Italy legend Salvatore Schillaci dies aged 59

Former Italy forward Salvatore “Toto” Schillaci has died aged 59, the Palermo hospital where he was being treated for colon cancer said a statement on Wednesday.

Schillaci rose to international fame at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where he starred for the Azzurri, scoring six goals to win the golden boot.

Italy went on to finish third in the tournament, but Schillaci’s personal efforts were rewarded, beating Lothar Matthäus and Diego Maradona to win the golden ball as the tournament’s best player.

“A football icon is leaving us, a man who has entered the hearts of Italians and sports fans around the world,” Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni posted on X.

“Salvatore Schillaci, known by everyone as Toto, 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. Bon voyage, champion.”

He would go on to score just one more goal for the national side, against Norway the following year.

Born in Palermo, Schillaci also enjoyed success at club level for a number of Italian clubs, most notably with Juventus and Inter Milan.

“Palermo FC, with President Dario Mirri and the entire City Football Group family, express their deepest condolences for the premature passing of Salvatore Schillaci and join in the grief of Francesco Di Mariano’s family,” Palermo said in a statement.

He won a UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia with Juve before adding another UEFA Cup title with Inter.

Schillaci finished his career in Japan, winning a J-League title with Jubilo Iwata in 1997.

In 2022, Schillaci was diagnosed with colon cancer. He was admitted to Palermo Civico hospital in early September.

“He made an entire nation dream during the Magic Nights of Italia ’90,” Inter said.

“FC Internazionale Milano gathers around the Schillaci family for the passing of Totò.”

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.