Italian soccer icon Gigi Riva, known for his remarkable skills in scoring goals and widely regarded as one of the most talented strikers in history, passed away on Monday at the age of 79.
As reported by la Gazzetta dello Sport, the top scorer in Italy’s history was hospitalized on Sunday after suffering a heart attack.
At first believed to be in a stable state, doctors later disclosed that his condition worsened and the heart attack was more severe than expected.
Throughout his career, Riva garnered acclaim as one of the standout players of his generation, notching an impressive scoring record for Cagliari. His physical presence and powerful shooting earned him the nickname Rombo di Tuono (thunderclap).
Riva’s achievements went beyond national boundaries as he emerged victorious in the 1968 European Championship and achieved a second place finish in the 1970 World Cup, losing only to the formidable Brazilian team led by Pelé. He also proudly represented Italy in the 1974 World Cup.
With 35 goals in 42 official games from 1965 to 1974, Riva remains at the top of the list for Italy’s highest scoring players of all time. None of the current Italian national team members have even reached half of his total career goals.
Riva spent the majority of his time as a professional player with Cagliari, and during their 1970 triumph in the Italian league, he was the highest scorer in Serie A. He held the title of honorary president at the club until his passing.
During his most recent interview, Riva shared with Corriere della Sera in June, “My greatest remorse? My parents never got to see me achieve fame.”
“When I played for Cagliari, it was always a great feeling to defeat teams like Juve, AC Milan, and Inter Milan.”
His playing career was hindered by injuries towards the end, leading to his retirement in 1976. Despite this setback, he managed to score 164 goals for Cagliari in 315 matches and was named Serie A’s top scorer three times.
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Following his retirement from playing, Riva took on different positions in the world of football. He served as a senior executive, advisor to players, and consultant for the national team until 2013.
Today is a very somber day as we bid farewell to one of the iconic figures in Italian soccer. He was not only an exceptional player, but also a truly admirable individual, according to former England coach Fabio Capello.
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This report was contributed to by Reuters and Ansa.
Source: theguardian.com
