The former Italian international Salvatore ‘Totó’ Schillaci, top scorer at the 1990 World Cup in Italy and former player of Inter Milan and Juventus Turindied at the age of 59 in Palermo (Sicily, southern Italy) due to colon cancer that he had been battling for just over two years.
The 59-year-old former Palermo footballer who won two UEFA Cups (with Juventus and Inter), He had been admitted to the Pulmonology department of the Civic Hospital of the Sicilian capital since September 9 And on Tuesday evening his condition worsened. Schillaci, who had to undergo two operations for cancer, worsened after the disease, which seemed to be overcome a year ago, reappeared in a very aggressive form.
The Italian national team confirmed the death and said goodbye to its legendary player in a statement on social media: “Goodbye, ‘Totò’. Hero of the Magical Nights.”
From substitute to hero in Italy ’90
An idol in Italy 90 with legendary performances, he arrived at the tournament as a theoretical substitute. His goals made him the starting striker and he led the ‘Azzurra’ alongside Roberto Baggio to the semi-finals, scoring against Czechoslovakia, Uruguay, Ireland and Argentina in the semis; as well as a goal against England that decided third place.
Six goals that took him to the top of the scoring chartsreceiving the nickname Hero of Magical Nights and recognition as the second best player in the world, only surpassed by Lottar Matthaus in the Ballon d’Or.
After his time in Italy, where he spent three seasons at Juventus Turin (1989-1992) and two more at Inter, he went to Japan, where he played for Júbilo Iwata until 1997, when he retired.
