E
Ernest Victor
Guest
The football world mourns the passing of Italian icon, Salvatore Schillaci, known as ‘Toto’, who was the top scorer at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Salvatore Schillaci passed away at the age of 59 after battling colon cancer, according to a statement from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) earlier today, September 18.
Reports claimed that Schillaci, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022, had been battling with it until his demise.
The president of the FIGC, Gabriele Gravina, said of Schillaci: “His face was a symbol of shared joy [and] will forever remain a common heritage of Italian football.
“Toto was a great footballer, a tenacious symbol of will and redemption. He was able to thrill the Azzurri fans because his football was full of passion and it was precisely this indomitable spirit that made him appreciated by everyone and will make him immortal.”
Schillaci’s remarkable performance at the 1990 World Cup, where he scored six goals and won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball, was believed to be the peak of his illustrious football career.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said: “A football icon is leaving us, a man who has entered the hearts of Italians and sports fans around the world.
“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.”
His contributions to Italian football, both at the national level and with clubs like Juventus and Inter Milan, have left a lasting impact.
A statement from Juventus reads: “We immediately fell in love with Toto. His desire, his story, and his being so wonderfully passionate showed in every game he played.
“We at Juve were lucky enough to get excited about him before – in that incredible summer of 1990 – the whole of Italy did, captivated by those wonderfully energetic celebrations of his.”
The post Italy Mourns Demise Of Legendary Footballer Salvatore Schillaci appeared first on Naija News.