Legendary Italian footballer Paolo Rossi has died, BBC Sports reports. Rossi died yesterday and his death was announced by Italian media which said he died after suffering from a long illness.
The British paper noted Ross’s achievement which made him famous and at one point a household name:
In 1982 Rossi lead the Azzurri(Italian National Football team) to victory at the World Cup in Spain
Finished the same tournament as top scorer and was named best player.
He was a prolific scorer for Vicenza, before moving to Juventus and later AC Milan.
Paolo Rossi scored 20 goals in 48 appearances for the Italian national side, than 100 goals while he was at Vicenza, Perugia, Juventus, Milan and Verona.
After the t the 1982 World Cup, he was awarded the Ballon d’Or which at the time was given to the European footballer of the year
The Italian Football Federation mourned Rossi in a statement released by the federation’s President Gabriele Gravina:
Pablito’s passing away is another moment of deep pain, a wound to the heart of all fans that is difficult to heal. We’ve lost a friend and an icon of Italian football.
In spurring the national team on to success in 1982, he had Italians celebrating in squares across the country, both for him and with him.
He indelibly tied his name to the Azzurri and, through his style of play, inspired numerous strikers of future generations.
The 64-year old’s death comes a few weeks after the world was plunged into mourning following the death of Argentinian star Diego Maradona who died of a heart attack last month.
More: BBC Sports
