Salvatore 'Toto' Schillaci, top scorer at the 1990 World Cup, has died at the age of 59.
Schillaci netted the winning goal to eliminate the Republic of Ireland in the quarter-finals at Italia 90, ending the country's best run in a major tournament.
Schillaci was suffering from colon cancer, Italian media reports said.
Ha fatto sognare una nazione intera durante le Notti Magiche di Italia '90 🇮🇹💙
— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter) September 18, 2024
FC Internazionale Milano si stringe intorno alla famiglia Schillaci per la scomparsa di Totò.#FCIM pic.twitter.com/PtxE7zWHod
His finest hour came during the tournament in his home nation, scoring six goals including in the semi-final against Argentina and in their third-place victory over England.
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.
Remembering that month in 1990 when Toto Schillaci could not stop scoring - 6 goals for the hosts as they made it to the semi-finals.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 18, 2024
His goal in the quarter-final, of course, ending the Republic of Ireland's World Cup hopes pic.twitter.com/WKsOKBvQwT
He was the top scorer in Serie B, the Italian second division, in 1988-89, earning him a move to Serie A giants Juventus.
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.
"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."
Schillaci 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.
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