Toto Schillaci: Italia ‘90 hero who knocked Republic of Ireland out of World Cup dies

Italian footballer Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci, the man who scored the only goal in a 1990 World Cup quarter-final match against the Republic of Ireland, has died aged 59.

Schillaci scored six goals at the World Cup in Italy to win the Golden Boot on home soil.

His country lost in the semi-finals but Schillaci won the Golden Ball as the best player.

He also broke Irish hearts by ending the Republic’s run in the tournament with a goal in a quarter-final match in Rome which the Italians won 1-0.

Schillaci was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022.

Making his debut for Italy in March 1990 at the age of 25, Schillaci was capped 16 times for Italy and scored seven goals.

During his career he played for Juventus and Inter Milan.

In a statement today, Juventus said: “We immediately fell in love with Toto. His desire, his story, his being so wonderfully passionate, and it showed in every game 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, captivated by those wonderfully energetic celebrations of his.”

Schillaci’s Italy team-mate Roberto Baggio, who partnered the striker in the team’s attack, said: “The magical nights of Italia ’90 spent together will remain imprinted in my heart forever. Brothers of Italy forever.”