Salvatore Schillaci, the scoring hero of Italia 90. As for “Notti Magiche”, or magical nights, that was the official song of that tournament and it lives on as shorthand in Italy for a summer when the country hosted the World Cup and a Sicilian with a wild look in his eyes made millions of Italians dream.

Former Italy forward Salvatore "Toto" Schillaci has died aged 59, the Palermo hospital where he was being treated for colon cancer said a statement on Wednesday. Schillaci rose to international fame at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where he starred for the Azzurri, scoring six goals to win the golden boot.

This archive photo taken in the year of 1990 shows Salvatore Schillaci playing for the national team of Italy.