Salvetore Schillaci ‘Toto’, Italy’s former striker and the star of 1990 World Cup, has died at age 59. Inter Milan and Juventus said this in a statement on Wednesday. At the 1990 World Cup, Schillaci won the hearts of the entire world – by leading Italy into third position and winning the Golden Boot, with six goals scored, including two critical ones in the semi-final against Argentina and in the game for third place against England.
The most recognizable of his wide-eyed celebrations, Schillaci turned out to be the face of that tournament, eclipsing more seasoned players like Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Baggio. Even Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, paid tribute: “A football icon who made us dream, celebrate, and wave our national flag.”.
Though Schillaci entered professional football later in life, he soon won praises to himself with becoming the top scorer of Serie B for the Messina club in 1988-89. He then joined Juventus, the Italian giant and won the Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup in 1989-90. Then he played for Inter Milan, with whom he won the UEFA Cup in 1994.
His performances made him the winner of the 1990 World Cup’s Golden Ball as the best player of that year. Also, he was the runner-up in the voting for the Ballon d’Or of that same year, which was won by West Germany’s Lothar Matthäus.
Later, he returned to Japan, and became the first Italian player to enter the J.League for Japan. In 1997 he won the league with Jubilo Iwata before he finally retired in 1999.
The Italian Football Association praised real-life resilience about Schillaci. The head of the FIGC, Gabriele Gravina, considered him to be an emblem of will and redemption. And today, he still serves as a motive for all footballers.
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