Salvatore "Toto" Schillaci, who passed away at the age of 59 after a battle with colon cancer, was one of Italy's most iconic football stars. Born on December 1, 1964, in Palermo, he began his football career with Messina in Serie B. He later moved to Juventus in 1989, where he made a significant impact, helping the team win the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup.
However, Schillaci's defining moment came during the 1990 FIFA World Cup, hosted in Italy. Before the tournament, Schillaci was relatively unknown, but he stunned the world by scoring six goals, propelling Italy to third place. His incredible performance earned him the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer and the Golden Ball as its best player.
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After the World Cup, his fame skyrocketed, and he later played for Inter Milan before moving to Japan to join JEF United. Though his form declined after the World Cup, Schillaci remains a legendary figure in Italian football due to his unforgettable performance in 1990(
Throughout his career, Schillaci played 16 matches for the Italian national team, scoring seven goals. After retiring, he became involved in coaching and humanitarian work, maintaining his popularity in Italy until his passing in September 2024.
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