Totti: Only Messi can do what I can't

Posted Friday, March 29, 2013 by Foxsports.com

AS Roma's Francesco Totti considers Barcelona's Lionel Messi to be the only player better than him.

A career spanning 20 years at the Stadio Olimpico has seen Totti become an AS Roma and Italian legend.

Despite retiring from international football in 2007, the attacking midfielder's 11 goals and 10 assists in this season's Serie A has fuelled talk that Totti could return to the national fold to assist Italy in their 2014 World Cup campaign

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Totti stated his belief that none of his compatriots could match his abilities, but he did admit deference to Barcelona star Messi.

"There is only one player who is doing things that I could never do and that is Messi," Totti stated.

"I do not think there is an Italian footballer who I would place above myself in a list, though. The numbers speak for themselves."

Winning the World Cup in 2006 under Marcello Lippi, the 36-year old also revealed a desire to work with Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho one day.

"For me, Lippi is the best coach I have ever worked with. He had such incredible charisma. But Fabio Capello and Luciano Spalletti are true greats as well," he shared.

"Who I would like to work with? Mourinho."