Schillaci became 59 years old and his death is being greatly noticed in Italy.
"Ciao Totò" writes Juventus on the club's X-account and publishes a picture of the striker who scored 26 goals in 90 matches for the club between 1989-1992.
The Sicilian Schillaci, born in Palermo where he also died, started his career in Messina before being recruited to Juventus, the big club from Turin. There he had his best years and greatest successes as a player.
In the summer of 1990, he won the World Championship bronze with the national team, won the top scorer title with six goals, and was chosen as the tournament's best player and received the Golden Boot.
Tumor could not be cured
Schillaci, then 25, lost his place in Juventus a few years later to his contemporary Gianluca Vialli.
Now both are gone. Vialli was afflicted with pancreatic cancer and passed away in January 2023.
Schillaci was treated for several years for a tumor that could not be cured.
As a player, he was a tough striker with a pronounced goal sense. He was not intended as a starter in the 1990 World Championship, but came in as a substitute in the premiere against Austria and decided the match.
Effective attacking duo
Together with Roberto Baggio, Schillaci formed an effective attacking duo.
"The man with the big eyes, an unforgettable symbol of the magical nights in Italy 1990. A remarkable relationship was born with Baggio. One is wild and expressive, the other is introverted and thoughtful", writes the newspaper La Stampa, according to Aftonbladet.
After Juventus, Salvatore Schillaci played for Inter, but then his star was declining, mainly due to repeated injury problems. He ended his career in Jubilo Iwata in the Japanese league 1994–1997.
