He was more than an icon - he was a hero celebrated by the whole country during the ‘Summer of Italy’ - the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He captured our imagination when we were dreaming of seeing the tri-colour flag hoisted. Salvatore Schillaci was an unlikely hero who became the absolute star of the tournament, leading Italy to a bronze medal and becoming the top-scorer with six goals, which eventually earned him 2nd place in the Ballon d’Or award that year.

Schillaci, known affectionately as Totò, passed away at the age of 59, leaving every Italian with fond memories of his ecstatic celebrations. His eyes, always wild and dreamy, were symbolic of the month-long celebration of football. To remember Totò Schillaci, the Museo del Calcio in Coverciano will display his original No.9 shirt worn in Palermo in a friendly against the Netherlands. The 1-0 victory in the aftermath of the World Cup was one of his 16 appearances for Italy.