World Cup star Toto Schillaci passes away aged 59

Former Italy football star Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci has died at the age of 59. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022 and had undergone two surgeries. Concerns for his health grew last week when he was admitted to Civico hospital in Palermo after reportedly suffering from pneumonia. While his family initially confirmed he was in stable condition, Schillaci tragically passed away. He is survived by his wife Barbara and their three children: Jessica, Mattia, and Nicole.

Tributes have poured in from across Italy, with former clubs Juventus and Inter Milan sharing messages of sorrow. Juventus shared a picture of Schillaci in their shirt with the simple message: “Ciao Totò.” Inter Milan honored him for his role in the “Magic Nights of Italia ’90” and extended condolences to his family. The Italian National Team also paid tribute with the message: “Ciao Totò, Hero of the Magic Nights.”

Schillaci was a legend of Italian football, having played for Juventus, Inter Milan, and the Italian national team. He famously won the Golden Boot at the 1990 World Cup, scoring six goals, including the winner against England in the third-place play-off. Schillaci retired in 1997 after a spell with Jubilo Iwata in Japan.

Music by Yevhen Onoychenko from Pixabay