Follow usSalvatore “Toto” Schillaci, the former Italy and Juventus striker who captured the hearts of football fans during the 1990 World Cup, has passed away at the age of 59.
Schillaci was a breakout star in the tournament, held in Italy, where he won the Golden Boot after scoring six goals, including key strikes in the semi-final against Argentina and Italy’s third-place win over England.
His expressive celebrations, marked by wide, intense eyes, became one of the most iconic images of that World Cup.
Ciao Totò 💙
Eroe delle Notti Magiche pic.twitter.com/UQmGw2ws6p— Nazionale Italiana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri) September 18, 2024
Schillaci’s performances also earned him the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, and he finished as the runner-up in the 1990 Ballon d’Or, second only to West Germany’s World Cup-winning captain, Lothar Matthäus.
Schillaci’s journey to stardom began as a substitute in Italy’s opening game, where he came off the bench to score the match-winner in a 1-0 victory against Austria. However, after his 1990 triumph, Schillaci’s international career quickly waned, with just one more goal for Italy and no further appearances in major tournaments.
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