Salvatore ’Totò’ Schillaci, the Italy striker who was high scorer at 1990 World Cup, dies at 59

Italian striker Salvatore Schillaci exults after scoring his staff’s first objective through the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Italy and Argentina 03 July 1990 in Naples.
| Photograph Credit score: AFP

Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci, the Italy striker who was high scorer on the 1990 World Cup that his nation hosted and epitomised a participant exceeding expectations on soccer’s largest stage, has died. He was 59.

Schillaci had been hospitalised in Palermo following therapy for colon most cancers.

The Palermo Civico hospital mentioned in an announcement that Schillacci died on Wednesday (September 18, 2024) morning after being admitted 11 days in the past.

Schillaci scored six objectives for Italy through the 1990 World Cup. He got here on in its place throughout Italy’s opener in opposition to Austria, scored in a 1-0 victory, and went on to earn the Golden Boot awarded to the event’s high scorer.

Schillaci had by no means scored for Italy earlier than the 1990 World Cup, having beforehand solely performed as soon as for the nationwide staff. Total, he made 16 appearances for Italy and scored seven objectives — six of them on the World Cup.

Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina introduced {that a} minute of silence can be held in reminiscence of Schillaci earlier than all video games within the nation for the remainder of the week.

“The uncontrollable celebrations, wherein his face was the image of shared pleasure, will stay perpetually a part of Italian soccer [history],” Gravina mentioned. “Totò was an awesome participant, a logo of tenacious need and redemption. … His soccer was stuffed with ardour. And that fearless spirit made everybody respect him and can make him immortal.”

Schillaci additionally received the Golden Ball award on the 1990 World Cup because the event’s high participant forward of Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona.

“Thanks for the feelings you gave us, for making us dream, cheer, hug and wave our Tricolore,” Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni wrote on X.

Schillaci performed for Messina, Juventus, Inter Milan and Japanese staff Jubilo Iwata throughout his membership profession.

“Ciao Totò,” Juventus mentioned on Instagram.

“You made a whole nation dream through the Magical Nights of Italia ’90,” Inter mentioned on its social media channels.

West Germany received the 1990 World Cup, beating Argentina within the ultimate, whereas Italy beat England for third place with a profitable penalty kick from Schillaci.

Roberto Baggio, who scored Italy’s opening objective within the third-place match, wrote on Instagram, “Ciao my expensive pal”.

With Schillaci having been born and raised in Palermo, the town will maintain a public viewing of Schillaci at its Renzo Barbera stadium forward of the funeral.