Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci, the Italy striker whose stare made him the star of
his home football World Cup in 1990 at which he was the top goal-scorer, has
died. He was 59.

Schillaci had been hospitalised in Palermo following treatment for colon cancer.

The Palermo Civico hospital said in a statement that Schillacci died on Wednesday morning after being admitted 11 days ago.

Schillaci scored six goals during the 1990 World Cup, helping Italy finish third. He came on as a substitute during Italy’s opener against Austria, scoring in a 1-0 victory, and went on to earn the Golden Boot awarded to the tournament’s top scorer. He only netted one other goal for Italy in his career.

An enduring image of the World Cup is Schillaci scoring goal after opportunistic goal and wheeling off with his crazed eyes virtually popping out of their sockets. He found the net in six of the seven games Italy played in the 1990 World Cup, including in the semi-final loss — on penalties — to eventual runners-up Argentina and in the third-place victory over England.

Italy’s football federation president Gabriele Gravina announced that a minute of silence would be held in memory of Schillaci before all games in the country for the rest of the week.

“The uncontrollable celebrations, in which his face was the symbol of shared joy, will remain forever part of Italian football (history),” Gravina said. “Totò was a great player, a symbol of tenacious desire and redemption... His football was full of passion. And that fearless spirit made everyone appreciate him and will make him immortal.”

Schillaci also won the Golden Ball award at the 1990 World Cup as the tournament’s top player ahead of victorious West German captain Lothar Matthaus and Argentina’s Diego Maradona.

“Thank you for the emotions you gave us, for making us dream, cheer, hug and wave our Tricolore,” Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni wrote on X.

“A football icon is
leaving us, a man who has entered the hearts of Italians and sports fans around the world.”

Schillaci played for Messina, Juventus, Inter Milan and Japanese team Jubilo Iwata during his club career. He retired from football in 1999.

“Ciao Totò,” Juventus said on Instagram.

“You made an entire nation dream during the Magical Nights of Italia ’90,” Inter said on its social media channels.

He might have ended the World Cup as the most famous man in Italy but his start was ominous. On his way to the Azzurri’s pre-World Cup training camp in Florence, he unwittingly drove into a riot sparked by his club side Juventus signing Fiorentina’s star striker Roberto Baggio. Around 3,000 angry fans trapped him in his car, spat at the windows and kicked the bodywork. He had to be rescued by the police.

West Germany won the 1990 World Cup, beating Argentina in the final, while Italy beat England for third place with a winning penalty kick from Schillaci.

Baggio, who scored Italy’s opening goal in the third-place match, wrote on Instagram, “Ciao my dear friend.”

With Schillaci having been born and raised in Palermo, the city will hold a public viewing of Schillaci at its Renzo Barbera stadium ahead of the funeral.

Written with inputs from AP/PTI