Italy Mourns Loss of Football Icon Salvatore "Toto" Schillaci
Italy’s football community is in mourning after the passing of Salvatore "Toto" Schillaci, a legendary striker who topped the scoring charts at the 1990 World Cup. Schillaci, 59, died on Wednesday at Palermo’s "Civico" hospital after a battle with bowel cancer.
Schillaci’s unexpected goalscoring exploits at the 1990 World Cup made him an icon in Italy, and his legacy continues to be celebrated by fans and clubs alike. Juventus, one of the teams he played for, paid tribute to Schillaci on social media, posting a picture of him in a Juve shirt with the simple message "Ciao Toto".
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has announced that all matches played in Italy between now and the end of the weekend will begin with a minute of reflection in honor of Schillaci. FIGC chief Gabriele Gravina praised Schillaci’s goal celebrations, saying they would remain forever part of Italian football heritage.
Schillaci’s football career was marked by modest success in the club game, playing for Juventus and Inter Milan after starting out at Messina in the early 1980s. However, it was his performances at the 1990 World Cup that catapulted him to national hero status. He scored six times as Italy reached the semi-finals, winning the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards in the process.
Schillaci’s impressive form at the World Cup was a turning point in his career, and he went on to play for Jubilo Iwata in Japan, where he ended his playing days. Despite only scoring one other goal for Italy in his career, Schillaci’s legacy as a World Cup hero will be remembered for generations to come.
