Italian Football Icon Gigi Riva Passes Away at 79 Following Heart Attack

Gigi Riva, the revered footballing figure celebrated for his extraordinary goal-scoring prowess and recognized as one of the greatest strikers in history, has died at the age of 79 on Monday. The Italian legend, renowned as Italy’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 35 goals, had been admitted to the hospital after suffering a heart attack on Sunday, as reported by la Gazzetta dello Sport.

Riva’s illustrious career, highlighted by an impressive goal-scoring record with Cagliari, earned him the nickname “Rombo di Tuono” (thunderclap) due to his imposing physical presence and powerful shots. His achievements extended to the international stage, notably winning the 1968 European Championship and securing a runner-up position in the 1970 World Cup with Italy.

Despite facing formidable opponents like Pelé’s Brazil, Riva’s contributions to the national team were exceptional, with 35 goals in 42 official appearances between 1965 and 1974. This goal-scoring record remains unmatched, as no currently active Italy international has come close to half of his career total.

Riva spent the majority of his club career with Cagliari, where he became Serie A’s top scorer during the team’s historic league title win in 1970. At the time of his passing, he held the position of honorary president of the club.

In his final interview last June with Corriere della Sera, Riva expressed his biggest regret as his parents not witnessing his rise to fame. Injuries marred the later part of his playing career, leading to his retirement in 1976 after scoring 164 league goals for Cagliari in 315 matches.

Beyond his playing days, Riva remained involved in football, taking on roles such as a senior managing official, player adviser, and consultant for the national team until 2013. His passing is mourned by the football community, with former England head coach Fabio Capello expressing sadness at the loss of “one of the symbols of Italian football, a fantastic player, and above all, a real man.