View source for Paolo Rossi

{{Short description|Italian footballer (1956–2020)}}
{{about|the Italian international footballer|other people}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Paolo Rossi
| image = Paolo Rossi at the 1982 FIFA World Cup (cropped).jpg
| caption = Rossi with [[Italy national football team|Italy]] at the [[1982 FIFA World Cup]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1956|9|23}}
| birth_place = [[Prato]], Italy
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2020|12|9|1956|9|23}}
| death_place = [[Siena]], Italy
| height = 1.74 m
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| youthyears1 = 1961–1967
| youthclubs1 = Santa Lucia
| youthyears2 = 1967–1968
| youthclubs2 = Ambrosiana
| youthyears3 = 1968–1972
| youthclubs3 = Cattolica Virtus
| youthyears4 = 1972–1975
| youthclubs4 = [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
| years1 = 1973–1976
| clubs1 = [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1975–1976
| clubs2 = → [[Como Calcio|Como]] (loan)
| caps2 = 6
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1976–1980
| clubs3 = [[Vicenza Calcio|Vicenza]]
| caps3 = 94
| goals3 = 60
| years4 = 1979–1980
| clubs4 = → [[A.C. Perugia|Perugia]] (loan)
| caps4 = 28
| goals4 = 13
| years5 = 1981–1985
| clubs5 = [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
| caps5 = 83
| goals5 = 24
| years6 = 1985–1986
| clubs6 = [[A.C. Milan|Milan]]
| caps6 = 20
| goals6 = 2
| years8 = 1986–1987
| clubs8 = [[Hellas Verona F.C.|Hellas Verona]]
| caps8 = 20
| goals8 = 4
| totalcaps = 251
| totalgoals = 103
| nationalyears1 = 1977–1986
| nationalteam1 = [[Italy national football team|Italy]]
| nationalcaps1 = 48
| nationalgoals1 = 20
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|Italy}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 Spain]]|}}
}}

'''Paolo Rossi''' ({{IPA|it|ˈpaːolo ˈrossi}};<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=Paolo|title=Paolo|work=DiPI Online|author=[[Luciano Canepari]]|access-date=27 October 2018|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=Rossi|title=Rossi|work=DiPI Online|author=Luciano Canepari|access-date=27 October 2018|language=it}}</ref> 23 September 1956 – 9 December 2020) was an Italian professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]]. He led [[Italy national football team|Italy]] to the [[1982 FIFA World Cup]] title, scoring six goals to win the [[World Cup Golden Boot|Golden Boot]] as top goalscorer, and the [[FIFA World Cup awards#Golden Ball|Golden Ball]] for the player of the tournament. Rossi is one of only three players, and the only European, to have won all three awards at a World Cup, along with [[Garrincha]] in 1962 and [[Mario Kempes]] in 1978. Rossi was also awarded the [[1982 Ballon d'Or]] as the European Footballer of the Year for his performances (remaining the only player in history to win these four awards in a single year). Along with [[Roberto Baggio]] and [[Christian Vieri]], he is [[Italy national football team records#Goalscorers|Italy's top scorer in World Cup history]], with nine goals overall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.famigliacristiana.it/articolo/paolo-rossi-si-racconta-in-un-libro.aspx|title=PAOLO ROSSI: NOI, RAGAZZI DELL'82|trans-title=Paolo Rossi: We, the guys of '82|publisher=Famiglia Cristiana|language=it|date=14 May 2012|access-date=5 July 2015}}</ref>

At club level, Rossi was also a prolific goalscorer for [[Vicenza Calcio|Vicenza]]. In 1976, he was signed to [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] from Vicenza in a co-ownership deal for a [[World football transfer record|world record transfer fee]].<ref name="Record">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23903470|title=The history of the world transfer record|work=BBC Sport|access-date=10 May 2014}}</ref> Vicenza retained his services, and he was the top goalscorer in [[Serie B]] in 1977, leading his team to promotion to [[Serie A]]. The following season, Rossi scored 24 goals, to become the first player to top the scoring charts in Serie B and Serie A in consecutive seasons. Rossi made his debut for Juventus in 1981, and went on to win two Serie A titles, the [[Coppa Italia]], the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]], the [[UEFA Super Cup]], and the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]. With success at club and international level, he is one of ten players to have won the [[FIFA World Cup]], the [[UEFA Champions League]] and the [[Ballon d'Or]].

Widely regarded as one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time, Rossi was named in 2004 by [[Pelé]] as one of the [[FIFA 100|Top 125 greatest living footballers]] as part of [[FIFA]]'s 100th anniversary celebration.<ref name="Pele's list of the greatest">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3533891.stm|title=Pele's list of the greatest|work=BBC Sport|date=4 March 2004|access-date=15 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819114039/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm|archive-date=19 August 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> In the same year, Rossi placed 12th in the [[UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll]]. After he retired from football, he worked as a pundit for [[Sky Sport (Italy)|Sky]], [[Mediaset Premium]], and [[Rai Sport]], until his death on 9 December 2020.<ref name="death">{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/163263/paolo-rossi-has-died |title=Paolo Rossi has died |publisher=football-italia.net |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020 }}</ref><ref name="morte">{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/10-12-2020/morto-paolo-rossi-simbolo-italia-mondiale-1982-3901555485277.shtml |title=È morto Paolo Rossi, simbolo dell'Italia Mondiale del 1982 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Cugini |first1=Mimmo |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020 }}</ref>

==Career==
===Early years===
Rossi was born in [[Prato]], Tuscany, Italy in the area of Santa Lucia.<ref name=cinquantamila.corriere.it>{{cite book|url=http://cinquantamila.corriere.it/storyTellerThread.php?threadId=ROSSI+Paolo|title=Paolo Rossi|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=30 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230004911/http://cinquantamila.corriere.it/storyTellerThread.php?threadId=ROSSI+Paolo|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2012/04/25/ho-visto-esplodere-paolo-rossi-bobo-vieri.html|title=Ho visto esplodere Paolo Rossi e Bobo Vieri anche mio nipote Alino merita la Nazionale|work=La Repubblica|last1=Intorcia|first1=Francesco Saverio|language=it|date=25 April 2012|access-date=5 July 2015}}</ref>

Although he was a member of the squad during the 1972–73 season, Rossi made his debut in professional Italian football with [[Juventus]] in 1973, making an appearance in the [[Coppa Italia]] and winning a runners-up medal in the [[1973 Intercontinental Cup]]. He was often injury-prone during his first few seasons, only making three Coppa Italia appearances with Juventus between 1972 and 1975, and scoring no goals. After three operations on his knees, he was later sent to gain experience with [[Como Calcio|Como]], where he made his [[Serie A]] debut during the [[1975–76 Serie A|1975–76 season]], initially playing as a [[right winger]], where his small build would not be a hindrance; he made six Serie A appearances for the club, but again failed to score.<ref name=tuttojuve.com>{{cite web|title=Gli Eroi in Bianconero: Paolo ROSSI|url=http://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-paolo-rossi-63703|publisher=Tutto Juve|author1=Stefano Bedeschi|language=it|date=23 September 2013|access-date=7 January 2015}}</ref><ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/paolo_rossi_biografia.html|title=Paolo Rossi: La solitudine del centravanti|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref><ref name=cinquantamila.corriere.it/><ref name="Paolo Rossi, l'uomo che fece piangere il Brasile">{{cite web|url=http://www.gonews.it/2013/12/20/paolo-rossi-luomo-che-fece-piangere-il-brasile-intervista-al-campione-del-mondo-di-spagna-82/#.U2yw6Pl_tVY|title=Paolo Rossi, l'uomo che fece piangere il Brasile. Intervista al campione del mondo di Spagna '82|publisher=gonews.it|language=it|date=20 December 2013|access-date=7 January 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Paolo Rossi 1975.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.68|A young Paolo Rossi with [[Como Calcio|Como]] in 1975]]

His career reached a turning point when [[Vicenza Calcio]] (then Lanerossi Vicenza) engaged him on loan. Coach [[Giovan Battista Fabbri]] decided to move him from the wing and place him in the [[centre forward|centre of the attack]] (because of injuries to the then centre-forward) just before the season started. Rossi immediately showed a tremendous knack for getting open in the box and scoring, winning the [[Serie B]] Golden Boot with 21 goals in his first year in this more advanced position. In the 1976–77 season, Rossi's qualities as an implacable striker led his team to promotion to Serie A, and he also led Vicenza to the second group stage of the [[Coppa Italia]] that season. In the following season, Rossi scored 24 goals, to become the first player to [[Capocannoniere|top the scoring charts]] in [[1976–77 Serie B|Serie B]] and Serie A in consecutive seasons, also leading Vicenza to an incredible second-place finish in [[1977–78 Serie A|Serie A during the 1977–78 season]], only behind his co-owners Juventus. Due to his performances, he was selected by the [[Italy national football team|Italian national team]]'s manager [[Enzo Bearzot]] for the [[1978 FIFA World Cup]]. Rossi was also given his Italy debut under Bearzot on 21 December 1977, in a 1–0 friendly away win over [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]].<ref name=tuttojuve.com/><ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/><ref name="Paolo Rossi, l'uomo che fece piangere il Brasile"/><ref name="Real Vicenza: Il Lanerossi Vicenza di Fabbri">{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/lanerossi_vicenza_real.html|title=Real Vicenza: Il Lanerossi Vicenza di Fabbri|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=5 July 2015}}</ref>

Rossi confirmed his growth during the 1978 World Cup tournament, gaining international fame as one of the world's best strikers. Playing for Italy as a central striker, he would sometimes switch positions with the two other forward, going to his original right wing position. Right winger [[Franco Causio]], a two-footed player, would go left, and Italy's tall left winger [[Roberto Bettega]] would go to the center. This simple stratagem, made possible by the technical quality of all three players, created havoc for opposing defences, and Italy showed an entertaining offensive style of play in the tournament. Rossi totalled three goals and four assists as Italy finished in fourth place in that World Cup. He was named as part of the team of the tournament for his performances, and he also collected the [[FIFA World Cup awards|Silver Ball]] as the second-best player of the World Cup. Rossi's goal in Italy's opening 2–1 group win of the tournament against [[France national football team|France]], on 2 June 1978, was also his first goal for Italy.<ref name=tuttojuve.com/><ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/><ref name=fifa.com>{{cite web|title=Pablito, Italy's outstanding opportunist|url=http://origin.fifa.com/womensyoutholympic/news/y=2007/m=4/news=pablito-italy-outstanding-opportunist-510183.html|publisher=FIFA|access-date=7 January 2015}}{{dead link|date=October 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Up to this point, Rossi had been jointly owned by Vicenza and Juventus. When the two clubs were called to settle the property, Lanerossi offered the shocking sum of 2.612&nbsp;billion lire for Rossi, who became the [[World football transfer record|world's most expensive player]], and Italy's most costly sportsman ever at that point. After the 1978 World Cup, during the [[1978–79 Serie A|1978–79 season]], Rossi made his European debut with Vicenza in the [[1978–79 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]], however, despite scoring 15 goals for the club in Serie A, his season was marked by injuries, and Vicenza was relegated to Serie B. Rossi was subsequently loaned to [[A.C. Perugia|Perugia]], to play in Serie A the following season.<ref name=tuttojuve.com/><ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/><ref name="Real Vicenza: Il Lanerossi Vicenza di Fabbri"/>

===Match-fixing scandal===
While at Perugia, he managed 13 goals in Serie A during the [[1979–80 Serie A|1979–80 season]], also helping the club to the round of 16 of the [[1979–80 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]]. During the season, however, he was involved in the infamous 1980 betting scandal known in Italy as [[Totonero 1980|Totonero]], and as a result of this Rossi was disqualified for three years, although this was later reduced to a two-year ban. As a result, Rossi missed out on the [[UEFA Euro 1980|1980 European Championship]] with Italy, where the team once again finished in fourth place, on home soil. Despite the ban, Rossi always claimed to be innocent, and stated that he had been a victim of an injustice.<ref name=fifa.com/><ref>{{cite news|access-date=21 May 2010|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/5215260.stm|author=Dan Warren|work=[[BBC News]]|title=The worst scandal of them all|date=25 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323102307/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/5215260.stm|archive-date=23 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

===1982 World Cup===
[[File:Spagna '82 - Paolo Rossi, Coppa del Mondo.jpg|thumb|upright=0.68|right|Paolo Rossi kisses the [[1982 FIFA World Cup]] trophy.]]

Despite his ban, Rossi was repurchased by [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] in 1981, and he returned to the starting line-up just in time for the end of the 1981–82 season to contribute to the club's [[1981–82 Serie A]] title (scoring one goal in three appearances), and to take part in the [[1982 FIFA World Cup]] in Spain.<ref name=tuttojuve.com/> Italian journalists and [[tifosi]] initially lamented that he was in very poor shape, however, and this view seemed to be confirmed by Italy's appalling performance in the three group matches, in which he was described as a "ghost aimlessly wandering over the field".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/07_Luglio/07/specialemondial1982.shtml|title=Rossi è Pablito, Italia campione|publisher=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]]|language=it|date=7 July 2006|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref>

Italy manager [[Enzo Bearzot]], however, staunchly confirmed Rossi for the decisive round robin in the second round, in which his team was to face [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], the [[1978 FIFA World Cup|reigning World Champions]], and [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]], the favourites to win the title with a team consisting of world-class players such as [[Sócrates]], [[Zico (footballer)|Zico]], and [[Paulo Roberto Falcão|Falcão]]. After Italy defeated Argentina 2–1, partly thanks to the defensive work of [[Claudio Gentile]] and [[Gaetano Scirea]] who shut down the young Argentine star [[Diego Maradona]], Rossi scored a [[hat-trick]] to [[Italy v Brazil (1982 FIFA World Cup)|defeat Brazil 3–2]] to qualify for the semi-finals.<ref name="Paolo Rossi, l'uomo che fece piangere il Brasile"/> In the semi-final match against [[Poland national football team|Poland]], Rossi's two goals won the match for Italy once again, granting them a place in the [[1982 FIFA World Cup Final|1982 World Cup final]]. In the final against [[Germany national football team|West Germany]], Rossi scored the first of Italy's three goals, from an indirect set-piece assist from Gentile, helping Italy win the match 3–1, giving his team their third World Cup title. With six goals in total, he won the tournament's ''máximo goleador'' award, the [[World Cup Golden Boot|Golden Boot]], as the top scorer of the tournament, as well as the [[FIFA World Cup awards|Golden Ball Award]] for the best player of the tournament, and he was named as part of the team of the tournament for the second consecutive time.<ref name=tuttojuve.com/><ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/><ref name=fifa.com/>

Italian fans hung banners proclaiming him "[[Man of the match]]". Rossi's accomplishments in Spain gained him the title of [[1982 Ballon d'Or|European Footballer of the Year]] and [[World Soccer Magazine|World Player of the Year]] in 1982, as well as the 1982 [[Onze d'Or]] Award. His goalscoring exploits during the tournament earned him the nicknames "Pablito" and the "torero".<ref name=tuttojuve.com/><ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/><ref name="1982, il ritorno di Paolo Rossi">{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/paolo_rossi_ritorno.html|title=1982, il ritorno di Paolo Rossi e il lieto fine di una favola spezzata|publisher=Storie di Calcio|author1=Fabio Bianchi|language=it|access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref> Between his goals and assists throughout the tournament, Rossi was directly responsible for 58% of his team's goals during the 1982 World Cup.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/spain-s-2010-conquerors-in-numbers-2904843 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607103350/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/spain-s-2010-conquerors-in-numbers-2904843 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 June 2018 |title=Spain's 2010 conquerors in numbers |publisher=FIFA |date=22 August 2017 |access-date=18 May 2020 }}</ref>

Rossi became a national hero in Italy for his six goals in the 1982 World Cup finals. Peter Mason, writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', noted that the World Cup final win, which was set up by Rossi's crucial first goal, "was a cathartic moment for the nation, which had been subject to significant social and political unrest for a number of years and, despite being regarded as one of the world's premier footballing nations, had not won a World Cup since 1938... With the victory came an incalculable lift to the nation’s spirits, and Rossi was at the centre of the celebrations."<ref name=obit />

==Later years and death==
[[File:Paolo Rossi (football).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.68|Rossi in 2007]]
After the 1982 World Cup, Rossi continued to play with [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]. During the [[1982–83 Serie A|1982–83]] season, Juventus finished second in Serie A, although he helped the club to win the 1983 Coppa Italia, scoring five goals. He also helped Juventus to reach the [[1983 European Cup Final]], only to lose out to [[Hamburger SV|Hamburg]]; he finished the [[1982–83 European Cup|tournament]] as the top scorer, with six goals. During the [[1983–84 Serie A|1983–84 season]], Rossi won his second [[Scudetto]] title with the club, notably scoring 13 goals, also helping the club to win the [[1983–84 European Cup Winners' Cup|1983–84]] [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]], followed by the [[1984 UEFA Super Cup]]. During his final season with the club, Rossi finally won the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] in [[1984–85 European Cup|1985]], finishing the tournament with 5 goals, behind only teammate [[Michel Platini]], and [[Torbjörn Nilsson]], with 7 goals.<ref name=tuttojuve.com/><ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/><ref name=fifa.com/><ref name="1982, il ritorno di Paolo Rossi"/>

Following his tenure with Juventus, Rossi moved on to a then struggling [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] for a season in 1985.<ref name=cinquantamila.corriere.it/> During his time with Milan, he was remembered for his two-goal performance against [[Inter Milan|Internazionale]] in a [[Derby della Madonnina|Milan derby match]]. Rossi was also selected in Italy's squad for the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]] in Mexico, but did not play in the competition; an injury caused him to struggle during the team's fitness tests, owing to the high altitude of the region. As a result, he was replaced by [[Giuseppe Galderisi]] up-front in the team's starting line-up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/mondiali-1986-argentina.html/3|title=Mondiali 1986: ARGENTINA, Capitolo V – Si ricomincia con la Bulgaria|date=25 July 2016 |publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref> He made his final appearance for Italy on 11 May 1986, in a 2–0 friendly home win over [[China national football team|China]] in Naples. He ended his club career at [[Hellas Verona F.C.|Hellas Verona]] during the [[1986–87 Serie A|1986–87]] season, helping them to a fourth-place finish in Serie A, before retiring at the end of the season. He was involved in real estate, together with his former teammate Giancarlo Salvi.<ref name=tuttojuve.com/><ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/>

Rossi scored a total of 20 goals in 48 senior international caps for [[Italy national football team|Italy]].<ref name=figc.it>{{cite web|title=Nazionale in cifre: Rossi, Paolo|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=918&squadra=1|publisher=FIGC|access-date=19 May 2015|language=it}}</ref> Rossi is [[Italy national football team records#Goalscorers|Italy's joint all-time top goalscorer in the FIFA World Cup]], with nine goals in 14 appearances over two editions of the tournament, alongside [[Roberto Baggio]] and [[Christian Vieri]]. Six of his World Cup goals came in seven appearances during Italy's passage to triumph in 1982, and three of his goals came in seven appearances during the 1978 tournament, when Italy finished in fourth place.<ref name=tuttojuve.com/><ref name="1982, il ritorno di Paolo Rossi"/> Rossi represented Italy in the [[I World Cup of Masters|1991]] edition of the [[World Cup of Masters]], scoring in the third place play-off against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]].

[[Pelé]] named Rossi as one of the [[FIFA 100|top 125 greatest living footballers]] in March 2004;<ref name="Pele's list of the greatest"/> during the same year, Rossi placed 12th in the [[UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=171628.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522013043/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=171628.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 May 2013|title=Winner acknowledges his fans|publisher=UEFA|date=23 April 2004|access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref>

In August 1990, he was named vice-president of [[Lega Pro Prima Divisione]] club [[A.S. Pescina Valle del Giovenco]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribalfootball.com/juventus-legend-rossi-back-football-pescina-261602|title=Juventus legend Rossi back in football at Pescina|access-date=10 September 2009|date=6 August 2009|publisher=Tribalfootball.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810005604/http://www.tribalfootball.com/juventus-legend-rossi-back-football-pescina-261602|archive-date=10 August 2009}}</ref>

Following his retirement he also worked as a pundit for Sky, Mediaset Premium, and Rai Sport.<ref name="death"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.repubblica.it/sport/2020/12/10/news/morto_paolo_rossi_stella_del_calcio_italiano-277710237/ |title=E' morto Paolo Rossi, l'eroe del Mundial 82 |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020 }}</ref>

Rossi died on 9 December 2020, at the age of 64, from lung cancer.<ref name="death"/><ref name="morte"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/10-12-2020/morte-paolo-rossi-prato-tetto-mondo-boniperti-bearzot-3901556150208.shtml |title=Scaltro e con il gol nel sangue: da Prato al tetto del mondo con Boniperti e Bearzot |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020 }}</ref> Rossi was survived by his second wife, Federica Cappelletti, and three children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/163269/federica-wife-rossi-no-one-you|title=Federica, wife of Rossi: 'No one like you'|publisher=Football Italia|date=10 December 2020}}</ref> During his funeral in [[Vicenza]] on 12 December, attended by thousands,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/163352/paolo-rossis-funeral-held-vicenza|title=Paolo Rossi's funeral held in Vicenza|publisher=Football Italia|date=12 December 2020}}</ref> his house in [[Bucine]] was robbed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/163410/rossi%E2%80%99s-wife-lost-words-after-home-robbed-during-funeral|title=Rossi's wife lost for words after home robbed during funeral|publisher=Football Italia|date=13 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/11/paolo-rossi-obituary|title=Paolo Rossi obituary|access-date=11 December 2020 |work=The Guardian |first=Peter |last=Mason |date=11 December 2020}}</ref>

==Style of play==
Paolo Rossi is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most prolific Italian forwards of all time.<ref name="Paolo Rossi, l'uomo che fece piangere il Brasile"/> Although he lacked the intimidating physical presence of a typical out-and-out [[Striker (association football)|striker]], Rossi was a quick, agile, prolific, and elegant [[centre-forward]], with good technique, balance, extremely quick reactions, an accurate shot, and an eye for goal, which enabled him to anticipate defenders in the box for the ball.<ref name=cinquantamila.corriere.it/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/sport/pablito-pepito-stesso-fiuto-gol-lui-pi-potente-966816.html|title=Da Pablito a Pepito stesso fiuto del gol ma lui è più potente|work=Il Giornale|last=Di Dio|first=Marcello|language=it|date=13 November 2013|access-date=7 January 2015}}</ref> He made up for his lack of strength, physicality, and shooting power with his keen sense of opportunism, intelligence, positional sense, and sharp finishing skills with both of his feet as well as with his head. This allowed him to excel in the air and beat out larger opponents for the ball, in spite of his relatively short stature. However, he was not particularly adept at set pieces.<ref name=tuttojuve.com/><ref name="Paolo Rossi, l'uomo che fece piangere il Brasile"/><ref name=fifa.com/> Although Rossi was primarily known as a striker who mainly operated in the penalty area, he began his career as a [[right winger]], and in his later career with Juventus, he was also deployed as a [[Second striker|supporting forward]] or as centre-forward, but in a role known as a ''centravanti di manovra'' in Italian football jargon (similar to the modern [[false 9]] role), owing to the offensive attributes of the club's new signings in midfield, in particular [[Zbigniew Boniek]] and [[Michel Platini]], where his role frequently involved holding up the ball or dragging opponents out of position to create space for his teammates' runs with his excellent attacking movement off the ball.<ref name=tuttojuve.com/>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[Coppa Italia]]
!colspan="2"|[[UEFA|Europe]]
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
|[[1973–74 Serie A|1973–74]]
|[[Serie A]]
|0||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
|[[1974–75 Juventus FC season|1974–75]]
|Serie A
|0||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||2||0
|-
!colspan=2 |Total
!0||0||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||3||0
|-
|[[Calcio Como|Como]]
|[[1975–76 Serie A|1975–76]]
|Serie A
|6||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||6||0
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Vicenza Calcio|Lanerossi Vicenza]]
|[[1976–77 Serie B|1976–77]]
|[[Serie B]]
|36||21||6||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||42||23
|-
|[[1977–78 Serie A|1977–78]]
|Serie A
|30||24||4||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||34||26
|-
|[[1978–79 Serie A|1978–79]]
|Serie A
|28||15||3||2||1{{efn|name=UC|Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|–||32||17
|-
!colspan=2 |Total
!94||60||13||6||1||0||colspan="2"|–||108||66
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Perugia Calcio|Perugia]]
|[[1979–80 Serie A|1979–80]]
|Serie A
|28||13||4||0||4{{efn|name=UC}}||1||colspan="2"|–||36||14
|-
|[[1980–81 Serie A|1980–81]]
|Serie A
|0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0
|-
!colspan=2 |Total
!28||13||4||0||4||1||colspan="2"|–||36||14
|-
|rowspan="5"|Juventus
|[[1981–82 Juventus FC season|1981–82]]
|Serie A
|3||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||3||1
|-
|[[1982–83 Juventus FC season|1982–83]]
|Serie A
|23||7||11||5||9{{efn|name=EC|Appearances in [[European Cup]]}}||6||colspan="2"|–||43||18
|-
|[[1983–84 Juventus FC season|1983–84]]
|Serie A
|30||13||7||0||9{{efn|name=ECWC|Appearances in [[European Cup Winners' Cup]]}}||2||colspan="2"|–||46||15
|-
|[[1984–85 Juventus FC season|1984–85]]
|Serie A
|27||3||6||2||9{{efn|name=EC}}||5||1{{efn|Appearance in [[European Super Cup]]}}||0||43||10
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!83||24||24||7||27||13||1!!0!!135!!44
|-
|[[AC Milan|Milan]]
|[[1985–86 AC Milan season|1985–86]]
|Serie A
|20||2||3||1||3{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|–||26||3
|-
|[[Hellas Verona FC|Hellas Verona]]
|[[1986–87 Serie A|1986–87]]
|Serie A
|20||4||7||3||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||27||7
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!251||103||54||17||35||14!!1!!0!!341!!134
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/prossi-intlg.html|title=Paolo Rossi – Goals in International Matches|author=Roberto Di Maggio|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|date=9 November 2002}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="10"|[[Italy national football team|Italy]]
|1977||1||0
|-
|1978||10||4
|-
|1979||5||3
|-
|1980||3||0
|-
|1981||0||0
|-
|1982||11||6
|-
|1983||7||2
|-
|1984||6||3
|-
|1985||3||2
|-
|1986||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total||48||20
|}

:''Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rossi goal''.<ref name=figc.it/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Paolo Rossi
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 2 June 1978 || [[Estadio José María Minella|Estadio Mundialista]], [[Mar del Plata]] || {{fb|FRA}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|2–1 || [[1978 FIFA World Cup Group 1#Italy vs France|1978 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 6 June 1978 || Estadio Mundialista, Mar del Plata || {{fb|HUN}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–1 || 1978 FIFA World Cup
|-
| align="center"|3 || 18 June 1978 || [[Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti|Estadio Monumental]], Buenos Aires || {{fb|AUT}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || 1978 FIFA World Cup
|-
| align="center"|4 || 21 December 1978 || [[Stadio Olimpico]], Rome || {{fb|ESP|1977}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|5 || 24 February 1979 || [[San Siro]], Milan || {{fb|NED}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|3–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|6 || 26 May 1979 || Stadio Olimpico, Rome || {{fb|ARG}} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–2 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|7 || 13 June 1979 || [[Stadion Maksimir]], [[Zagreb]] || {{fb|YUG}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–4 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|8 || rowspan="3"|5 July 1982 || rowspan="3"|[[Estadi de Sarrià|Estadio Sarriá]], Barcelona || rowspan="3"|{{fb|BRA}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="3" align="center"|[[Brazil v Italy (1982 FIFA World Cup)|3–2]] || rowspan="3"|[[1982 FIFA World Cup#Group C|1982 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|9 || align="center"|2–1
|-
| align="center"|10 || align="center"|3–2
|-
| align="center"|11 || rowspan="2"|8 July 1982 || rowspan="2"|[[Camp Nou]], Barcelona || rowspan="2"|{{fb|POL}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|2–0 || rowspan="2"|1982 FIFA World Cup
|-
| align="center"|12 || align="center"|2–0
|-
| align="center"|13 || 11 July 1982 || [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium|Estadio Santiago Bernabéu]], Madrid || {{fb|FRG}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–1 || 1982 FIFA World Cup
|-
| align="center"|14 || 5 October 1983 || [[Stadio della Vittoria]], [[Bari]] || {{fb|GRE}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|3–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|15 || 22 December 1983 || [[Stadio Renato Curi]], [[Perugia]] || {{fb|CYP}} || align="center"|3–1 || align="center"|3–1 || [[UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying Group 5|UEFA Euro 1984 qualifier]]
|-
| align="center"|16 || rowspan="3"|4 February 1984 || rowspan="3"|Stadio Olimpico, Rome || rowspan="3"|{{fb|MEX}} || align="center"|2–0 || rowspan="3" align="center"|5–0 || rowspan="3"|Friendly
|-
| align="center"|17 || align="center"|3–0
|-
| align="center"|18 || align="center"|4–0
|-
| align="center"|19 || 5 February 1985 || [[Dalymount Park]], Dublin || {{fb|IRL}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|20 || 3 April 1985 || [[Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca]], [[Ascoli Piceno]] || {{fb|POR}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || Friendly
|}

==Honours==
'''Vicenza'''<ref name=fifa.com/>
*[[Serie B]]: [[1976–77 Serie B|1976–77]]

'''Juventus'''<ref name=fifa.com/>
*[[Serie A]]: [[1981–82 Serie A|1981–82]], [[1983–84 Serie A|1983–84]]
*[[Coppa Italia]]: [[1982–83 Coppa Italia|1982–83]]
*[[European Cup]]: [[1984–85 European Cup|1984–85]]; runner-up: [[1982–83 European Cup|1982–83]]<ref>[https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1982/matches/ 1982–83 All matches – season at UEFA website]</ref>
*[[European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1983–84 European Cup Winners' Cup|1983–84]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[1984 European Super Cup|1984]]

'''Italy'''<ref name=fifa.com/>
*[[FIFA World Cup]]: [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]

'''Individual'''
*''[[Capocannoniere]]'': [[1977–78 Serie A|1977–78]] (24 goals)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italtops.html|title=Italy – Serie A Top Scorers|author1=Roberto Di Maggio|author2=Igor Kramarsic|author3=Alberto Novello|date=11 June 2015|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|access-date=2 December 2015}}</ref>
*Serie B top scorer: [[1976–77 Serie B|1976–77]] (21 goals)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital2tops.html|title=Italy – Serie B Top Scorers|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup Silver Ball]]: [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]]<ref name=fifa.com/><ref name="FIFA Awards">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html|title=FIFA Awards: FIFA World Cup Golden Ball Awards|author1=José Luis Pierrend|date=12 February 2015|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|access-date=20 December 2015}}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup All-Star Team]]: [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]], [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]<ref name="FIFA World Cup Awards: All-Star Team">{{cite web|url=http://football.sporting99.com/fifa-world-cup-all-star-team.html|title=FIFA World Cup Awards: All-Star Team|access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref>
*[[Gazzetta Sports Awards]] Man of the Year: 1978<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/storie-che-emozionano/20-11-2017/gazzetta-sports-awards-buffon-nuove-sfide-oltre-lacrime-230756321959.shtml|title=Gazzetta Sports Awards: Buffon le nuove sfide oltre le lacrime|date=20 November 2017|language=it|work=La Gazzetta dello Sport}}</ref>
*''Sport Ideal European XI'': 1978<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1979/01/03/pagina-16/1043654/pdf.html |website=Mundo Deportivo|title=Sport 1978|access-date=4 June 2024 }}</ref>
*[[FIFA|FIFA XI]]: 1979, 1986<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html|title=FIFA XI´s Matches – Full Info|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup Golden Boot]]: [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]<ref name=fifa.com/>
*[[FIFA World Cup Golden Ball]]: [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]<ref name=fifa.com/><ref name="FIFA Awards"/>
*[[Onze d'Or]]: 1982<ref name="Onze Mondial Awards">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|title="Onze Mondial" Awards: Onze de Onze 1976–2011|author1=José Luis Pierrend|date=6 March 2012|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|access-date=14 September 2015}}</ref>
*[[Ballon d'Or]]: 1982<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html|title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or")|author1=Rob Moore|author2=Karel Stokkermans|date=21 January 2011|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|access-date=22 December 2015}}</ref>
*[[World Soccer (magazine)#Award winners|''World Soccer'' Men's World Player of the Year]]: 1982<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/world-soccer-awards-previous-winners-2-338433|title=World Soccer Awards – previous winners|publisher=World Soccer|author1=Jamie Rainbow|date=14 December 2012|access-date=21 November 2015}}</ref>
*[[L'Équipe Champion of Champions|''L'Équipe'' Champion of Champions]]: [[L'Équipe Champion of Champions#Single awards|1982]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whoholdsthetitle.com/home/championslist/list-of-lequipe-world-champion-of-champions-rafael-nadal-2010-winner/|title=L'Équipe World Champion of Champions|date=26 December 2014|access-date=22 December 2015}}</ref>
*[[Guerin Sportivo|''Guerin Sportivo'' Player of the Year]]: 1982
*[[Guerin Sportivo|''Guerin Sportivo'' All-Star Team]]: 1982
*[[List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League top scorers#Winners by seasons|European Cup top scorer]]: [[1982–83 European Cup|1982–83]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec1tops.html|title=Champions Cup/Champions League Topscorers|author1=Roberto Di Maggio|author2=Roberto Mamrud|author3=Jarek Owsianski|author4=Davide Rota|date=11 June 2015|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|access-date=22 December 2015}}</ref>
*[[World Soccer Awards#Greatest Players of the 20th century|''World Soccer'']] Greatest Players of the 20th century: 41st<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsWldSocPlyrsCent.html|title=World Soccer 100 Players of the Century|access-date=5 July 2015}}</ref>
*[[FIFA 100]]<ref name="Pele's list of the greatest"/>
*[[UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll]]: 12th<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/171606.pdf|title=Zinedine Zidane voted top player by fans|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=24 July 2014}}</ref>
*[[Golden Foot|Golden Foot "Football Legends"]]: 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/en/legends.html|title=Golden Foot Legends|publisher=Golden Foot.com|access-date=27 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029033413/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/italcuptops.html|archive-date=29 October 2015}}</ref>
*[[Italian Football Hall of Fame]]: 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vivoazzurro.it/en/news/italian-football-hall-of-fame-to-induct-ten-new-stars/|title=Italian football Hall of Fame to induct ten new stars|date=25 October 2016|access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref>
*[[Juventus FC Hall of Fame]]: 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 September 2025 |title=Juventus creates its Hall of Fame - Juventus |url=https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articles/juventus-creates-its-hall-of-fame |access-date=10 September 2025 |website=Juventus.com |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Antonello Capone e Paolo Piani, Sponsor, in Marco Sappino (a cura di), Dizionario del calcio italiano, 1ª ed., Milano, Baldini & Castoldi, 2000.
*Calciatori ‒ La raccolta completa Panini 1961–2012, Vol. 2 (1985–1986), Modena, Panini, 2012.
*Calciatori ‒ La raccolta completa Panini 1961–2012, Vol. 3 (1986–1987), Modena, Panini, 2012.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.pablitorossi.com/ Official website] {{in lang|it}}
*[http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=918&squadra=1 Profile at FIGC.it] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617193553/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=918&squadra=1 |date=17 June 2018 }} {{in lang|it}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Italy squads
|bg=#0066bc
|fg=#FFFFFF
|list1=
{{Italy squad 1978 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Italy squad 1982 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Italy squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|title= Awards
|list1=
{{1978 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{1982 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{FIFA World Cup Golden Boot}}
{{FIFA World Cup Golden Ball}}
{{Ballon d'Or recipients}}
{{Onze Mondial European Footballer of the Year}}
{{UEFA Champions League top scorers}}
{{Serie A top scorers}}
{{Serie B top scorers}}
{{1982 World Soccer World XI}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{Golden Foot Legends Award}}
{{Italian Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Italian Sportsman of the Year}}
{{Juventus FC Hall of Fame}}
{{L'Équipe Champion of Champions}}
{{Walk of Fame of Italian sport}}
}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rossi, Paolo}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:1978 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1982 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:AC Milan players]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Como 1907 players]]
[[Category:Ballon d'Or winners]]
[[Category:FIFA 100]]
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[[Category:Italian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Italy men's international footballers]]
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[[Category:Footballers from Prato]]
[[Category:AC Perugia Calcio players]]
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[[Category:Serie B players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople involved in betting scandals]]
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[[Category:UEFA Champions League top scorers]]
[[Category:LR Vicenza players]]
[[Category:World Soccer Magazine World Player of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Tuscany]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen]]