Salvatore Schillaci: Italy’s World Cup icon dies aged 59
Italian icon Salvatore Schillaci, the top scorer at the 1990 World Cup, has died aged 59.
Schillaci, better known as ‘Toto’, scored six goals to win the Golden Boot at the 1990 World Cup on home soil.
Italy lost in the semi-finals, but Schillaci was also awarded the Golden Ball as the best player and gained hero status.
Capped 16 times for his country, scoring seven goals, he represented Italian giants Juventus and Inter Milan after beginning his club career at Messina.
Schillaci scored his first goal of the 1990 World Cup as a substitute against Austria, and after another substitute appearance against the United States earned his first start against the Czech Republic.
Partnering Baggio up front, Schillaci scored again as Italy’s campaign built momentum.
His hero status was confirmed with further strikes in the subsequent knockout round matches against Uruguay and the Republic of Ireland in the quarter-finals.
Despite opening the scoring in the semi-final against Argentina, Italy lost out on penalties in Naples – but Schillaci sealed the Golden Boot with his sixth goal of the tournament in the third-place play-off against England.
