June 29, 1982 Argentinian goalkeeper Ubaldo Fillol (Bottom) and
captain Daniel Passarella (L) prevent Italian striker Paolo Rossi
from scoring, during the World Cup second round soccer match
between Italy and Argentina in Barcelona. STAFF / AFP
Paolo Rossi, a hero of Italian football who
inspired the national side to victory in the 1982 World Cup, has
died aged 64, Italian media reported on Thursday.
They paid tribute to ‘Pablito’, the star who was banned for his
part in a betting scandal but returned to win the World Cup and the
Ballon D’Or the same year.
Rossi’s wife Federica Cappelletti announced the death with a
post on Instagram alongside a photo of the couple, accompanied by
the comment “Forever,” followed by a heart.
“There will never be anyone like you, unique, special, after you
the absolute nothing….,” Cappelletti also wrote on Facebook.
The news of his passing comes two weeks after the death of
Argentina football legend Diego Maradona, winner of the 1986 World
Cup.
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Rossi was credited with inspiring Italy to their third
World Cup triumph in Spain in 1982.
But Italy’s sporting icon almost missed out on the
tournament.
He was caught up in a bribery scandal, and banned for three
years in 1980, but after continually protesting his innocence was
cleared to play.
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A slight and sprightly winger who converted to
centre-forward, Rossi had an uncanny ability to be in the
right place at the right time.
He exploded onto the stage of the 1982 tournament with a
hat-trick in the 3-2 defeat of Brazil.
In the semi-finals he scored both goals as Italy beat Poland
2-0, and he hit the opener in the 3-1 win over West Germany in the
final.
Rossi finished top scorer in the tournament with six
goals.
He was also a member of the Italy side that finished fourth in
Argentina in 1978.
Along with Christian Vieri and Roberto Baggio, he holds the
Italian record for nine goals scored in the World Cup.
He scored 20 goals in 48 appearances for Italy and was voted
European Footballer of the Year in 1982.
Born in Prato in Tuscany, Rossi made his professional
debut at Juventus in 1973, and also played for Vicenza, Perugia and
AC Milan before finishing his career in 1987 in Verona.
With Juventus he won two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia, the
European Cup Winners’ Cup, and the European Cup.
After his career as a footballer, Rossi worked as a TV
pundit.
He is survived by his wife and three children.
AFP
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