Francesco Totti (picture) will retire as soon as he beats Silvio Piola’s all-time Serie A scoring record of 274 goals, after the veteran Roma striker reached an important personal milestone on Sunday.

The 36-year-old needed only 16 minutes of Roma’s 3-1 victory over Genoa to convert a penalty and reach the 225-goal mark set by second-highest scorer Gunnar Nordahl – who played for both Milan and Roma – in 1958.

Goals from teenage defender Alessio Romagnoli and Simone Perrotta then ensured Marco Borriello’s penalty was a mere consolation for Genoa as the Giallorossi climbed into seventh place.

Despite his age, Totti could not rule out scoring 50 more goals for Roma and beating Piola’s impressive haul, which was established across a 25-year career with Pro Vercelli, Lazio, Torino, Juventus and Novara.

He told reporters: “Overhauling Piola? I’ll retire when I beat his record. For now though I’m enjoying this win – the three points were the most important thing about this match against Genoa.

“My best goal? Maybe the one against Sampdoria in Genoa with my left foot in 2006-07. The most important one though was against Parma on June 17, 2001, the day we won our third Scudetto.

“I wanted to equal this record in front of my own fans and I managed it. I had to score this goal at the Olimpico – it was the only way I could thank all the fans, for what they’ve given me and what they continue to give.”