Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni and football hero Roberto Baggio lead tributes to Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci for how he ‘made the nation dream’, after his death aged 59

Tributes have flooded in for World Cup legend Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci who has died at the age of 59. 

The Italian icon, who lit up the nation’s home World Cup in 1990, passed away after a battle with colon cancer.

He played for Juventus and Inter Milan in a glittering career, in which his highlight was scoring six goals at Italia ’90 to win the Golden Boot. 

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has announced that a minute’s silence will be observed in every division from today until the end of the week, while Inter will wear black armbands in tribute for their UEFA Champions League game against Manchester City on Wednesday. 

His former Juventus and Italy team-mate Roberto Baggio, as well as the country’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni, have led the tributes to Schillaci – who has been hailed for ‘making the nation dream’ during the ‘magical nights’ of Italia ’90. 

Those who paid tributes reflected on the ‘magical nights’ of Italia ’90 – a tournament where Schillaci won the Golden Boot and was also named player of the tournament on home soil

Juventus, meanwhile, released a club statement: ‘Salvatore Schillaci left us today; too soon, too soon, at 59 years old’ (pictured: Schillaci right with Baggio)

Baggio said the ‘magical nights of Italia 90’ will remain ‘forever etched’ in his heart

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni thanked Schillaci for making Italy ‘dream’ 

Baggio, who played alongside Schillaci for club and country, has led the tributes as he wrote: ‘Hi, my dear friend, this time too you wanted to surprise me.

‘The magical nights of Italia 90 lived together will remain forever etched in my heart. Brothers of Italy forever.’

Georgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, said: ‘A football icon leaves us, a man who entered the hearts of Italians and sports lovers around the world. 

‘Salvatore Schillaci, known to all as Totò, the bomber of the magical nights of Italia ’90 with our National team. Thank you for the emotions you gave us, for making us dream, cheer, hug and wave our Tricolore. Have a good trip, champion.’

Juventus, who Schillaci scored 36 goals in 132 appearances for, wrote in a statement: ‘Salvatore Schillaci left us today; soon, too soon, at 59 years old.

‘We fell in love with Totò immediately. Of his desire, of his history, of his passion, and it showed in every match he played.

‘We at Juve were lucky enough to get excited about him before, in that incredible summer of 1990, the whole of Italy did, enchanted by his wonderfully energetic celebrations.

‘Because Totò arrived at Juve in ’89, and in that season he scored 15 goals in the league, 4 in the UEFA Cup and 2 in the Italian Cup. 

Schillaci (pictured, in March 2023) was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago

‘Numbers that, in fact, earned him the blue jersey in the Italian World Cup, which – also thanks to him – became what we all remember as the month of the ‘Magic Nights’. 

Inter Milan, who signed him from Juventus in 1992, wrote: ‘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 Totò.’

Former Republic of Ireland centre-half Paul McGrath has also paid tribute to Schillaci.

The Italian scored the only goal for the eventual champions in a 1990 World Cup quarter-final victory over an Irish side featuring McGrath,

‘So sad to hear the passing of Italy’s Toto Schillaci, what a player and goalscorer. RIP #respect,’ McGrath posted on social media.

Napoli in a statement wrote: ‘President Aurelio De Laurentiis, the directors, the technical staff, the team and the entire SSC Napoli join forces with the family of Totò Schillaci for the passing of the hero of the Magic Nights of Italia ’90.

Serie A president Lorenzo Casini said: ‘Lega Serie A and all of its clubs would like to extend their deepest condolences to the family of Salvatore ‘Totò’ Schillaci, the entire football community and Italian football fans upon his passing.

Schillaci entered Italia ’90 with just one cap to his name – and left the tournament as a hero

Schillaci, who was born in Palermo, scored 181 goals in 498 career appearances

‘He was a great player, who lit up those ‘Notti Magiche’ at Italia ’90, the tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and best player. 

‘His desire to make it at the top level in football was constant and he will continue to be an inspiration for the many children who dream of playing in Serie A.’

As reported by Corrierre dello Sport, his former Juventus manager, Dino Zoff commented: ‘It’s a really big disappointment for me. Toto was a great guy, I loved him.’

While a statement from UEFA on X said: ‘A football icon leaves us, a man who entered the hearts of Italians and sports lovers around the world.

‘Thank you for the emotions you gave us, for making us dream, rejoice, embrace and wave our flags. Have a good trip, champion.’