Salvatore Schillaci, Italy’s 1990 World Cup Star, Dies at 59

Italy’s 1990 World Cup hero Salvatore Schillaci dies at 59, remembered for his six goals.

As soon as the Italian football fans knew of Salvatore Schillaci – the 1990 FIFA World Cup striker, they fell in love with him, and now, he is gone; he was 59 years old. That compliance made him score six goals at the tournament which was hosted in his country to be awarded the Golden Boot and become a national icon. Juventus and Inter Milan, the clubs he previously played for, fans of the beautiful game, and the world at large are feeling the loss.

Salvatore Schillaci’s World Cup Heroics

Salvatore Schillaci came into the limelight during the 1990 editions of the World Cup, which is still remembered in Italy’s footballing history. Schillaci had been signed as a replacement but he rose to the task; he scored the first, and Italy’s only goal in a 1-0 win over Austria in the team’s first match. His energy, passion, and magnificent and clinical finishing made him very crucial as Italy progressed in the tournament.

The spectacular performances of Schillaci went on and on, scoring decisive goals among them being, the goal in the semi-final against Argentina and the third-place play against England. Even though Italy was eliminated by Argentina in a bitter-sweet penalty shootout in the semi-finals, Schillaci scored a goal in six of the seven matches making him the top goal scorer at the end of the championship.

Golden Boot and Ballon d’Or Recognition

Due to this, he was awarded the Golden Boot for being the tournament’s highest goal scorer and also the Golden Ball for the best player in the tournament. His goal celebrations were always wide-eyed and full of passion and they became an iconic moment of Italia 90: summer of football for Italians.

In the aftermath of the tournament, Salvatore Schillaci was awarded the Silver Boot for the 1990 Ballon d’Or because of his performances in the World Cup, coming in second place to Lothar Matthäus from West Germany the captain of the world champions.

A Late Bloomer in Italian Football

In the framework of further football activity, Schillaci’s trajectory was somewhat untraditional. His origin is Palermo, Sicily and he started his professional career in Italy’s third division playing for Messina. He only got promotion to Serie A after the end of the 1988-89 season where he was the leading scorer for Sassuolo in Serie B and was signed to Juve.

His emergence to stardom was at a young age which is 25, by this age, most of the footballers would have been common in the team. However, one could not argue with the fact that Schillaci indeed possessed lots of talent as a player and he changed Juventus on the spot.

Juventus and Inter Milan Pay Tribute

After Schillaci’s funeral, Juventus made a statement that read: ‘We instantly fell in love with Toto, his story of passion and determination got everyone including us’. This was true as most Juventus fans had seen his prowess before others in Italy saw it in the 1990 tournament. Schillaci was able to contribute to the club’s achieving Coppa Italia as well as the UEFA Cup in the 1989-1990 season.

Having played for Juventus, Schillaci then transferred to Inter Milan with which he won another UEFA cup in 1994. His stint with Italian football especially in the early nineties made him a popular icon among the fans of both clubs.

Schillaci’s Move to Japan

The year 1994 saw a historic moment being made when Salvatore Schillaci transferred to the J League of Japan, thus making him the first Italian football player to do so. He joined Jubilo Iwata, the club that triumphed in the league in 1997. He has in particular shifted to Japan has experienced a positive impact on the playing of the European players and has led to the expansion of the league in Asia.

Retirement and Legacy

Salvatore Schillaci retired from professional football in 1999 having played professional football for well over one decade. Fortunately, he was able to leave something behind. He continues to be best remembered for his stunning football displays in the year 1990 and his determination which encouraged a youthful generation of footballers globally.

Tributes Pour In

The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Schillaci is a “football hero who became part of the hearts of Italians and football lovers worldwide”. She gave thanks “for the feelings we had, for the joy he brought us, for the pride we felt while waving the Italian flag”.

Lorenzo Casini, the Serie A President, also gave credit to Schillaci and he noted that “He has challenged many players to the highest standard in soccer. ”

Conclusion

The death of Salvatore Schillaci can be considered the ending era of Italian football. In a career that began with Cadiz, he achieved so much in the 1990 World Cup, his successful club career and his well-documented move to Japan have set a pace. The great memories of the Toto will long be unforgettable not only to Italian fans but also to soccer fans around the globe.