Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci dies aged 59: Football mourns loss of Italy legend, who beat Diego Maradona to Golden Ball at 1990 World Cup, after brave cancer battle

Schillaci was the top scorer at the 1990 World Cup, beating Diego Maradona to the Golden Ball after scoring six goals at Italy’s home tournament to help his country finish in third place. The striker, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022, was admitted to hospital in Palermo last week, and his death was announced on Wednesday morning.

• J.LEAGUE

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Schillaci started his career with Messina before earning a move to Juventus in 1989. The striker won the UEFA Cup in his first season in Turin and his form earned him a place at Italia 90. He signed for Inter Milan in 1992, where he won the UEFA Cup again, and finished his career with Japanese side Jubilo Iwata.

• • WHAT JUVENTUS AND INTER MILAN SAID

    Juventus said in a statement: “We immediately fell in love with Toto. His desire, his story, his being so wonderfully passionate, and it 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.”

    Inter Milan wrote on X: “You allowed a whole nation to dream during the Notti Magiche of Italia ’90. FC Internazionale Milano extends its condolences to the Schillaci family upon Totò’s passing.”

  • AFP

    DID YOU KNOW?

    Schillaci had only made one appearance for Italy before his starring role at the 1990 World Cup, and he didn’t start in their opener against Austria. He came off the bench to score the winner in that game and went on to score in the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and third place play-off.