Roberto Baggio

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

In 1990, Baggio moved from Fiorentina to Juventus for a world record transfer fee. Baggio won two Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia, and a UEFA Cup, playing for seven different Italian clubs during his career (Vicenza, Fiorentina, Juventus, AC Milan, Bologna, Inter Milan, and Brescia).

In Their Own Story

In the 1989–90 season, while still at Fiorentina, Baggio led his team to the UEFA Cup final where they lost to Juventus. After moving to Turin in 1990, he faced Fiorentina again on 7 April 1991. When substituted, he picked up a Fiorentina scarf thrown onto the field, a gesture appreciated by former fans but causing outrage among Juventus supporters. He scored three goals as Juventus reached the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia that season before being eliminated by Roma.

Reader's Guide

Baggio played for Italy in 56 matches and is the joint fourth-highest goalscorer for his national team. He starred in the Italian team that finished third in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. At the 1994 World Cup, he led Italy to the final, received the World Cup Silver Ball and was named in the World Cup All-Star Team. Although he was the star performer for Italy at the tournament, he missed the decisive penalty in the shootout of the final against Brazil. Baggio is the only Italian to score in three World Cups, and with nine goals holds the record for most goals scored in World Cup tournaments for Italy, along with Paolo Rossi and Christian Vieri.

Did You Know?

• Baggio is known as Il Divin Codino ('The Divine Ponytail'), for the hairstyle he wore for most of his career, for his talent, and for his Buddhist beliefs.
• In 1993, he was named FIFA World Player of the Year and won the Ballon d'Or.
• In 2002, Baggio became the first Italian player in over 50 years to score more than 300 career goals; he is the fifth-highest scoring Italian in all competitions with 318 goals.
• In 2004, during the final season of his career, Baggio became the first player in over 30 years to score 200 goals in Serie A, and is the seventh-highest goalscorer of all time in Serie A, with 205 goals.
• In 2011, he was the first footballer to be inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame.