Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, the Italy striker who was top scorer at the 1990 World Cup that his country hosted and epitomized a player exceeding expectations on soccer's biggest stage, has died.
He was 59. Schillaci had been hospitalized in Palermo following treatment for colon cancer. The Palermo Civico hospital said in a statement that Schillacci died on Wednesday morning after being admitted 11 days ago.
Schillaci had never scored for Italy before the 1990 World Cup, having previously only played once for the national team. Overall, he made 16 appearances for Italy and scored seven goals — six of them at the World Cup.
Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina announced that a minute of silence would be held in memory of Schillaci before all games in the country for the rest of the week. "The uncontrollable celebrations, in which his face was the symbol of shared joy, will remain forever part of Italian soccer [history]," Gravina said. "Tot�ò was a great player, a symbol of tenacious desire and redemption. ...