Francesco Totti marked his 50th birthday away from Rome, choosing Las Vegas for a family celebration that still carried the weight of a city’s affection. The former Roma captain spent the occasion in Nevada with Noemi Bocchi, their children and close friends, while messages arrived from former teammates, football figures and Roma itself.
Key takeaways
- Totti celebrated his 50th birthday in Las Vegas after travelling to the United States last Friday.
- His party included Noemi Bocchi, Cristian, Chanel and Isabel Totti, as well as Bocchi’s children Sofia and Tommaso.
- The group dined at Spago at the Bellagio, visited the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and later went to a shooting range.
- Roma released a 42-second tribute video, while new murals dedicated to Totti appeared in San Callisto and central Rome.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Gianluigi Buffon, Gabriel Batistuta and many other figures from Totti’s career sent birthday wishes.
A family birthday far from Rome
Rather than stage a large celebration in the capital, Totti travelled across the Atlantic with the people closest to him. Alongside Noemi were his children Chanel, Isabel and Cristian, who was joined by his girlfriend Melissa, plus Sofia and Tommaso, Noemi’s children, and a small group of friends.
The absence of his father Enzo, known as “the Sheriff”, was evidently part of the decision to keep the gathering intimate and take it abroad. Las Vegas offered a different setting for a landmark birthday, with the family first spending an evening at Spago, the Bellagio restaurant overlooking the Strip.
Totti then took to the track at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Nevada venue known for hosting NASCAR events and capable of holding 116,000 spectators. Cristian, Noemi and Chanel joined him for the driving experience. The celebrations continued back at the hotel, where heart-shaped red balloons filled the room, before a visit to a shooting range and another dinner at a luxury restaurant.
Noemi’s message to Totti was a personal one, posted with Franco Battiato’s “La Cura” as its soundtrack. “I do not want a perfect life; I want my life with you. Happy birthday, my love. I love you,” she wrote.
Totti is due back in Rome from tomorrow, with Noemi set to make her debut on Ballando con le Stelle on Saturday.
Rome and football answer the occasion
Even from Las Vegas, Totti remained firmly at the centre of the Roman football imagination. He reposted many of the birthday messages sent to him on social media, with tributes reflecting both his playing career and the enduring place he occupies among supporters.
Roma’s own salute came through a 42-second film of goals and celebrations, carrying the simple message: “Happy birthday Francesco.” Rosella Sensi, the club’s former president, addressed him warmly: “Happy birthday, big brother. I care for you deeply.”
Two fresh murals also appeared in the city, one in San Callisto and another in the centre of Rome. They were a reminder that, long after his retirement, Totti’s image remains part of the capital’s daily sporting landscape.
Infantino placed Totti’s Roma identity alongside his role in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph. He described him as more than a king for Rome and one of the great champions of that Azzurri side, adding that Totti would be spoken of beyond the limits of time and calling him “a wonderful chef of football”.
Messages also came from those who shared dressing rooms and major matches with him. Vincent Candela wished his former captain only the best. Buffon recalled all they had experienced together and hoped for another 50 years of the same kind. Batistuta called him a brother, while Aldair said it had been a privilege to spend so many years alongside him.
David Pizarro described Totti as an idol, and Luca Toni saluted the “King of Rome” with a reference to his love of speed. Daniele Di Biagio, Bruno Conti, Cristian Zaccardo, Vito Scala, Diego Perotti, Nicola Ventola, Giampaolo Maini, John Arne Riise, Fabio Galante, Angelo Di Livio and Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri were also among those to send their regards.
It was a birthday spent in the United States, but one that showed how completely Totti’s story remains tied to Rome: a former captain still receiving the sort of affection usually reserved for a player who never truly left the championship’s memory.
