In the meantime, AS Roma's failure to compete at the business end of the Champions League has meant that Totti has not been visible in Europe's biggest club competition.

This World Cup then was to be Totti's big chance to show the world exactly why his countrymen rate him so highly but once again he has not been able to demonstrate his best form.

In February, Totti broke his ankle in a Serie A match against Empoli and there was a fear that he might not even be able to make the trip to Germany.

Intensive work from Roma and Italy's medical teams got Totti in the position where he could make a couple of substitute appearances at the end of the season and turn up at Italy's pre-World Cup training camp.

He arrived in Germany still well below peak condition. Before the opening match against Ghana the playmaker described himself as "60-70 percent fit" but coach Marcello Lippi decided to try to play him into form.

Having played a modest part in Italy's three group games, Lippi decided to leave Totti out for the second-round tie against Australia but he came on as a second-half substitute and ended up converting the last-minute penalty for victory.

His fitness has improved through the competition and although he was subdued for large parts of the semi-final win over Germany he lasted the full 120 minutes including extra-time.

Up until now Totti's greatest success was to inspire Roma, his only club, to the Italian title in 2001, an achievement which ensured his idol status in the capital where he was born.

Now the Italy number 10 has the chance, in Sunday's final, to show the world his full array of skills and go from local hero to world champion.