Gabriel Batistuta was an absolute phenomenon in his prime.In the 1990s and early 2000s, the man nicknamed 'Baitgol' wreaked havoc on defenders across the globe.Batistuta spent nine memorable years at Italian side Fiorentina and in that time, the master goal-getter rippled the back of the net an astonishing 203 times in 331 appearances across all competitions.What made the Argentine so dangerous was the fact that he was capable of scoring in a variety of different ways.Batistuta was absolutely lethal in the air, strong on both feet and was more than comfortable shooting accurately from distance.The former Boca Juniors and AS Roma man was also a menace from set-piece situations and perhaps the greatest example of just that came in the 1998/99 season while he was with Fiorentina.
In just the third Serie A game of that campaign, Batistuta netted a stunning hat-trick away at would-be champions AC Milan.And one of those three sumptuous strikes was from a free-kick situation.However, it wasn't just any ol' set-piece.It was one of those rare scenarios that always sends football fans crazy - an indirect free-kick inside the penalty area.Milan players gathered en masse on the goal-line to try and prevent Fiorentina from scoring, but they were no match for the thunderbolt unleashed from Batistuta's right peg.To say the South American cult hero's strike was powerful would be something of an understatement, as it nearly ripped through the top of the net and flew into the atmosphere.Take a look at the incredible goal below and for all you fans of football trivia, that's Jens Lehmann in goal for Milan...
Video: Batistuta's wonder-strike vs AC Milan
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Pick. That. One. Out.
Is there a sight more satisfying than the ball nearly bursting the net from an indirect free-kick? We're really struggling to think of something superior to that.
Batistuta left Fiorentina in the summer of 2000 to join Francesco Totti's Roma and in his first season with the capital club, 'Batigol' won the Serie A title, netting 20 goals in the process.
The now 52-year-old's playing career tailed off a tad after that, although he did experience something of a renaissance at Al-Arabi in the Qatar Stars League shortly before retirement.
In the 2003/04 campaign, Batistuta scored 25 goals in just 18 league games for the club, further cementing his status as a legend of the sport.