ITALIAN football legend Paolo Rossi has died, aged 64.
The iconic striker was the star of Italy’s 1982 World Cup-winning campaign and won the Golden Boot at the tournament.
The former Juventus and AC Milan favourite won 48 caps for his country as well as two Serie A titles and a European Cup.
His death was announced in the early hours of the morning by Italian TV channel RAI Sport, where he had been working as a pundit.
Presenter Enrico Varriale said: “Such terribly sad news: Paolo Rossi has left us.
“Unforgettable Pablito, who made all of us fall in love in that summer of 1982 and who was a precious and competent work colleague in RAI over recent years.
“RIP dear Paolo.”
His cause of death is not yet known.
Rossi scored a hat-trick in his country’s famous 3-2 win against Brazil in the 1982 tournament as well as a goal in the final against West Germany.
He scored 134 goals in 338 club matches before retiring in 1987 and is considered one of the best forwards of his generation.