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ROME, Sept 18 (Reuters) – Former Italy striker Salvatore Schillaci, a star of the 1990 World Cup on home soil, has died at the age of 59, his former clubs Inter Milan and Juventus said on Wednesday.
Schillaci led Italy to their third-place finish in 1990, winning the Golden Boot for his six goals during the tournament, including in the semi-final against Argentina and in their third-place victory over England.
Schillaci, who was born in the Sicilian city of Palermo and was hospitalized there, suffered from colon cancer, Italian media reports said.
“A football icon is leaving us, a man who has entered the hearts of Italians and sports fans around the world,” Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni posted on X.
“Salvatore Schillaci, known by everyone as Toto, 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. Bon voyage, champion.”
The Sicilian’s wide eyes as he celebrated his goals became one of the enduring images of that World Cup and his was the name on all Italians’ lips, outshining more established players such as Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Baggio.
Schillaci was awarded the Golden Ball as player of the tournament and was later named as the runner-up for the 1990 Ballon d’Or men’s player of the year award, behind World Cup winning captain Lothar Matthaus of West Germany.
He had started Italy’s opening World Cup game as a substitute but came off the bench to score the winner in a 1-0 victory over Austria.
After the excitement of 1990, Schillaci scored only one more goal for Italy and did not appear for them at any other major tournaments.
A small, bustling striker, Schillaci, nicknamed “Toto,” had been a late developer, spending the early years of his career playing in the lower leagues for Sicilian club Messina.
He was the top scorer in Serie B, the Italian second division, in 1988-89, earning him a move to Serie A giants Juventus.
“We immediately fell in love with Toto. With his desire, his story, his passion,” Juventus said in a statement.
“We at Juve were lucky enough to get excited about him before, in that incredible summer of 1990, the whole of Italy did.”
Schillaci helped Juventus to claim the Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup in 1989-90 before winning the latter trophy again four years later with Inter Milan.
Serie A President Lorenzo Casini paid tribute to Schillaci.
“He was a champion who lit up the “magic nights” of Italia 90,” he said.
“His desire to reach the top levels in soccer has been and will remain a source of inspiration for so many youngsters pursuing their dream of playing in Serie A.”
He then became the first Italian player to play in Japan’s J.League and won the league title with his club Jubilo Iwata in 1997.
He retired from football in 1999.
The Italian Football Association’s (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina said Schillaci was a symbol of will and redemption.
“It is precisely this indomitable spirit that… will make him immortal,” he added.
