overview:
Gigi Riva, the all-time leading scorer for the Italian men’s national team, has died.
Gigi Riva starred for Cagliari during a star-studded career.
Gigi Riva, the all-time leading scorer for the Italian men’s national team, has died.
He was 79 years old.
Riva’s impressive international performance (35 goals in 42 games) earned him the nickname “Lombo di Tuono” (The Thunder).
“I am shaken and deeply saddened. Italian football is in mourning as a true national hero leaves us,” FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said in a statement. “Gigi Riva was a great person and the embodiment of an extraordinary footballer. His pride, integrity and sense of fairness united generations.
“Thanks to him we won the European Championship in 1968 and the World Cup in 2006.”
Riva was part of the backstage staff for the 2006 World Championship team.
He was also a member of the Italian national team that lost 4-1 to Brazil in the 1970 World Cup final.
Riva collapsed at home on Sunday and was taken to the cardiac ward of Cagliari’s Brotz hospital.
“He suffered from severe coronary heart disease,” doctors at the hospital told Gazzetta dello Sport. “This morning, the specialist recommended angioplasty surgery. He decided to think about it. It was unthinkable that his condition would suddenly deteriorate.
“He had been advised of the risk of death…He was calm and good-tempered and seemed very calm. He knew the city and country wished him well and he He agreed with the statement regarding his condition.”
Riva was a big reason why Cagliari won their only Italian Serie A title in 1970. He is the team’s all-time leading scorer, scoring his 205 goals in 374 games. He was the top scorer in Serie A three times from 1967 to 1970.