The Napoli midfielder has become a firm favourite of the Serie A club's passionate supporters during his lengthy tiime in Italy and also revels in his status as Slovakia's most famous footballer.
He was at the forefront again on Friday evening as Slovakia peppered the Slovenia goal for much of their crucial qualifier in Trnava, denied a first-half breakthough only by the excellence of visiting goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Adam Nemec finally got the all-important strike with nine minutes remaining to reward what Reuters called an 'adventurous 4-3-3 formation' from the hosts.
The win kept Slovakia two points behind England ahead of Monday's meeting at Wembley and the Three Lions will know that any lapses at the back are likely to be more firmly punished by their visitors than by Malta three days earlier.