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ROME: Paolo Rossi, an Italian soccer hero who inspired the national team to victory in the 1982 World Cup, has died at age 64, Italian media reported Thursday.
They paid tribute to ‘Pablito’, the star who was sanctioned for his participation in a gambling scandal but who won the World Cup and the Ballon d’Or that same year.
Rossi’s wife, Federica Cappelletti, announced the death with a post on Instagram along with 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, absolute nothingness …” Cappelletti also wrote on Facebook.
The news of his death comes two weeks after the death of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, winner of the 1986 World Cup.
Rossi was credited with inspiring Italy to their third World Cup triumph in Spain in 1982.
But Italy’s sports icon almost missed the tournament.
He was embroiled in a bribery scandal and was banned for three years in 1980, but after continuously protesting, his innocence was allowed to play.
A light and spirited winger turned center forward, Rossi had an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time.
He burst onto the stage of the 1982 tournament with a hat-trick in a 3-2 loss to Brazil.
In the semifinals he scored both goals when Italy beat Poland 2-0, and scored the first goal in a 3-1 victory over West Germany in the final.
Rossi finished as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals.
He was also a member of the Italy team that finished fourth in Argentina in 1978.
Together with Christian Vieri and Roberto Baggio, he holds the Italian record for nine World Cup goals.
He scored 20 goals in 48 games for Italy and was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1982.
Born in Prato in Tuscany, Rossi made his professional debut for Juventus in 1973, and also played for Vicenza, Perugia and AC Milan before ending his career in 1987 in Verona.
With Juventus he won two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia, the Recopa de Europa and the European Cup.
After his career as a footballer, Rossi worked as a television commentator.
He is survived by his wife and three children. – AFP
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