World Player Of The Week

Goal.com World Player Of The Week: Francesco Totti - Roma

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Nov 24, 2009 4:30:07 PM

Francesco Totti, en route to a hat-trick for Roma against Bari (Getty Images)

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Francesco Totti, en route to a hat-trick for Roma against Bari (Getty Images)

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Francesco Totti

Welcome to Goal.com's regular feature: Goal.com World Player of the Week. Each week our worldwide team of editors will put forward a selected candidate, as chosen by Goal.com International, who deserves recognition for achieving something special that matchday. It won't necessarily be the best player in the world - at least not usually - but whoever we nominate will have done something amazing. It might be for a particularly awesome performance or for something praiseworthy off the pitch - either way, the person in question deserves special attention...

Goal.com World Player of the Week #27: Francesco Totti
Club: Roma
Country: Italy
Age: 33
Role: Forward
Achievement: Returning from injury after a month's absence to propel Roma to victory over Bari.

Francesco Totti has not featured much for his hometown club, Roma, this season and has been a noticeable absence as the Giallorossi have struggled to get their campaign going. Knee surgery has restricted 'er Pupone' to a bit parter for i Lupi this season and he failed to make a single appearance from the first week of October until last weekend.

However, the wait was worth it for Roma fans. The captain was on fire, reeling off a hat-trick as Roma clicked into gear against a previously parsimonious Bari. Totti gave Claudio Ranieri's side the edge they needed and provided an overdue creative spark.

If the underperforming club are to find themselves among the Champions League places this season, then Totti will be key - which is exactly what he proved to be on Sunday.

Congratulations to Francesco Totti , our 27th Goal.com World Player of the Week!

Honourable Mentions:

Jermain Defoe - Tottenham & England

The England forward became only the third person to net five goals in a single Premier League match and the first to do so within one half of the game. Spurs hit Wigan for nine and Defoe proved why his finishing skills are so highly valued. A shoo-in for England's World Cup squad at this rate.

Mesut Oezil - Werder Bremen & Germany

The playmaker goes from strength to strength. He scored one and assisted an astonishing four more goals as Werder catapulted themselves to the top of the Bundesliga with a 6-0 dismantling of Freiburg. The 21-year-old could be the ace up Joachim Loew's sleeve at the World Cup next summer.

Mamadou Samassa - Valenciennes & Mali

The midfielder scored the only goal as modest Valenciennes recorded an historic win over Bordeaux at the Stade Chaban Delmas. Girondins were unbeaten for two years on their own patch but the Malian's early contribution ensured that Laurent Blanc's side have to start their fortress building from scratch.

Faouzi Chaouchi - ES Setif & Algeria

Egypt missed out on a berth at nest summer's World Cup finals after coming unstuck against fierce north African rivals, Algeria. It wasn't for the want of trying though. The Pharaohs, throughout 180 minutes against les Fennecs, had the majority of the possession and shots but could not find a way past Chaouchi. The net-minder was in inspired form, especially during last Wednesday's Khartoum showdown, in which he made some truly astonishing saves.

Leave your notes of congratulations for Francesco below, or discuss who else deserves a place in the sun this week...

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