Francesco Totti was born in Rome on 27 September 1976. His career has been intertwined with Roma since 1989, as he received his first call-up to the Senior Team in 1993 and went on to become an absolute icon of the club. Totti won one Scudetto, two Coppa Italia and two Italian Supercups with the Giallorossi, but more than anything he is the holder of all of the biggest records at the club in terms of goals and appearances, with 250 goals in Serie A and 306 in total. He stepped onto the pitch for the last time on 28 May 2017, and his retirement was marked by a ceremony after the game involving the entire Stadio Olimpico in a memorable tribute to their captain of hundreds of games.

After European triumph with Cesare Maldini’s Under-21s in 1996, Totti made his debut for the National Senior Team on 10 October 1998. The match was played in Udine against Switzerland, and Azzurri Coach Zoff played Totti as a sub in the last 20 minutes as he came on to replace Del Piero. Totti had to then wait until 26 April 2000 for his first goal in the National Team, as he scored the second goal in a 2-0 friendly win over Portugal in Reggio Calabria. He reached the finals of the 2000 European Championships and participated in the 2002 World Cup and the 2004 European Championships, but it was in 2006 that the major success came, as he was part of Italy’s World Cup glory in Germany. It was his goal from the penalty spot that allowed Italy to eliminate Australia in the round of 16. He retired from the National Team after that victorious final in Berlin against France, leaving with a total of 58 appearances and 9 goals.

Claudio Gentile was born in Tripoli, Libya, on 27 September 1953. During his career he donned the shirts of Varese, Juventus, Fiorentina and Piacenza, but it was the black and white colours which characterised his footballing experience. He won 6 Scudetti, one UEFA Cup, one Cup Winners' Cup and two Coppa Italia.

In the National Team from 1975 to 1984, he played in one European Championship and two World Cups, winning the 1982 World Cup in Spain. He made 71 Azzurri appearances, scoring one goal against Finland on 8 June 1977. He was also Coach of the National Under-21 Team from 2000 to 2006, winning the European Championship in 2004 and a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Athens.