Paolo Rossi

Paolo Rossi

Rossi in 2007
Personal information
Date of birth	(1956-09-23) 23 September 1956 (age 60)
Place of birth	Prato, Italy
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1973–1975	Juventus	0	(0)
1975–1976	→ Como (loan)	6	(0)
1976–1980	L.R. Vicenza	94	(60)
1979–1980	→ Perugia (loan)	28	(13)
1981–1985	Juventus	83	(24)
1985–1986	Milan	20	(2)
1986–1987	Hellas Verona	20	(4)
Total		251	(103)
National team
1977–1986	Italy	48	(20)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Paolo Rossi (Italian pronunciation: [ˈpaːolo ˈrossi]; born 23 September 1956) is a former Italian professional footballer, who played as a forward. In 1982, he 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 9 goals in total.

At club level, Rossi was also a prolific goalscorer for Vicenza. In 1976 he was signed to Juventus from Vicenza in a co-ownership deal for a world record transfer fee. Vicenza retained his services, and he was 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. In 1981 Rossi made his debut for Juventus, and went on to win two Scudetto titles, the Italian Cup, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the European Cup.