Italy's 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi dead at 64

'Pablito' was top scorer, including memorable hat-trick against Brazil, after being cleared of a betting ban

Italy's Paolo Rossi gets away from Brazil's Junior Football during the 1982 World Cup. Reuters

Paolo Rossi celebrates his goal in the 1982 World Cup final against West Germany. Getty

French midfielder Michel Platini shakes hands with Italian Rossi prior to the 1978 World Cup in Argentina in 1978. AFP

Rossi was a big hit in Toronto when Juventus went to play Blizzard in Toronto. Getty

The Italian football team poses before the World Cup first round match against France in 1978. From L to R: 1st row: Franco Causio, Paolo Rossi, Antonio Cabrini, Gaetano Scirea, Giancarlo Antognoni, Marco Tardelli. 2nd row: Romeo Benetti, Dino Zoff, Mauro Bellugi, Roberto Bettega, Claudio Gentile. AFP

Paolo Rossi in Australia with Juventus in 1984. Getty

Diego Maradona and Rossi watch an AC Milan training session in Istanbul in 2005. EPA

Bernd Foerster of Germany fights for the ball with Paolo Rossi during a replay of the 1982 World Cup final in Stuttgart in 2007. Reuters

Paolo Rossi in Pachuca, Mexico in 2016. EPA

Paolo Rossi, a hero of Italian football who fired the Azzurri to victory in the 1982 World Cup, has died aged 64, prompting an outpouring of grief and tributes.

Rossi's wife Federica Cappelletti announced the death with a post on Instagram alongside a photo of the couple, accompanied by the comment "Forever," followed by a heart.

"There will never be anyone like you, unique, special, after you the absolute nothing....," Cappelletti also wrote on Facebook.

The cause of his death was not revealed but Italian media reported that Rossi had been suffering from an incurable disease.

Tributes were paid to 'Pablito', the star who was banned for three years for his part in a betting scandal, but returned to win the World Cup in Spain and the Ballon d'Or the same year.

Despite breaking in the early hours, Italian media splashed with the news, while social media lit up with tributes and "Paolo Rossi" was Italy's No 1 trending search item.

"Football and Italy mourns Paolo Rossi," headlined the Gazzetta dello Sport, as La Stampa called him the "hero of Spain '82".

The news of his passing comes two weeks after the death of Argentina football legend Diego Maradona, winner of the 1986 World Cup.

Rossi won the hearts of Italian fans during the summer of 1982, when his six tournament goals dragged Enzo Bearzot's Azzurri to what was then a third world title.

Italy started the finals with three uninspiring draws before they came to life and marched to the title. But Rossi almost missed out on the World Cup altogether.

He was caught up in a bribery scandal and banned for three years in 1980, but after continually protesting his innocence was cleared to play after two.

A slight and sprightly winger who converted to centre-forward, Rossi had an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time.

He exploded on to the stage of the 1982 tournament with a hat-trick in the 3-2 defeat of Brazil.

Tragedy of Heysel

In the semi-finals he scored both goals as Italy beat Poland 2-0, and he hit the opener in the 3-1 win over West Germany in the final.

Rossi finished top scorer in the tournament with six goals, and was also a member of the Italy side that finished fourth in Argentina in 1978.

Along with Christian Vieri and Roberto Baggio, he holds the Italian record for nine goals scored at World Cups.

He scored 20 goals in 48 appearances for Italy and was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1982.

Born in Prato in Tuscany, Rossi made his professional debut at Juventus in 1973, but his initial two-year spell at the Turin club was blighted by knee injuries.

His first club success was with Vicenza where he was the top scorer in Serie B with 21 goals in the 1976-77 season, and helped them into the top flight.

The following season Vicenza challenged Juventus for the league title and Rossi finished as top Serie A scorer with 24 goals.

He spent another year with Vicenza but following relegation he left for a loan spell at Perugia, becoming embroiled in the 1980 match-fixing scandal known in Italy as 'Totonero'.

As a result, Rossi missed out on the 1980 European Championship, where Italy finished fourth on home soil.

After his suspension Rossi returned to Juventus, and the 1983-84 season was his most successful at club level.

He formed a formidable partnership with Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek and accumulated trophies - two Serie A, the Italian Cup, Cup of Cups, and European Supercup.

Overshadowed

In 1985, Juventus won the European Cup amid the tragedy of the Heysel Stadium final, where 39 fans were killed, which was to be Rossi's last match with the Bianconeri.

He went to rivals AC Milan for an unsuccessful season which was overshadowed by injury, as was his final season at Hellas Verona.

In 1987, aged 31, Rossi decided to retire from professional football after nearly 400 league games and 154 goals, and 48 caps and 20 goals for Italy.

After his career as a footballer, Rossi worked as a TV pundit.

"Such terribly sad news: Paolo Rossi has left us," said RAI Sport presenter Enrico Varriale.

"Unforgettable Pablito, who made all of us fall in love in that summer of 1982 and who was a precious and competent work colleague in RAI over recent years.

"RIP dear Paolo."

Rossi is survived by his wife and three children.