Toto Schillaci, star of the 1990 World Cup, dies aged 59

Italian football is in mourning: Salvatore 'Totò' Schillaci, the hero of the Italy '90 World Cup, has passed away at the age of 59. His loss is deeply felt across the footballing world.

His recollections of that time were reported by Italian sports news agency Mondiali: "Not even a madman could have imagined what was about to happen to me. There are periods in a footballer's life in which everything works out for you. You just have to breathe and put it in. For me, this state of grace coincided with that World Cup."

Schillaci was born in Palermo on December 1, 1964, into a very poor family. From a young age, he had just one goal: football—a passion that would eventually carry him to great heights.

The player spoked passionately of his love for the game in comments reported by Tuttojuve, a Juventus fan site: "Since I was still a brat, the only thing that mattered to me was scoring, in spite of everyone, teammates and opponents. An unbridled desire, that has never ended".

In the early 80s, after playing in the Dilettanti championship, Schillaci joined Messina, where he quickly showcased his talent. He played for the Sicilian club from 1982 to 1989.

The big opportunity finally arrived in 1989 when Juventus recognized the young player's talent and decided to sign him.

On August 27, 1989, Schillaci made his Serie A debut. From that moment on, everything changed. His dream of becoming a football star was on the brink of realization.

He quickly became a fan favourite, thanks to his impressive performances on the pitch alongside another debutant at the time, Pierluigi Casiraghi (pictured).

As soon as he stepped onto the field, Schillaci proved he would be the standout star of the World Cup. His "haunted eyes," as described by many newspapers of the time, became an unforgettable symbol of his extraordinary performance.

His reflections on the World Cup and the defeat were reported by Tuttojuve: "It seems that someone up there decided that Totò Schillaci should be the hero of Italia '90. Unfortunately, I got distracted during the semi-final against Argentina. It’s a shame: we conceded only one goal throughout that World Cup, and that goal was what ultimately condemned us."

The early 90s were a golden age for Schillaci. Despite his great talent, however, he never managed to become the great internationally renowned player he looked destined to be. He subsequently moved to various teams, including Fiorentina, Milan and Inter, scoring a total of 205 goals.

Since 2000, the year after his retirement, Schillaci ran a football school in his hometown, Palermo. He has also been a TV testimonial and sports event organizer.

He also had a brief political chapter in his life. In 2001, he ran for Forza Italia in the municipal elections in his hometown and was elected as a city councilor. However, after serving for two years, he chose to resign from his position.

Schillaci also participated in a reality show. In 2004, he was a part of 'L'Isola dei famosi', or The Celebrity Island – a Celebrity Big Brother-type show. He would finish third.

This opened the doors for more TV opportunities. In 2012, he participated in the television series 'Squadra antimafia – Palermo oggi', (Anti-mafia squad – Palermo Today) in the role of a mafia boss.

Despite a gradual decline in popularity in recent years, Schillaci will always hold a special place in the memories of those who had the privilege of witnessing his remarkable feats on the field. Sadly, another legend of Italian football has now passed away.

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