Batigol

Batistuta retires. I would miss him.

To me he was an icon of masculinity even in the realm of men's soccer. Whenever on the pitch, he had always been the most powerful and influencial player. Though from Argentina he was not the super agile type of typical South American players. Instead he made himself unstoppable by knocking down defenders with his body and shooting the ball as if firing a cannon.

It was the first time I watched a soccer match in a bar when I witnessed his hat-trick in Argentina's 5-0 win against Jamaica in World Cup 1998. Then in 2002 it broke my heart when his team was eliminated by Becks' penalty kick.

I just couldn't think of somebody comparable to him. Maybe Sheva is close.