NEW DELHI: Former Italian forward Salvatore Schillaci, who was awarded the Golden Ball for the best player at the 1990 World Cup, passed away at the age of 59, as announced by Inter Milan on Wednesday. Schillaci played a crucial role in Italy’s third-place finish in that tournament.
Nicknamed Toto, Schillaci was a late bloomer, starting his career in Italy's lower leagues with Messina. His breakthrough came during the 1988-89 season, where he was the top scorer in Serie B. This success led to his transfer to Juventus, where he won both the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup in the 1989-90 season.
Schillaci who began Italy's 1990 World Cup campaign as a substitute was the top scorer of the 1990 World Cup, netting six goals, including important strikes in the semi-final against Argentina and the third-place playoff against England.
His passionate, wide-eyed celebrations became symbolic moments of the tournament. His standout performances earned him the runner-up spot for the 1990 Ballon d'Or, just behind Lothar Matthaus.
Schillaci later joined Inter Milan, where he added another UEFA Cup title to his collection in 1994.
Salvatore Schillaci made history by becoming the first Italian to play in Japan's J.League. He played for Jubilo Iwata, leading them to win the league title in 1997. Schillaci retired from professional football in 1999. He is well-remembered for his key role in Italy’s 1990 World Cup campaign.
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