Toto Schillaci dead at 59 as Italy legend and 1990 World Cup hero passes away

Former Italy football icon Salvatore 'Toto' Schillaci has passed away at the age of 59.

Diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022, Schillaci had undergone two surgeries. Concerns for his well-being escalated last week following his admission to Civico hospital in Palermo due to pneumonia. Despite earlier assurances from his family that he was stable, the beloved ex-striker has sadly succumbed to his illness. His death has prompted a wave of mourning throughout Italy, with heartfelt tributes flooding in.

Juventus, one of Schillaci's former teams, posted a poignant homage on Twitter with a photo of him donning their kit, captioned: "Ciao Toto." Inter Milan joined in commemorating Schillaci, stating: "He made an entire nation dream during the Magic Nights of Italia '90. FC Internazionale Milano gathers around the Schillaci family for the passing of Toto."

The Italian National Team also paid their respects with a message saying, "Ciao Toto," and calling him a "Hero of the Magic Nights." Schillaci left an indelible mark on Italian football through his stints with Juventus, Inter Milan, and the national team, scoring 37 goals in 120 Serie A matches and winning the UEFA Cup twice.

He is perhaps best remembered for securing the Golden Boot at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where he scored six goals, including the crucial one against England in the third-place playoff.

Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.

You can also follow our dedicated Rangers and Celtic podcast pages and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We've also entered the world of WhatsApp with