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Italy legend and World Cup hero Paolo Rossi dies aged 64

Only a fortnight after the passing of Diego Maradona, Paolo Rossi, the man whose goals brought Italy...


Italy legend and World Cup her...

Sport

Italy legend and World Cup hero Paolo Rossi dies aged 64


Only a fortnight after the passing of Diego Maradona, Paolo Rossi, the man whose goals brought Italy to World Cup glory in 1982, has died at the age of 64. 

Rossi's passing was announced by RAI TV in Italy, where he worked as a pundit.

His wife posted a picture on Instagram, with the words 'per sempre' - which reads 'forever' in Italian.

Rossi won two Serie A titles and a European Cup with Juventus, but 1982 is what he will primarily be remembered for.

The striker won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in Spain, scoring six goals, including a hat-trick against Brazil and the first goal in the final against West Germany.

He also won the Ballon D'Or that year.

Rossi made his mark early in his career at Vicenza and showed promise at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.

The 1982 World Cup almost never happened for him, as he served a two-year ban following a match-fixing scandal, although he always maintained his innocence.

Rossi scored 134 goals in a club career which also included a spell at AC Milan. He found the net 20 times for the Azzurri.



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