Salvatore 'Totò' Schillaci, the Italy striker who was top scorer at 1990 World Cup, dies at 59

ROME (AP) — Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci, the Italy striker who was top scorer at the 1990 World Cup that his country hosted and epitomized a player exceeding expectations on soccer’s biggest stage, has died. He was 59.

Schillaci had been hospitalized in Palermo following treatment for colon cancer.

The Palermo Civico hospital said in a statement that Schillacci died on Wednesday morning after being admitted 11 days ago.

Schillaci scored six goals for Italy during the 1990 World Cup. He came on as a substitute during Italy’s opener against Austria, scored in a 1-0 victory, and went on to earn the Golden Boot awarded to the tournament’s top scorer.

Schillaci had never scored for Italy before the 1990 World Cup, having previously only played once for the national team. Overall, he made 16 appearances for Italy and scored seven goals — six of them at the World Cup.

Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina announced that a minute of silence would be held in memory of Schillaci before all games in the country for the rest of the week.

“The uncontrollable celebrations, in which his face was the symbol of shared joy, will remain forever part of Italian soccer (history),” Gravina said. “Totò was a great player, a symbol of tenacious desire and redemption. ... His soccer was full of passion. And that fearless spirit made everyone appreciate him and will make him immortal.”

Schillaci also won the Golden Ball award at the 1990 World Cup as the tournament's top player ahead of Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona.

“Thank you for the emotions you gave us, for making us dream, cheer, hug and wave our Tricolore,” Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni wrote on X.

Schillaci played for Messina, Juventus, Inter Milan and Japanese team Jubilo Iwata during his club career.

“Ciao Totò,” Juventus said on Instagram.

“You made an entire nation dream during the Magical Nights of Italia ’90,” Inter said on its social media channels.

West Germany won the 1990 World Cup, beating Argentina in the final, while Italy beat England for third place with a winning penalty kick from Schillaci.

Roberto Baggio, who scored Italy's opening goal in the third-place match, wrote on Instagram, “Ciao my dear friend.”

With Schillaci having been born and raised in Palermo, the city will hold a public viewing of Schillaci at its Renzo Barbera stadium ahead of the funeral.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Juventus' Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, center, attends a team training session with teammates Giancarlo Marocchi, left, and Oleksandr Zavarov, in Turin, Italy, between 1989 and 1990. (LaPresse via AP)

Italy Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, right, controls the ball during a World Cup soccer match between Italy and Austria, in Rome, on June 9, 1990. (LaPresse via AP)

Italy's Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, right, in action during a World Cup soccer match between Italy and the United States, in Rome, on June 14, 1990. (LaPresse via AP)

Italy's Salvatore "Totò Schillaci, right, celebrates with teammate Roberto Baggio after scoring a goal during the World Cup soccer match between Italy and Uruguay, in Rome, on June 25, 1990. (LaPresse via AP)

FILE - Italian forward Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, center, celebrates after scoring the first goal for Italy in the World Cup game against Czechoslovakia, in Rome, Italy, June 19, 1990. (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver, file)

FILE- Former Italian striker Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci is overcome by emotion as he arrives at the reality show "L'Isola dei Famosi" in Milan, Italy, Friday, Nov. 19, 2004. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, file)

FILE - Italy's Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, left, and Argentina's Juan Simon chase the ball during the Soccer World Cup semi-final, in Naples, Italy, July 3, 1990. (AP Photo, file)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Cale Makar had a power-play goal and an assist, Parker Kelly scored short-handed and the Colorado Avalanche capitalized on special teams to get a 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.

Nathan MacKinnon had an empty-net goal and two assists, Valeri Nichushkin also scored and the Avalanche picked up where they left off after scoring twice on the power play in a 4-2 win at San Jose on Thursday night. Scott Wedgewood made 29 saves.

Kelly tied it at 1 on a 2-on-1 short-handed rush in the second, and Nichushkin put Colorado ahead midway through the period. Makar made it 3-1 with a wrist shot early in the third, picking up his fifth power-play goal and 18th point with a man advantage.

Leo Carlsson and Alex Killorn scored for Anaheim. John Gibson made 19 saves, including a penalty shot by Samuel Girard with 5:24 left in the third, but lost for the fifth time in six starts.

Avalanche: The decision to overhaul their goaltending has paid off so far, with Colorado winning six of nine games with Wedgewood or Mackenzie Blackwood starting in net.

Ducks: Jacob Trouba got his first point as a Duck since getting traded from the New York Rangers on Dec. 6 when Carlsson redirected the veteran defenseman's shot early in the second.

Makar's shot is too good to be left with time and space on the power play, and he punished the Ducks' over pursuit on the penalty kill 3:30 into the third.

MacKinnon became the first player in the NHL to pass the 40-assist mark this season, picking up the secondary helper on Nichushkin’s goal and the primary on Makar's.

The Avalanche host Seattle and the Ducks visit Utah on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) blocks a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) and goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) stop a shot by Anaheim Ducks left wing Alex Killorn, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) celebrates after his goal with center Jansen Harkins (38) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) scores past Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Keaton Middleton (67) and Anaheim Ducks left wing Ross Johnston (44) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Colorado Avalanche players celebrate after a goal by right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)