World Cup legend Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci dies at 59 from colon cancer

World Cup legend Salvatore Schillaci has died at the age of 59 after a battle with colon cancer.

The Italian icon, who graced the national World Cup in 1990, played for Juventus and Inter in a glittering career that spanned 384 games, scoring 159 goals.

The most famous of these came during that iconic summer, when Schillaci went from being a relative unknown to becoming a regular starter in a competitive Azzurri team.

He finished the tournament with the Golden Boot, after scoring six goals for Italy, and with the trophy for Best Player of the Tournament.

The agile striker, who finished runner-up in the Ballon d’Or that year, subsequently struggled to find form at his club, scoring just eight goals in 42 games for Juventus the following season.

World Cup legend Salvatore Schillaci has died at the age of 59 after a battle with colon cancer

The striker (left) pictured with Roberto Baggio during a spell at Juventus

Schillaci with Cameroonian icon Roger Milla (right), co-star of the 1990 World Cup in Italy

After a spell at Inter, Schillaci ended his career in Japan with Júbilo Iwata, where he enjoyed a successful spell in front of goal.

After his retirement, he returned to his hometown of Palermo, where he opened a youth football academy.

Schillaci was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago. This month, he suffered a major setback in his battle with the disease when he was admitted to hospital with an atrial arrhythmia.

The former striker leaves behind three children: Jessica, Mattia and Nicole.