Former Italy striker Salvatore “Toto” Schillaci, renowned for his Golden Boot-winning performance at the 1990 World Cup, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 59. Schillaci died at Palermo’s “Civico” hospital after a battle with bowel cancer.
Juventus, one of Schillaci’s former clubs, paid tribute to the football icon with a heartfelt message on social media, saying “Ciao Toto” alongside a photo of him in a Juve shirt. The Italian football federation (FIGC) announced that all matches in Italy until the end of the coming weekend would observe a “minute of reflection” in honor of Schillaci.
FIGC chief Gabriele Gravina praised Schillaci’s impact on Italian football, stating, “His goal celebrations, in which his face became the symbol of a collective joy, will remain forever part of Italian football heritage.”
Schillaci began his career in the early 1980s at Messina and later played for Juventus and Inter Milan. His standout club season came just before the 1990 World Cup, when he scored 21 goals in all competitions, helping Juventus win the UEFA Cup and the Italian Cup.
However, it was the 1990 World Cup where Schillaci truly made his mark, scoring six goals as Italy reached the semi-finals. Juventus reflected on his contribution, saying, “At Juve we were lucky to be excited by him before he did the same to the whole of Italy during that incredible summer of 1990. Goodbye, Toto. Thank you.”
Schillaci not only won the Golden Boot but also the Golden Ball for being the tournament’s best player, ahead of notable figures like Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona. Italy’s campaign ended in the semi-finals, where they were defeated by Argentina in a penalty shootout, with Maradona playing a crucial role.
Despite his significant impact on the World Cup stage, Schillaci scored only one other international goal for Italy. After the 1990 World Cup, he left Inter Milan for Jubilo Iwata in Japan, where he concluded his football career.
