Legendary striker passes away at 59 after battle with cancer, remembered for unforgettable World Cup performance.

"And in your eyes, desire to win," read a verse of the song by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini, which served as the soundtrack for the summer of 1990, during the soccer world championships that were held in Italy. A prophetic verse, as the eyes of the song were embodied in the broad, spirited, and unforgettable exultations of Totò Schillaci. The hero of Italia 90 had to succumb to cancer at the age of 59 after a long battle. Schillaci had been admitted at the Civil Hospital of Palermo on September 7, and his condition had deteriorated in the last few hours. "He was the hero of only one season: practically the protagonist of a fairy tale, short but unforgettable, writes renowned sports journalist Marino Bartoletti in the Treccani Encyclopedia of Sport. He distinguished himself with 15 goals in his inaugural Serie A championship upon his arrival at Juventus, following a lengthy period of militancy in Messina. This performance earned him the position of reserve for Vialli and Carnevale at the 1990 World Cup, which was held in Italy. However, in his debut encounter, he scored the winning goal against Austria after entering the field a few minutes before the end. And he never stopped: he scored against Czechoslovakia, Uruguay, Ireland, and even Argentina, but it wasn't enough to propel Italy to the final. He ultimately scored against England, and Italy came in third place. Bartoletti recalls that "In New York, they renamed Twenty-fifth Street 'Schillaci Boulevard'".However, he emphasizes that "his fairy tale ended there: in the subsequent two championships at Juventus, he made 60 appearances and scored only 11 goals. He played only 30 games at Inter, where he was never welcomed or understood, scoring 11 goals in two championships". Finally, in the twilight of his career, he embarked on a Japanese adventure, scoring over fifty goals in the first two seasons. Back in Italy, he established a football academy in Palermo, exhibiting a deep connection to his birthplace. "Goodbye, my dear friend. You have once again attempted to surprise me. The amazing nights we spent together in Italia '90 will live on in my heart forever. Fratelli d'Italia forever". This is the sentiment expressed by Roberto Baggio in a post on Instagram, which includes a photograph of the two celebrating a goal while embracing. The FIGC has chosen to hold a minute of silence in his remembrance before to all championship matches scheduled from today through the weekend. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also honored Schillaci: "He leaves us an icon of soccer, a man who won the hearts of Italians and sports fans all over the world. Salvatore Schillaci, also known as Totò, was a legendary striker for the Italian national team during the Italia '90 tournament. Thank you for eliciting our feelings and inspiring us to dream, rejoice, hug, and wave our Tricolor. Goodbye, champion".