Gigi Riva, Italy’s all-time leading goal scorer in football, passed away at the age of 79 on Monday. Riva scored 35 goals in 42 international matches for the Italian national team. He was a member of the Italian squad that won the 1968 European Championship and also participated in the 1970 World Cup final in Mexico, where Italy lost to Brazil.
Riva was also a star of Cagliari, leading the Sardinian team to their only Italian League title in 1970.
Cagliari Football Club paid tribute to the Italian legend, stating in a release: ‘He was the greatest of them all. Unquestionably the best Italian forward in history. One of the fiercest strikers ever. His name was Gigi Riva, also known as Rombo di Tuono.’ Cagliari’s statement, conveyed by the British news agency PA Media, added: ‘A great football player, an upright athlete, a bearer of values and principles. Riva is a true, immortal legend. He is an icon of Sardinia, the land he chose and deeply loved. He passed away today at the age of 79. It is a sad day for us and for the world of football.’
During the second half of the Italian Super Cup final between Inter Milan and Napoli in Saudi Arabia, fans applauded for a minute in his memory.
Claudio Ranieri, the current manager of Cagliari, mourned Riva’s death, stating on the club’s official website: ‘It’s the news I never wanted to hear. I am shocked, speechless. Gigi’s departure leaves an irreplaceable void in all of us.’
Gigi Riva, known as one of Italy’s most iconic football players, had an extraordinary career that left an indelible mark on Italian football. Born on November 7, 1944, in Leggiuno, a small town in Lombardy near the Swiss border, Riva’s journey in football began at an early age. He started his professional career in 1962 at the age of 18 with Serie C side Legnano-Ivrea, where he made an immediate impact by scoring 6 goals in his debut season. His performances caught the attention of Cagliari, and he joined them the following year, remaining with the Sardinian team for the rest of his career.
Riva’s most notable achievements include helping Cagliari achieve promotion to the Italian top-flight in 1964 and leading the club to their only Serie A title in the 1969-1970 season. His prowess on the field was characterized by his exceptional goal-scoring ability, powerful left foot, aerial prowess, and speed, earning him the nickname “Rombo di Tuono” (Roar of Thunder) from Italian journalist Gianni Brera.
On the international stage, Riva was a key player for the Italian national team. He won the 1968 UEFA European Championship with Italy and was a runner-up at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. He is remembered as Italy’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 35 goals in 42 appearances between 1965 and 1974.
