Paolo (1956) Rossi

Italian soccer forward who led Italy to the 1982 FIFA World Cup title, scoring six goals to win the Golden Boot as top goalscorer, and the Golden Ball for the player of the tournament. Rossi is one of only three players 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. Along with Roberto Baggio and Christian Vieri, he is Italy's top scorer in World Cup history, with nine goals overall.

Discovered by a scout at the age of 15, he was contracted with Juventus and then Como, playing his first match on 9 November 1975. Distinguished as a top goal scorer, he was loaned to Argentina, Spain, Verona and back to Milan during his playing career. At the time he retired in 1987, he had played in 215 matches and scored 82 goals. Rossi was awarded the European Football Player of the Year, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and the Golden Boot; all in 1982. Since 1990, he worked as a public relations manager for the "New York Apple," an American Soccer League.

Rossi married twice and had three children. He died on 9 December 2020 at the age of 64 from lung cancer, survived by his second wife, Federica Cappelletti, and three children.