Paolo Rossi

{{Short description|Italian footballer (1956–2020)}}

{{about|the Italian international footballer|other people}}

{{EngvarB|date=November 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Paolo Rossi

| image = Paolo Rossi at the 1982 FIFA World Cup (cropped).jpg

| caption = Rossi with 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

| youthyears1 = 1961–1967

| youthclubs1 = Santa Lucia

| youthyears2 = 1967–1968

| youthclubs2 = Ambrosiana

| youthyears3 = 1968–1972

| youthclubs3 = Cattolica Virtus

| youthyears4 = 1972–1975

| youthclubs4 = Juventus

| years1 = 1973–1976

| clubs1 = Juventus

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1975–1976

| clubs2 = → Como (loan)

| caps2 = 6

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 1976–1980

| clubs3 = Vicenza

| caps3 = 94

| goals3 = 60

| years4 = 1979–1980

| clubs4 = → Perugia (loan)

| caps4 = 28

| goals4 = 13

| years5 = 1981–1985

| clubs5 = Juventus

| caps5 = 83

| goals5 = 24

| years6 = 1985–1986

| clubs6 = Milan

| caps6 = 20

| goals6 = 2

| years8 = 1986–1987

| clubs8 = Hellas Verona

| caps8 = 20

| goals8 = 4

| totalcaps = 251

| totalgoals = 103

| nationalyears1 = 1977–1986

| nationalteam1 = Italy

| nationalcaps1 = 48

| nationalgoals1 = 20

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{Medal|Country|{{fb|Italy}}}}

{{Medal|Comp|FIFA World Cup}}

{{Medal|W|1982 Spain|}}

}}

Paolo Rossi ({{IPA|it|ˈpaːolo ˈrossi}};{{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}}{{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}} 23 September 1956 – 9 December 2020) was an Italian professional footballer who played as a striker. 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, 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's top scorer in World Cup history, with nine goals overall.{{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}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23903470|title=The history of the world transfer record|work=BBC Sport|access-date=10 May 2014}} 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 European Cup. With success at club and international level, he is one of nine 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 Top 125 greatest living footballers as part of FIFA's 100th anniversary celebration.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/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}} 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, Mediaset Premium, and Rai Sport, until his death on 9 December 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/163263/paolo-rossi-has-died |title=Paolo Rossi has died |publisher=www.football-italia.net |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020 }}{{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 }}

Career

=Early years=

Rossi was born in Prato, Tuscany, Italy in the area of Santa Lucia.{{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}}{{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}}

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, where he made his Serie A debut during the 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.{{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}}{{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}}{{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=www.gonews.it|language=it|date=20 December 2013|access-date=7 January 2015}}

File:Paolo Rossi 1975.jpg 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 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 top the scoring charts in Serie B and Serie A in consecutive seasons, also leading Vicenza to an incredible second-place finish in Serie A during the 1977–78 season, only behind his co-owners Juventus. Due to his performances, he was selected by the 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.{{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}}

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 forwards, 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 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, on 2 June 1978, was also his first goal for Italy.{{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.com|access-date=7 January 2015}}{{dead link|date=October 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

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 billion lire for Rossi, who became the world's most expensive player, and Italy's most costly sportsman ever at that point. After the 1978 World Cup, during the 1978–79 season, Rossi made his European debut with Vicenza in the 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 Perugia, in order to play in Serie A the following season.

=Match-fixing scandal=

While at Perugia, he managed 13 goals in Serie A during the 1979–80 season, also helping the club to the round of 16 of the UEFA Cup. During the season, however, he was involved in the infamous 1980 betting scandal known in Italy as 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 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.{{cite news|access-date=21 May 2010|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/5215260.stm|author=Dan Warren|publisher=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}}

=1982 World Cup=

File:Spagna '82 - Paolo Rossi, Coppa del Mondo.jpg trophy.]]

Despite his ban, Rossi was repurchased by 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. 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".{{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}}

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, the reigning World Champions, and Brazil, the favourites to win the title with a team consisting of world-class players such as Sócrates, Zico, and 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 defeat Brazil 3–2 to qualify for the semi-finals. In the semi-final match against Poland, Rossi's two goals won the match for Italy once again, granting them a place in the 1982 World Cup final. In the final against 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 Golden Boot, as the top scorer of the tournament, as well as the 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.

Italian fans hung banners proclaiming him "Man of the match". Rossi's accomplishments in Spain gained him the title of European Footballer of the Year and 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".{{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}} Between his goals and assists throughout the tournament, Rossi was directly responsible for 58% of his team's goals during the 1982 World Cup.{{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.com |date=22 August 2017 |access-date=18 May 2020 }}

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."

Later years and death

File:Paolo Rossi (football).jpg

After the 1982 World Cup, Rossi continued to play with Juventus. During the 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 Hamburg; he finished the tournament as the top scorer, with six goals. During the 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 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, followed by the 1984 UEFA Super Cup. During his final season with the club, Rossi finally won the European Cup in 1985, finishing the tournament with 5 goals, behind only teammate Michel Platini, and Torbjörn Nilsson, with 7 goals.

Following his tenure with Juventus, Rossi moved on to a then struggling Milan for a season in 1985. During his time with Milan, he was remembered for his two-goal performance against Internazionale in a 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.{{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}} He made his final appearance for Italy on 11 May 1986, in a 2–0 friendly home win over China in Naples. He ended his club career at Hellas Verona during the 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.

Rossi scored a total of 20 goals in 48 senior international caps for Italy.{{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}} Rossi is 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. Rossi represented Italy in the 1991 edition of the World Cup of Masters, scoring in the third place play-off against Uruguay.

Pelé named Rossi as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004; during the same year, Rossi placed 12th in the UEFA Golden Jubilee poll.{{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}}

In August 1990, he was named vice-president of Lega Pro Prima Divisione club A.S. Pescina Valle del Giovenco.{{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}}

Following his retirement he also worked as a pundit for Sky, Mediaset Premium, and Rai Sport.{{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 }}

Rossi died on 9 December 2020, at the age of 64, from lung cancer.{{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 }} Rossi was survived by his second wife, Federica Cappelletti, and three children.{{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}} During his funeral in Vicenza on 12 December, attended by thousands,{{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}} his house in Bucine was robbed.{{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}}{{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}}

Style of play

Paolo Rossi is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most prolific Italian forwards of all time. Although he lacked the intimidating physical presence of a typical out-and-out 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.{{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}} 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. 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 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.

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"|Europe

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="3"|Juventus

|1973–74

|Serie A

|0

01000colspan="2"|–10
1974–75

|Serie A

|0

02000colspan="2"|–20
colspan=2 |Total

!0||0||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||3||0

Como

|1975–76

|Serie A

|6

000colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–60
rowspan="4"|Lanerossi Vicenza

|1976–77

|Serie B

|36

2162colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–4223
1977–78

|Serie A

|30

2442colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–3426
1978–79

|Serie A

|28

15321{{efn|name=UC|Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup}}0colspan="2"|–3217
colspan=2 |Total

!94||60||13||6||1||0||colspan="2"|–||108||66

rowspan="3"|Perugia

|1979–80

|Serie A

|28

13404{{efn|name=UC}}1colspan="2"|–3614
1980–81

|Serie A

|0

000colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–00
colspan=2 |Total

!28||13||4||0||4||1||colspan="2"|–||36||14

rowspan="5"|Juventus

|1981–82

|Serie A

|3

10000colspan="2"|–31
1982–83

|Serie A

|23

71159{{efn|name=EC|Appearances in European Cup}}6colspan="2"|–4318
1983–84

|Serie A

|30

13709{{efn|name=ECWC|Appearances in European Cup Winners' Cup}}2colspan="2"|–4615
1984–85

|Serie A

|27

3629{{efn|name=EC}}51{{efn|Appearance in European Super Cup}}04310
colspan="2"|Total

!83||24||24||7||27||13||1

013544
Milan

|1985–86

|Serie A

|20

2313{{efn|name=UC}}0colspan="2"|–263
Hellas Verona

|1986–87

|Serie A

|20

473colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–277
colspan="3"|Career total

!251||103||54||17||35||14

10341134

{{notelist}}

=International=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/prossi-intlg.html|title=Paolo Rossi – Goals in International Matches|author=Roberto Di Maggio|website=RSSSF|date=9 November 2002}}

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="10"|Italy

|1977

10
1978104
197953
198030
198100
1982116
198372
198463
198532
198620
colspan="2"|Total||48||20

:Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rossi goal.

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"|12 June 1978Estadio Mundialista, Mar del Plata{{fb|FRA}}align="center"|1–1align="center"|2–11978 FIFA World Cup
align="center"|26 June 1978Estadio Mundialista, Mar del Plata{{fb|HUN}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|3–11978 FIFA World Cup
align="center"|318 June 1978Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires{{fb|AUT}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–01978 FIFA World Cup
align="center"|421 December 1978Stadio Olimpico, Rome{{fb|ESP|1977}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–0Friendly
align="center"|524 February 1979San Siro, Milan{{fb|NED}}align="center"|2–0align="center"|3–0Friendly
align="center"|626 May 1979Stadio Olimpico, Rome{{fb|ARG}}align="center"|2–1align="center"|2–2Friendly
align="center"|713 June 1979Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb{{fb|YUG}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–4Friendly
align="center"|8rowspan="3"|5 July 1982rowspan="3"|Estadio Sarriá, Barcelonarowspan="3"|{{fb|BRA}}align="center"|1–0rowspan="3" align="center"|3–2rowspan="3"|1982 FIFA World Cup
align="center"|9align="center"|2–1
align="center"|10align="center"|3–2
align="center"|11rowspan="2"|8 July 1982rowspan="2"|Camp Nou, Barcelonarowspan="2"|{{fb|POL}}align="center"|1–0rowspan="2" align="center"|2–0rowspan="2"|1982 FIFA World Cup
align="center"|12align="center"|2–0
align="center"|1311 July 1982Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid{{fb|FRG}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|3–11982 FIFA World Cup
align="center"|145 October 1983Stadio della Vittoria, Bari{{fb|GRE}}align="center"|3–0align="center"|3–0Friendly
align="center"|1522 December 1983Stadio Renato Curi, Perugia{{fb|CYP}}align="center"|3–1align="center"|3–1UEFA Euro 1984 qualifier
align="center"|16rowspan="3"|4 February 1984rowspan="3"|Stadio Olimpico, Romerowspan="3"|{{fb|MEX}}align="center"|2–0rowspan="3" align="center"|5–0rowspan="3"|Friendly
align="center"|17align="center"|3–0
align="center"|18align="center"|4–0
align="center"|195 February 1985Dalymount Park, Dublin{{fb|IRL}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|2–1Friendly
align="center"|203 April 1985Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca, Ascoli Piceno{{fb|POR}}align="center"|2–0align="center"|2–0Friendly

Honours

Vicenza

Juventus

Italy

Individual

  • Serie A top scorer: 1977–78 (24 goals){{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|website=RSSSF|access-date=2 December 2015}}
  • Serie B top scorer: 1976–77 (21 goals){{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital2tops.html|title=Italy – Serie B Top Scorers|website=RSSSF|access-date=2 April 2015}}
  • FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 1978{{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|website=RSSSF|access-date=20 December 2015}}
  • FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1978, 1982{{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}}
  • Gazzetta Sports Awards Man of the Year: 1978{{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|publisher=gazzetta.it}}
  • Sport Ideal European XI: 1978{{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 }}
  • FIFA XI: 1979, 1986{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html|title=FIFA XI´s Matches – Full Info|website=RSSSF|access-date=5 January 2016}}
  • FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1982
  • FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1982
  • Onze d'Or: 1982{{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|website=RSSSF|access-date=14 September 2015}}
  • Ballon d'Or: 1982{{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|website=RSSSF|access-date=22 December 2015}}
  • World Soccer Awards Player of the Year: 1982{{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}}
  • L'Équipe Champion of Champions: 1982{{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}}
  • Guerin Sportivo Player of the Year: 1982
  • Guerin Sportivo All-Star Team: 1982
  • European Cup top scorer: 1982–83{{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|website=RSSSF|access-date=22 December 2015}}
  • World Soccer Awards 100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century #41{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsWldSocPlyrsCent.html|title=World Soccer 100 Players of the Century|access-date=5 July 2015}}
  • FIFA 100
  • UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll: #12{{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}}
  • Golden Foot "Football Legends": 2007{{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}}
  • Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2016{{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}}

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.