The Italian Hero At The 1982 World Cup Paolo Rossi Died

Paolo Rossi's Action at the 1982 World Cup (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The world of football is grieving again. Italian legend and hero at the 1982 World Cup, Paolo Rossi, passed away at the age of 64 on Thursday.

Rossi died when the football world was still mourning the death of Diego Maradona, who died late last month.

The news of Rossi's death began with the tweets of his colleague at RAI Sport, Enrico Varriale. Paolo Rossi works as a football expert on the channel, while Varriale is the channel's presenter.

"Very sad news: Paolo Rossi has left us," wrote Enrico Varriale on Twitter quoted by Antara from Reuters on the same day.

"The unforgettable Pablito, the one we all fell in love with in the summer of 1982."

"He has been a valuable and competent colleague at RAI over the past few years. RIP Paolo."

Una notizia tristissima: ci ha lasciato Paolo Rossi. Indimenticabile Pablito, che ci ha fatto innamorare tutti in quell 'Estate del '82 e che è stato prezioso e competente compagno di lavoro in RAI, negli ultimi anni.Rip caro Paolo.

- enrico varriale (@realvarriale) December 10, 2020

Rossi's wife Federica Cappelletti posted a photo of herself and her husband on Instagram with the words "forever."

Rossi won two Serie A titles, one European Cup and one Coppa Italia with Juventus, but is remembered for scoring six goals at the 1982 World Cup held in Spain.

Paolo Rossi successfully led the Italian national team to lift the 1982 World Cup trophy and he became the top scorer with a score of six goals.

Apart from defending the national team, Rossi's career at club level is quite interesting. He moved clubs several times, starting from Juventus, Como, Vicenza, Perugia, AC Milan, to Hellas Verona.

Many condolences flowed from the world of football, including German World Cup champion Jurgen Klinsmann. "Pabilto, we always remember you!" he wrote on his Twitter.

Caro Pablito, ti ricordiamo per semper! Https: //t.co/0TDTgF18SS

- J_Klinsmann (@J_Klinsmann) December 10, 2020

Rossi was born in Prato, Tuscan and played his entire club career in Italy. He was banned from playing for three years in 1980 due to the "Totonero" match-fixing scandal but has always denied wrongdoing.

The ban was later reduced to two years, allowing him to return to the Italy squad and make World Cup history.

He also scored three goals at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. Rossi joins Robero Baggio and Christian Vieri as Italy's top scorer at the World Cup with 9 goals.