Salvatore Schillaci, an Italian legend, has died at the age of 59

Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, the top scorer at the 1990 World Cup in his native country and a former striker for Juventus and Italy, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 59, according to a statement released by his old club.

Schillaci, whose teams included Juventus and Inter, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022 and admitted to a hospital in Palermo this week. Juventus made reference to that World Cup in their homage, while Inter claimed he created "an entire nation dream during the magic nights of Italia 90."

Schillaci rose to international prominence during the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where he led the Azzurri with six goals and won the golden boot.

Italy finished third in the tournament, but Schillaci's personal efforts were rewarded when he defeated Lothar Matthäus and Diego Maradona to earn the golden ball as the tournament's best player.

“Salvatore Schillaci, known by everyone as Totò, the striker from the magic nights of Italia ’90 with our national team. Thanks for the emotions you gave us, for having made us dream, celebrate, embrace, and wave our national flag. Bon voyage, champion,” Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni posted on X.

Serie A President Lorenzo Casini said: “(We) would like to extend their deepest condolences to the family of Salvatore ‘Totò’ Schillaci, the entire football community and Italian football fans upon his passing.”

Schillaci, who was born in Palermo, has also had success at the club level for several Italian clubs, most notably Juventus and Inter Milan.

Schillaci would only score once more for his country after the World Cup, in a 2-1 defeat to Norway in a 1992 UEFA European Championship qualifier.

He did not represent Italy in any subsequent big competitions.

The striker made history as the first Italian to play in Japan's J.League in 1994, and he won the league title with Jubilo Iwata in 1997.

Schillaci announced his retirement from the game in 1999.