Italian international footballer Paolo Rossi, hero of the 1982 World Cup won by Squadra Azzura, has died at the age of 64, his widow and several transalpine media have announced.
His wife, Federica Cappelletti, announced his death on Instagram, posting a photo of the couple with the caption “Forever,” followed by a heart.
"There will never be someone like you, unique, special," she also wrote on Facebook.
The news of his disappearance was picked up overnight from Wednesday to Thursday by the Italian media, which immediately paid tribute to the legendary Italian striker nicknamed "Pablito".
"Paolo Rossi, the amiable football poet, who made the joy of all Italy in 1982, is dead", underlines on its site the daily Corriere della Sera, which evokes the "incurable disease" from which he suffered.
He was "the man who made Brazil cry and took the Azzurri de Bearzot to conquer the World Cup," reports La Repubblica for its part.
Golden Ball
The news of Rossi's death comes less than two weeks after Argentina legend Diego Maradona won the 1986 World Cup.
Paolo Rossi, who shouldn't have played in the 1982 World Cup, ultimately became its hero, scoring six goals during the competition in Spain.
Suspended for three years in March 1980 as part of the "Totonero", a scandal of rigged football matches and illegal bets in Italy, he had however been summoned for the World Cup, after a reduction of his sanction, despite skepticism of the press and tifosi.
In Spain, Paolo Rossi explodes with a hat-trick during a legendary Italy-Brazil (3-2) which eliminates the Seleçao and sends the Squadra Azzura to the semi-finals.
Against Poland, he offered himself a double and a place in the final.
In this final match against the FRG, the Tuscan scored the first of three Italian goals (3-1).
Italy won their 3rd World Cup, and Paolo Rossi finished best player and scorer.
And the Ballon d'Or crowns this exceptional year.
"Capocannoniere"
His club career is more mixed.
Unearthed as a teenager by the recruiters of Juventus, his early years were marred by three injuries to a meniscus.
Top scorer in Serie B with 21 goals and climb to Serie A with Lanerossi Vicenza, joined in 1976, where he enjoyed his first successes.
The following season, his club titillates Juventus for the scudetto and he finishes again "capocannoniere" (24 goals).
Juventus then tries to recover it, in vain.
After a last season and a relegation with Vicenza, he left for Perugia, where his passage was turned upside down by the Totonero.
Two years of suspension later, Rossi returns to Juve.
The 1983-84 season was synonymous with a climax for him and his friends.
He formed a formidable trio with Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek and accumulated trophies: Serie A, Italian Cup, Cup of Cups, and European Supercup.
In 1985, the "Old Lady" won the Champions Clubs Cup in the appalling Heysel final and its 39 deaths, which was Rossi's last match with the Bianconeri.
He goes to rival AC Milan.
Handicapped by injuries, his Milan episode was a failure.
Just like the one at Hellas Verona.
In 1987, Rossi decided to turn the page at the age of 31 after nearly 400 league games, 154 goals and 48 caps (20 goals).
With AFP
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