Italian football icon Salvatore Schillaci, who was top scorer at the 1990 World Cup, has died at the age of 59.
The striker, also known as Toto, scored six goals during the tournament on his country’s soil.
Despite his brilliant form, he could not guide the Azzurri to victory – they were knocked out in the semi-finals by Argentina.
However, he became a national icon regardless, earning not only the World Cup Golden Boot award as top scorer but also the Golden Ball Award for best overall player, beating the likes of Argentina’s Diego Maradona and Germany’s Lothar Matthaus.
Schillaci died on Wednesday morning in a hospital in Palermo after being admitted following treatment for colon cancer.
He was in hospital for 11 days before he died, the hospital said in a statement.
Schillaci, who played for teams including Juventus and Inter Milan during his club career, exceeded expectations at the World Cup, having only featured once for Italy before in a game where he failed to score.
But he came on as a substitute during Italy’s opener against Austria and scored the only goal to guide the hosts to a 1-0 victory.
Another of his goals was a penalty against England to secure Italy a win in the tournament’s third-place play-off.
He made a total of 16 appearances for Italy during his career, adding one more goal to the six he scored in Italia 1990.
Schillaci retired from football in 1999.
Schillaci against Argentina in the semi-final. Pic: AP
Schillaci features against the US. Pic: AP
Tributes pour in for late striker
Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni led tributes for Schillaci, writing on the X social media platform: “A football icon is leaving us, a man who has entered the hearts of Italians and sports fans around the world.
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“Thanks for the emotions you gave us, for having made us dream, celebrate, embrace, and wave our national flag. Bon voyage, champion,” Ms Meloni continued.
Salvatore Schillaci after Italy’s defeat to Argentina in the 1990 World Cup semi-final. Pic: AP/Karl Heinz Kreifelts
His former clubs also paid homage to him on social media.
“Ciao Toto,” Juventus said on Instagram, while Inter Milan’s social media pages shared the message: “You made an entire nation dream during the Magical Nights of Italia ’90.”
Schillaci played for Juventus in the 1990s. Pic: Ravezzani/LaPresse/AP
Italian football federation president Gabriele Gravina has announced a minute of silence will be held in memory of Schillaci before all games in the country for the rest of the week.
Mr Gravina said: “The uncontrollable celebrations, in which his face was the symbol of shared joy, will remain forever part of Italian soccer.”
“Toto was a great player, a symbol of tenacious desire and redemption… his soccer was full of passion. And that fearless spirit made everyone appreciate him and will make him immortal.”
Palermo, the city where the footballer was born and raised, will hold a final farewell for Schillaci at its football club’s Renzo Barbera stadium ahead of the funeral.
