Marco Tardelli

Lore & Background

Tardelli's iconic goal celebration in the 1982 World Cup final – running away shaking his fists, tears pouring down his face, screaming 'Gol! Gol!' – is regarded as one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history. He was one of the first three players ever to win all three major UEFA club competitions, alongside Antonio Cabrini and Gaetano Scirea. He earned 81 caps for Italy and served as captain between 1983 and 1985.

In Their Own Story

Tardelli felt the ball hang in the air above the penalty area, a cross from the right that seemed to float in slow motion. He didn't think. He never thought. His body simply rose, shoulders squared, and his forehead met the leather. The net rippled. For a fraction of a second, silence – then the world detonated. He ran. Not toward the bench, not toward the tunnel. He ran to the far corner flag, the one closest to the Italian supporters, and there he stopped. He planted his boots in the turf, threw both arms skyward, and let out a scream that was less a shout than a release of every tackle, every slide, every early-morning training session from the previous decade. His teammates piled onto him. Rossi was on his back, Conti was in his hair. The West German players stood in a daze. In the dressing room afterward, Tardelli peeled off his bloodied knee tape, said almost nothing, and let Zoff pour the champagne over his head. He was 36. He would never play for Italy again. It didn't matter. He had already given everything.

Reader's Guide

Tardelli was an energetic, hard-tackling yet technically skilful two-way midfielder, known for his ability to contribute both offensively and defensively. He was named 37th in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll in 2004 and inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2015. As a manager, he won the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with Italy and later managed the Egypt national team.

Did You Know?

• Tardelli made his international debut on 7 April 1976 against Portugal.
• He scored twice in the 1982 World Cup, including a left-footed strike from outside the area in the final.
• His celebration in the 1982 final was named the fourth greatest World Cup moment of all time by the BBC in 2014.
• Tardelli played 376 games for Juventus and scored 51 goals.