As of: January 22, 2024, 9:11 p.m
By: Andreas Knobloch
Comments
Press
Split
Italy mourns the loss of a football icon.
Gigi Riva died of a heart attack in Cagliari, Sardinia.
He is the country's record goalscorer.
Cagliari - The football world has to say goodbye to the next football idol.
The Italian Gigi Riva has died.
The legend is currently the national team's record goalscorer.
According to his family, he died on Monday at the age of 79 in a hospital in Cagliari, Sardinia, following a heart attack.
Italy legend Gigi Riva died: In 1970 he met Franz Beckenbauer in the game of the century
The Lombard native, who played almost his entire career for US Cagliari, was one of the world's best strikers in the 1960s and 1970s.
In Germany he is best known for his goal in the “game of the century” at the 1970 World Cup semi-final in Mexico (4:3 nV) - on the German side at that time, the recently deceased Franz Beckenbauer played with his arm in a sling.
It was the game that made Beckenbauer a legend.
Gigi Riva and Franz Beckenbauer in the 1970 game of the century between Italy and Germany in Mexico City.
© IMAGO / Sven Simon
Luigi “Gigi” Riva was honorary president of US Cagliari.
He only needed 42 appearances for his 35 international goals.
He became European champion in 1968 and, after the “game of the century,” his team also reached the World Cup final in 1970, which Italy lost 4-1 to Brazil.
With his 35 goals he is ahead of Giuseppe Meazza and Silvio Piola on the all-time list.
Legends like Roberto Baggio (27), Alessandro Del Piero (27) or Filippo Inzaghi (25) were never able to catch up with Riva.
Boninsegna called Riva “a force of nature on the pitch”
Former teammates paid tribute to the deceased as a “force of nature on the pitch,” as Roberto Boninsegna, also a goalscorer against Germany in 1970, put it.
Goalkeeper legend Dino Zoff said he was losing “a good friend, it’s incredibly sad.”
Every football club in Italy also expressed their condolences on social media.
My news
Kay Bernstein († 43): The cause of death has been determined - but the public prosecutor's office is not disclosing it
Walter Beckenbauer finds touching words for Brother Franzlesen
Klopp offers terminally ill coaching legend his job
Football legend draws serious conclusion after emergency operation: “There’s not that much time left” read
When and where will the European Championship 2024 take place?
All dates and stages at a glance
Zetterer: Read “Zero against Bayern – crazy”.
In January 2024, the football world mourned not only Emperor Franz but also the “Caesar” of German football, Klaus Wunder, as well as the Brazil legend Mario Zagallo.
Over a year ago, Italy had to say goodbye to another idol striker: Giuseppe Vialli died at just 58 years old.
(ank with SID material)