thanks for watching!

[@kingpubg4865]

I was 6 years old and didn't know much about football in 1998 but i already loved Batigol at that time and thus i became a Viola fan ever since. No doubt his professionalism and dedication are the things that unrepeatable in today's football. But it is still beyond me how he could be so consistent throughout most of his career and did every game with full passion considering he himself once said he didn't like football.

[@0-equals-1-trilliontiger67]

Saw him first time playing in Copa America 1991. One of the best and my favorites. His goal vs Colombia in 1991 and shot against Holland hitting both posts (bouncing out) in 1998 WC were amazing, but his loyalty to Fiorentina for me is the most impressive. I was lucky enough to see that wonder WC game between Romania and Argentina in 1994 in Rose Bowl, where he scored Argentina's first.

[@phatpeople4thewin]

you're so old

[@kdlofty]

Hell of a striker.

[@akuaagyeman8702]

He was one of the best. The background sound is amazing. Can I get the name of the background sound? Thank you

[@sonnymp1337]

☝️

[@diegoeduardoorregohidalgo8209]

Uno de los mejores goleadores de su época, y probablemente el mejor 9 argentino de todos los tiempos, llegó a jugar Serie B, impensable que en el fútbol moderno una superestrella haga eso y se quede defendiendo a su club

[@theretroroute]

Heroico!!

[@classicepisodesofcrimewatc9971]

Defendicio il a more salubrio a la carte Batigol 🇦🇷 patricionne De futbol Batistuta 🇦🇷 Viva La Argentine!

[@samuelasomaning9149]

I was once called Batistuta, all because l love him. 🇬🇭🇦🇷

[@vladngr12]

A true 💜 Legend

[@emanuele20x]

Amazing video. Great work. Wow

[@aspencat2239]

batigol was a beast.

[@Maxh222]

Amazing work!

[@monkeyton5]

Really enjoying your content. Most football themed channels dont have even half the quality you put in.

[@jbartlettcoys]

Great video bro!

[@JWHarris........]

Loving your video bro. Cheers ✌️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@ljbannon315]

Superb video, can't believe it took me this long to find your channel! Subscribed!

[@ayno6891]

great video man

[@EYDIMUSIC]

Enjoyed that 👍🏻

[@MH-wc2xd]

One of my all time favorites!

[@xcato21]

Excelente video . My favorite number 9 with Ronaldo Nazario .

[@DdotRay86]

Championship Manager players know this guy was properly elite 😂

[@Cizdipak]

Whole Roma team was a freakin cheat code!! Me and my mates never got to choose Roma if we played the Serie A!

[@pieteralexander5178]

Great video!

[@phatpeople4thewin]

great vid m8

[@mahamedabdulkadirahmedaidiid]

Legendary

[@ussainy]

One of the best strikers ( I hope EA sports makes a icon card for him )

[@pawlosnigussie9226]

good job the retro route

[@heturnal]

He was incredible....

[@pirateboyfearless]

Pure class.

[@callum5252]

LOVE the use of music in these videos, but this one has blagged my head. I know it but can't pinpoint what movie it's from! Video is amazing as always, just get work it out 🤣

[@lpmederos10]

Great video mate. I grew up admiring Batistuta’s way of playing, second to Ronaldo. I love the game and when I think about the reason why I play it’s because those 2.

[@danielhohenberg3840]

Great stuff😁

[@theretroroute]

Thanks!! Check out some of the other content @TheRetroRoute. More coming soon.

[@stefandrakche]

Čovek vozi juga! Doterao mu lično iz Kragujevca

[@rakhmat.aprianto]

1969 was born

[@user-yk4ey3xl9s]

We who watched football in the 1990’s were so spoiled with top strikers. Rinaldo, Romario, Bebeto, Shearer, Fowler, Boksic, Suker, Mijatovic plus a whole host of Germans, Italians, George Weah etc. Batigol was the king 👑 though

[@fauzanibrahim6416]

It's easier to understand his club level success once u watch the story of rui Costa. Which is another wonderful story like this. They all deserved eachother. And batistuta is Legend. Thanks for the story

[@mubarakomar3201]

The greatest striker of all time!

[@nmarcus7233]

This guy was a monster. Gives me small shades of a 90s Drogba in terms of how powerful, dominant, rangy and sharp he was a centre forward.

[@jasoncavari]

Bati is so under rated... What class

[@graemepyper9951]

A very rare quality being that loyal to a team without any real results... Could you have imagined him in late 90s Man Utd... Or Real Madrid eventually having the trio of Raul, R9 and Batigol... What could have been.

[@Bayard2024]

Very good video mate! May I just add a few minor corrections : Batistuta was born in 1969, not 1964, and Fiorentina's Champion's League win over Arsenal was at the old Wembley, not Highbury :) Excellent work nonetheless!

[@theretroroute]

Appreciate the feedback. Thanks for watching and enjoying

[@Bayard2024]

@@theretroroute anytime mate, keep up the good work ;)

[@nikhillakhera7134]

Such a nice way to share the feedback man 😘

[@theretroroute]

Thanks for 100 Likes Everyone!!!

[@HanTacOucH]

Thank you for keeping legends alive! Love your work

[@phatpeople4thewin]

499

[@pKerViKNG]

Your channel is awesome! #TheRetroRoute

[@mouawyaa]

Beautiful Video, we miss Batigoal 👍❤️‍🩹

[@Makainternational]

Since retiring he has had so many problems with his legs and ankles. The pain was so severe that he asked a Doctor to amputate them at one stage. I heard he is doing better now, but still has problems walking.

[@acerade1983]

Absolutely correct

[@jaybatty2728]

This guy the reason even know I follow the mighty purple