Salvatore Schillaci, the Italian striker who captured the hearts of a nation during the 1990 World Cup, has passed away at the age of 59. His former clubs, Inter Milan and Juventus, announced the news on Wednesday, leaving the world of football in mourning.
Schillaci’s star shone brightly during the 1990 World Cup, held on Italian soil. He led the Azzurri to a third-place finish, earning the coveted Golden Boot for his six goals throughout the tournament. His goals included crucial strikes in the semi-final against Argentina and the third-place play-off victory over England.
His wide-eyed celebrations became an iconic image of that World Cup. Schillaci was also awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player and finished 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 began the tournament as a substitute, but in Italy’s opening match against Austria, he came off the bench to score the winning goal, propelling himself into the spotlight. The excitement of 1990 was a high point in Schillaci’s career, as he only scored one more goal for Italy and didn’t feature in any other major tournaments.
A compact and energetic striker, Schillaci was a late bloomer, spending his early years playing in the lower leagues for Sicilian club Messina. His prolific scoring in Serie B, the Italian second division, in 1988-89, earned 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 win the Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup in 1989-90 before claiming the latter trophy again four years later with Inter Milan.
Serie A president Lorenzo Casini paid tribute to Schillaci, stating, “He was a champion who lit up the “magic nights” of Italia 90. 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.”
Schillaci later became the first Italian player to compete in Japan’s J.League, winning the league title with Jubilo Iwata in 1997. He retired from football in 1999, leaving behind a legacy of passion, talent, and a magical summer that will forever be etched in football history.
