Roberto Baggio : biography

Roberto Baggio ( born 18 February 1967) is a retired Italian football forward and attacking midfielder/playmaker who was the former President of the Technical Sector of the FIGC. Widely regarded as one of the finest footballers of all time (4th in the FIFA internet poll; member of the FIFA World Cup Dream Team), Baggio won both the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1993. He is the only Italian player ever to score in three World Cups and holds the record for most goals scored in World Cup tournaments for Italy, along with Paolo Rossi and Christian Vieri.

He is also one of the top 5 all-time goalscorers for the Italian National Team, in Serie A and is one of the 3 top-scoring Italians in all competitions. In 2002 he became the first Italian player in over 50 years to score more than 300 career goals. Baggio is known as ‘ (The Divine Ponytail), for the hairstyle he wore for most of his career, for his talent and for his Buddhist background. At International Level, Baggio has earned a runners-up and a third place medal at the 1994 and 1990 World Cups respectively, being awarded the Silver Ball and the Silver Boot in 1994. He has won two Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia and a UEFA Cup at Club Level, playing for 7 different teams throughout his career.

Religion

Baggio, formerly a Roman Catholic, practices Nichiren Buddhism and is a member of the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist organization.http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/205886

Honours

Club

Fiorentina

• UEFA Cup: Runner up: 1989-90
• Coppa Italia: Semifinalist: 1985-86

Juventus

• Serie A: 1994–95 Runner up: 1991-92, 1993-94
• Coppa Italia: 1994–95 Runner up: 1991-92
• UEFA Cup: 1992-93 Runner up: 1994-95
• Supercoppa Italiana: Runner up: 1990
• European Cup Winner’s Cup: Semifinalist: 1990-91

Milan

• Serie A: 1995–96
• Supercoppa Italiana: Runner up: 1996

Bologna

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1998

Inter

• Coppa Italia: Runner up: 1999-2000 Semifinalist: 1998-99
• Supercoppa Italiana: Runner up: 2000

Brescia

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: Runner up: 2001
• Coppa Italia: Semifinalist: 2001-02

International

Italy National Football Team

• FIFA World Cup: (runner-up): 1994
• FIFA World Cup: (3rd place): 1990

Individual

• U-23 European Footballer of the Year: 1990
• UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup top scorer: 1990–91
• European Footballer of the Year (/Golden Ball): 1993
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1993
• Platinum Football award by TV Sorrisi and Canzoni: 1992
• Onze D’Or by French Magazine ‘Onze Mondial’: 1993
• FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 1994
• FIFA World Cup Silver/ bronze Shoe: 1994/5
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1994
• Bravo award with Fiorentina: 1990
• Golden Guerin with Vicenza: 1985
• Golden Guerin with AC Milan: 1996
• Golden Guerin with Brescia: 2001
• Guerin d’Oro: 2001
• Azzuri Team of The Century: 2000
• FIFA Dream Team of All-Time: 2002
• ‘Most Loved Player’ Award via Internet Polls: 2001
• ‘Most Loved Player’ Award at the Italian Oscars: 2002
• FIFA 100: 2004
• World Soccer Awards 100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century #16
• Giuseppe Prisco award: 2004
• The Champions Promenade – Golden Foot 2003
• Guerin’s Sportivo 150 Grandi del Secolo
• Placar’s 100 Craques do Seculo
• ‘s 50
• Italy All-time XI by Football Italia
• Juventus All-time XI by Football Italia
• Brescia All-time XI by Football Italia

Career statistics

Club