The midfielder who admitted his own handball to save a goal
In short: In a moment of rare sporting integrity, Daniele De Rossi once scored a goal with his hand and immediately told the referee. While the goal stood, the act defined a career built on tenacity, leadership, and a deep-seated loyalty to the city of Rome.
Daniele De Rossi's career is defined by his 18-season tenure with AS Roma, where he became the club's second-most capped player of all time with 616 appearances. A native of Rome, De Rossi transitioned from a youth striker to a central defensive midfielder, eventually inheriting the captaincy from the legendary Francesco Totti in 2017. His leadership was instrumental in guiding Roma to their first Champions League semi-final in the modern era following a historic comeback against Barcelona in 2018.
His international pedigree is equally distinguished. De Rossi is Italy's most-capped midfielder of all time, earning 117 caps between 2004 and 2017. He holds the distinction of being the highest-scoring midfielder for Italy since World War II, netting 21 goals. This includes a pivotal role in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where he served as the youngest player in the squad at age 22. Despite a controversial red card for an elbow on Brian McBride during the tournament, he returned for the final to score a crucial penalty in the shootout against France.
Beyond the trophies, De Rossi's legacy is rooted in a specific brand of 'tenacity.' This was famously demonstrated during a match against Messina in 2006, where he scored a header deflected off his own hand; he immediately confessed the infraction to the referee, leading to the goal's disallowance. He finished his professional journey in 2020 after a final stint with Boca Juniors, retiring to focus on his family while leaving behind a blueprint for the 'loyalist' midfielder.
De Rossi's career also highlights the economics of elite sport. Italian football's top earner in Serie A was him by 2012, with a yearly gross of €10 million, which beat Francesco Totti's former peak.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Daniele De Rossi
- Also: Wikidata — Daniele De Rossi · CC0
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