Italian football mourns World Cup hero Schillaci

Italian and European football are mourning the death of 1990 FIFA World Cup star Salvatore Schillaci, who has passed away aged 59 after a long battle with cancer.

"His irrepressible celebrations, in which his face was a symbol of shared joy, will forever remain the common heritage of Italian football," said Italian Football Association (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina.

"Totò was a great footballer and a tenacious symbol of will and redemption. He knew how excite the Azzurri fans because his football smacked of passion. And it is precisely this indomitable spirit that made him appreciated by everyone and will make him immortal."

Schillaci started his career in his native Sicily with Messina before he joined Juventus in 1989. In three seasons with the Bianconeri, he scored 36 goals in 132 games in all competitions, winning the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia in 1989/90.

He crowned that amazing season with a spectacular World Cup campaign in Italy, where he scored six goals for the Azzurri to claim the competition's golden boot. Italy lost on penalties to Argentina in the semi-finals, despite Schillaci having given the host nation the lead.

"A football icon leaves us, a man who entered the hearts of Italians and sports lovers around the world," Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said. "Salvatore Schillaci, known to all as Totò, the bomber of the magical nights of Italia '90. Thank you for the emotions you gave us, for making us dream, rejoice, embrace and wave our flags. Have a good trip, champion."

In total, Schillaci scored seven goals in 16 games wearing the Italy shirt. After leaving Juventus in 1992, he played for Inter in Serie A and spent four years in Japan with Júbilo Iwata.

"His desire to emerge and to reach the highest levels in football has been and continues to be a source of inspiration for the many young people who follow the dream of playing in Serie A," said Lorenzo Casini, Serie A president.