![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N7EVAS27BQXI2JNT6E6P2ZY6X4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d1a43b432e2a1a528dcf86cecbc08e72978d2d12fcfd6926abdab9e0a57d3bc&width=400&height=225)
Paolo Rossi in Pachuca, Mexico in 2016. EPA
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Italy's Paolo Rossi gets away from Brazil's Junior Football during the 1982 World Cup. Reuters
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Paolo Rossi celebrates his goal in the 1982 World Cup final against West Germany. Getty
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French midfielder Michel Platini shakes hands with Italian Rossi prior to the 1978 World Cup in Argentina in 1978. AFP
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Rossi was a big hit in Toronto when Juventus went to play Blizzard in Toronto. Getty
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The Italian football team poses before the World Cup first round match against France in 1978.
From L to R: 1st row: Franco Causio, Paolo Rossi, Antonio Cabrini, Gaetano Scirea, Giancarlo Antognoni, Marco Tardelli.
2nd row: Romeo Benetti, Dino Zoff, Mauro Bellugi, Roberto Bettega, Claudio Gentile. AFP
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Paolo Rossi in Australia with Juventus in 1984. Getty
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Diego Maradona and Rossi watch an AC Milan training session in Istanbul in 2005. EPA
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Bernd Foerster of Germany fights for the ball with Paolo Rossi during a replay of the 1982 World Cup final in Stuttgart in 2007. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N7EVAS27BQXI2JNT6E6P2ZY6X4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d1a43b432e2a1a528dcf86cecbc08e72978d2d12fcfd6926abdab9e0a57d3bc&width=400&height=225)
Paolo Rossi in Pachuca, Mexico in 2016. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6KLYC5PLUWCZXXHUSDZWHWORNU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f55058b6c879c28549ab6166e21ac157a62a6cf524263bcb9561ca135367035c&width=400&height=225)
Italy's Paolo Rossi gets away from Brazil's Junior Football during the 1982 World Cup. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7QQHDSC3YE2VT3HEAQYLPRIZ2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=975f9362c943aab6adf5e0fc1cb1626e55ff42318c03b5e2ec5883df0cb2e851&width=400&height=225)
Paolo Rossi celebrates his goal in the 1982 World Cup final against West Germany. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C3BPSQUIRBBR2JDCAU4NQEK2PM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d10ee9fd38e8c71ef8ecdf7ed1e759bdb1fdf7f53f7243feb234def34f08c94b&width=400&height=225)
French midfielder Michel Platini shakes hands with Italian Rossi prior to the 1978 World Cup in Argentina in 1978. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7BG7V5KALX2YUBBLO5YS56ATQA.jpg?smart=true&auth=08f08106b03ca227f74efc702a57ce49cb715a7c9a0a21a9f59008e9cc300813&width=400&height=225)
Rossi was a big hit in Toronto when Juventus went to play Blizzard in Toronto. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G2HCQQTNYN2EEZ4BK5M47DC6YU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d670defb51cfd743cbaeb894b2c9d1381d3cad8b0f6045ee2965949e605702e2&width=400&height=225)
The Italian football team poses before the World Cup first round match against France in 1978.
From L to R: 1st row: Franco Causio, Paolo Rossi, Antonio Cabrini, Gaetano Scirea, Giancarlo Antognoni, Marco Tardelli.
2nd row: Romeo Benetti, Dino Zoff, Mauro Bellugi, Roberto Bettega, Claudio Gentile. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AFYAGN4SU7DAQUAN5Y2BRSO5A4.jpg?smart=true&auth=65dd570ff4ae2024619ec68f52b1a8173502e10eb6c468a2c203d00861e1f4a8&width=400&height=225)
Paolo Rossi in Australia with Juventus in 1984. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZCGMSYJZTOY7AR6CY63MQYWMKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7c16beba5007a188c7215e142a9371b0fda18c3e8ec412874afe9240d2d2fa3a&width=400&height=225)
Diego Maradona and Rossi watch an AC Milan training session in Istanbul in 2005. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FI3AXO2TRUB5ZSALV6MQA23PY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d390612c2a527129a0acc87d37a3ac04721612c33d802dbcf7e19ba672f1c26&width=400&height=225)
Bernd Foerster of Germany fights for the ball with Paolo Rossi during a replay of the 1982 World Cup final in Stuttgart in 2007. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N7EVAS27BQXI2JNT6E6P2ZY6X4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d1a43b432e2a1a528dcf86cecbc08e72978d2d12fcfd6926abdab9e0a57d3bc&width=400&height=225)
Paolo Rossi in Pachuca, Mexico in 2016. EPA
Italy's 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi dead at 64
'Pablito' was top scorer, including memorable hat-trick against Brazil, after being cleared of a betting ban
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The National
10 December, 2020
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