ROME (AP) — Salvatore “Toto” Schillaci, the top-scoring Italian striker at his country's 1990 World Cup, has died and epitomized a player who defied expectations at soccer's biggest event. He is 59 years old.
Schillaci was admitted to a Palermo hospital after being treated for colon cancer.
Palermo's Civic Hospital announced in a statement that Schillaci died on Wednesday morning after being hospitalized 11 days earlier.
Schillaci scored six goals for Italy at the 1990 World Cup. He ended up picking up the Golden Boot for the tournament's top scorer.
He did not score for Italy before the 1990 World Cup, playing only one game. In total, he made 16 appearances for Italy and scored seven goals – six at the World Cup.
The president of the Italian Football Federation, Gabriele Gravina, announced that a minute's silence will be observed in Schillaci's memory before every match in the country throughout the week.
Gravina said: “The uncontrollable emotions that his face was a symbol of a general joy, will live forever in Italian football.” “Toto was a great player, a symbol of perseverance and redemption… His passion for football overflowed. It is precisely that indomitable spirit that makes him immortal.
Schillaci won the Ballon d'Or for best player at the 1990 World Cup ahead of Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona.
“Thank you for the emotions you gave us to dream, celebrate, embrace and wave our tricolor flag,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote.
Schillaci played for Messina, Juventus, Inter Milan and Japan's Jubilo Iwata during his club career. He retired as a footballer in 1999.
“Goodbye Toto,” Juventus said on Instagram.
“During the magic nights of Italia 90 you dreamed of an entire nation,” Inter said on their social networks.
West Germany beat Argentina in the 1990 World Cup final. Schillaci scored a penalty as Italy beat England to finish third.
“Goodbye my dear friend,” Roberto Baggio, who scored Italy's first goal in the third-place match, wrote on Instagram.
Schillaci was born and raised in Palermo, and the city will hold a public vigil for Schillaci at its Renzo Barbera stadium ahead of the funeral.
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