Paolo Rossi

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Rossi was born in Prato, Tuscany, Italy in the area of Santa Lucia. He made his debut in professional football with Juventus in 1973, making an appearance in the Coppa Italia. After three operations on his knees, he was sent to Como, where he made his Serie A debut during the 1975–76 season. His career turned when Vicenza engaged him on loan; coach Giovan Battista Fabbri moved him to centre-forward. Rossi won the Serie B Golden Boot with 21 goals in his first year, led Vicenza to promotion to Serie A, and became the first player to top the scoring charts in Serie B and Serie A in consecutive seasons. He made his Italy debut under Enzo Bearzot on 21 December 1977. At the 1978 World Cup, he totalled three goals and four assists as Italy finished fourth, and he collected the Silver Ball as the second-best player. After the tournament, Vicenza paid 2.612 billion lire for Rossi, making him the world's most expensive player. He was later involved in the 1980 Totonero betting scandal and was disqualified for three years, reduced to a two-year ban, missing the 1980 European Championship. Despite the ban, he was repurchased by Juventus in 1981. At the 1982 World Cup, after a poor group stage, Rossi scored a hat-trick to defeat Brazil 3–2 in the second round, then two goals in the semi-final against Poland, and the first goal in the final against West Germany, helping Italy win 3–1. He won the Golden Boot, Golden Ball, Ballon d'Or, and the World Cup in 1982. After retiring, he worked as a pundit for Sky, Mediaset Premium, and Rai Sport until his death.

In Their Own Story

Italian journalists and tifosi initially lamented that Rossi was in very poor shape at the 1982 World Cup, and this view seemed to be confirmed by Italy's appalling performance in the three group matches, in which he was described as a 'ghost aimlessly wandering over the field'. Italy manager Enzo Bearzot, however, staunchly confirmed Rossi for the decisive round robin in the second round. After Italy defeated Argentina 2–1, Rossi scored a hat-trick to defeat Brazil 3–2 to qualify for the semi-finals. In the semi-final match against Poland, Rossi's two goals won the match for Italy once again, granting them a place in the 1982 World Cup final. In the final against West Germany, Rossi scored the first of Italy's three goals, from an indirect set-piece assist from Gentile, helping Italy win the match 3–1, giving his team their third World Cup title. With six goals in total, he won the Golden Boot as the top scorer of the tournament, as well as the Golden Ball Award for the best player of the tournament. Italian fans hung banners proclaiming him 'Man of the match'. Rossi's accomplishments in Spain gained him the title of European Footballer of the Year and World Player of the Year in 1982, as well as the 1982 Onze d'Or Award. His goalscoring exploits during the tournament earned him the nicknames 'Pablito' and the 'torero'. Between his goals and assists throughout the tournament, Rossi was directly responsible for 58% of his team's goals during the 1982 World Cup.

Reader's Guide

Rossi is widely regarded as one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time. He was named in 2004 by Pelé as one of the Top 125 greatest living footballers as part of FIFA's 100th anniversary celebration. In the same year, Rossi placed 12th in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. At club level, he won two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the European Cup with Juventus. He is one of eleven players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d'Or.

Did You Know?

• Rossi is the only player in history to win the Golden Boot, Golden Ball, Ballon d'Or, and the World Cup in a single year (1982).
• He scored a hat-trick against Brazil in the 1982 World Cup second round to defeat Brazil 3–2 and qualify for the semi-finals.
• Rossi was directly responsible for 58% of Italy's goals during the 1982 World Cup.
• He was nicknamed 'Pablito' and 'the torero' for his goalscoring exploits in the 1982 tournament.