Italian football legend Salvatore Schillaci, who was the top scorer at the 1990 World Cup, has passed away at the age of 59.
Known as ‘Toto,’ Schillaci scored six goals to claim the Golden Boot at the 1990 World Cup held in Italy.
Although Italy was defeated in the semi-finals, Schillaci was also honored with the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player and achieved hero status.
Diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022, Schillaci earned 16 caps for Italy, scoring seven goals. He played for major Italian clubs Juventus and Inter Milan after starting his professional career at Messina.
Juventus, whom Schillaci joined in 1989, said: “We immediately fell in love with Toto. His desire, his story, his being so wonderfully passionate, and it showed in every game he played.
“We at Juve were lucky enough to get excited about him before – in that incredible summer of 1990 – the whole of Italy did, captivated by those wonderfully energetic celebrations of his.”
Schillaci scored his first goal of the 1990 World Cup as a substitute against Austria. Following another substitute appearance against the United States, he earned his first starting position against the Czech Republic.
Teaming up with Roberto Baggio up front, Schillaci continued his scoring form as Italy’s campaign gained momentum. His status as a hero was solidified with additional goals in the knockout rounds, including matches against Uruguay and the Republic of Ireland in the quarter-finals.
Despite scoring first in the semi-final against Argentina, Italy was defeated in a penalty shootout in Naples. Schillaci secured the Golden Boot with his sixth goal of the tournament in the third-place play-off against England.
He finished as the runner-up to Germany’s World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthaus for the 1990 Ballon d’Or.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni commented, “A football icon is leaving us, a man who has captured the hearts of Italians and sports fans worldwide.”
“The striker from the magic nights of Italia ’90 with our national team. Thanks for the emotions you gave us, for having made us dream, celebrate, embrace and wave our national flag.”
Serie A president Lorenzo Casini described Schillaci as “a champion who lit up the magical nights of the 1990 World Cup in Italy”.
“His desire to emerge and reach the highest levels of football has been and will continue to be a source of inspiration for the many young people who chase the dream of playing in Serie A.”
Schillaci scored only one more goal for Italy and did not appear for his nation again at a major tournament.
He became the first Italian player to play in Japan’s J-League before retiring in 1999.
The president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, said of Schillaci: “His face was a symbol of shared joy [and] will forever remain a common heritage of Italian football.
“Toto was a great footballer, a tenacious symbol of will and redemption. He was able to thrill the Azzurri fans because his football was full of passion and it was precisely this indomitable spirit that made him appreciated by everyone and will make him immortal.”