World Cup legend Salvatore Schillaci has died, aged 59, after a battle with colon cancer.
The Italian icon, who lit up the nation’s home World Cup in 1990, played for Juventus and Inter in a glittering career spanning 384 matches, scoring 159 goals.
The most famous of these came during that iconic summer where Schillaci went from relative unknown to regular starter in a competitive Azzurri squad.
He ended the tournament clutching the Golden Boot award, having struck six times for Italy, as well as the Player of the Tournament trophy.
The agile striker, who came second in that year’s Ballon d’Or, then struggled for form at his club sides, scoring just eight goals in 42 matches for Juventus the following season.
World Cup legend Salvatore Schillaci has died, aged 59, after a battle with colon cancer
The striker (left) pictured with Roberto Baggio during a spell at Juventus
Schillaci with Cameroonian icon Roger Milla (right), fellow star of the 1990 World Cup in Italy
The centre-forward bagged six goals during his home World Cup where he emerged as an star
After a spell at Inter, Schillaci ended his career in Japan with Júbilo Iwata where he enjoyed a fruitful time in front of goal.
Following his retirement, he returned to his native Palermo where he opened a youth academy of football.
Schillaci was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago and faced a major setback in his fight against the disease this month when he was hospitalised with an atrial arrhythmia.
The former centre-forward leaves behind three children: Jessica, Mattia and Nicole.Â
