Known by most as “Toto,” Schillaci scored six goals to win the Golden Boot in the World Cup held in his native country in 1990.
Although Italy fell in the semifinals, Schillaci became a hero and received the Golden Ball for being the best player.
In 2022, Schillaci received a colon cancer diagnosis.
After starting his club career at Messina, he played for Italian powerhouses Juventus and Inter Milan, earning seven goals in 16 caps for his nation.
Schillaci joined Juventus in 1989, and the team stated: “We fell in love with Toto right away. Every game he played demonstrated his drive, his tale, and his incredibly intense emotion.
During that amazing summer of 1990, not only did we at Juve get thrilled about him, but the entire Italian population was enthralled with his incredibly exuberant celebrations.”
As a replacement against Austria, Schillaci netted his first goal of the 1990 World Cup. He then made another appearance as a substitute against the United States, earning his first start against the Czech Republic.
Schillaci, who was partnered with Baggio up front, added another goal as Italy’s campaign gained traction. He further solidified his reputation as a hero by scoring goals in the quarterfinals against the Republic of Ireland and Uruguay in the knockout phase.
