Farewell to Totò Schillaci, the hero of the “Magic Nights” of Italia '90.

Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci, the unforgettable star of the 90 World Cup in Italy, has died at the age of 59 after battling cancer. Born in Palermo on December 1, 1964, Schillaci was one of the most incredible success stories in Italian football, remembered in particular for his exploits in that World Cup that elevated him to the rank of national hero. His death on September 7 has left a deep void in the world of football and among all those who remember him as the idol of the “Notti Magiche”.

Schillaci began his career modestly, playing for Serie B club Messina. After a few promising seasons, in 1988-1989, under the guidance of Zdenek Zeman, he finally exploded, scoring 23 goals and attracting the attention of the biggest clubs. His move to Juventus in 1989 marked the beginning of his rise to the greats of Italian football. In his first season in Turin, he scored 15 goals in 30 games, contributing decisively to the victory of the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup.

In 1990, the coach of the Italian national team, Azeglio Vicini, decided to call up Schillaci for the World Cup on home soil, even though he was initially considered a reserve. His adventure at Italia '90 began almost by chance, with a substitution from the bench in the opening match against Austria. Schillaci scored the decisive goal of that match, changing the course of the tournament and his career. From that moment on, he became the undisputed starter of the Italian attack, scoring six goals and winning both the title of top scorer of the tournament and that of best player.

The images of Schillaci with his haunted eyes and his arms raised to the sky will remain forever etched in the memory of Italians. Although Italy stopped in third place, eliminated by Maradona's Argentina in the semifinal, Schillaci's feat remained in the hearts of the fans. His exploits consecrated him as a symbol of those "Magic Nights" that made millions of Italians dream.

After the World Cup, however, Schillaci's career began to decline. At Juventus, with the arrival of Gianluca Vialli, he found less and less space and finally moved to Inter in 1992, for a fee of 8,5 billion lire. Despite some good moments, such as his participation in the victorious UEFA Cup campaign with Inter, his career was marked by personal difficulties and a less consistent performance. After two seasons with the Nerazzurri, Schillaci decided to seek his fortune abroad, becoming the first Italian footballer to play in the Japanese championship, with Júbilo Iwata. In Japan, he won the J. League championship in 1997, but a serious injury forced him to retire permanently in 1999.

After his football career, Schillaci never really left the limelight. Back in Palermo, in 2001 he ran for city councilor with Forza Italia, being elected but resigning after a few years. Subsequently, he participated in television programs and reality shows, including “L'isola dei famosi” in 2004, and took part in several films and television series, where he often played roles related to his figure as a footballer. Among his appearances, we remember “Amori bugie e calcetto” and “Squadra antimafia – Palermo oggi”.

In 2016, with Andrea Mercurio, he published his autobiography entitled “Il gol è tutto”, in which he retraced his career and recounted the most important moments of his life, on and off the pitch. In 2023, together with his wife Barbara, he participated in the reality show “Pechino Express”, reaching the semi-final. Totò Schillaci was not only a football hero, but also a character capable of remaining in the hearts and collective memory of Italy, a symbol of a world dream that, although unfulfilled, remained one of the most exciting pages in the history of Italian football.

The death of Totò Schillaci marked the end of an era, but his memory will live forever in the fans and in anyone who experienced the unforgettable emotions of Italia '90.