<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"There will never be anyone like you, unique, special, after you the absolute nothing....," Cappelletti also wrote on Facebook.</p>.<p>The cause of his death was not revealed but Italian media reported that Rossi had been suffering from "an uncurable disease".</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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 number one trending search item.</p>.<p>"Football and Italy mourns Paolo Rossi," headlined the Gazzetta dello Sport, as La Stampa called him the "hero of Spain '82".</p>.<p>The news of his passing comes two weeks after the death of Argentina football legend Diego Maradona, winner of the 1986 World Cup.</p>.<p>Rossi won the hearts of Italian fans during the summer of 1982, when his goals dragged Enzo Bearzot's Azzurri to a third world title.</p>.<p>Italy started the tournament with three uninspiring draws before they came to life and marched to the title.</p>.<p>But Italy's sporting icon almost missed out on the tournament.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>He exploded onto the stage of the 1982 tournament with a hat-trick in the 3-2 defeat of Brazil.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>Rossi finished top scorer in the tournament with six goals.</p>.<p>He was also a member of the Italy side that finished fourth in Argentina in 1978.</p>.<p>Along with Christian Vieri and Roberto Baggio, he holds the Italian record for nine goals scored in the World Cup.</p>.<p>He scored 20 goals in 48 appearances for Italy and was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1982.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>His first club successes were with Vicenza where he was the top scorer in Serie B with 21 goals in the 1976-1977 season, and helped the club into the top flight.</p>.<p>The following season Vicenza challenged Juventus for the league title and Rossi finished the season as top Serie A scorer with 24 goals.</p>.<p>He spent another season 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.</p>.<p>As a result, Rossi missed out on the 1980 European Championship, where Italy finished fourth on home soil.</p>.<p>After his suspension Rossi returned to Juventus, and the 1983-1984 season was his most successful at club level.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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'.</p>.<p>In 1987, aged 31, Rossi decided to turn the page after nearly 400 league games and 154 goals, and 48 caps and 20 goals for Italy.</p>.<p>After his career as a footballer, Rossi worked as a TV pundit.</p>.<p>"Such terribly sad news: Paolo Rossi has left us," said RAI Sport presenter Enrico Varriale.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p>"RIP dear Paolo."</p>.<p>Rossi is survived by his wife and three children.</p>
<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"There will never be anyone like you, unique, special, after you the absolute nothing....," Cappelletti also wrote on Facebook.</p>.<p>The cause of his death was not revealed but Italian media reported that Rossi had been suffering from "an uncurable disease".</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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 number one trending search item.</p>.<p>"Football and Italy mourns Paolo Rossi," headlined the Gazzetta dello Sport, as La Stampa called him the "hero of Spain '82".</p>.<p>The news of his passing comes two weeks after the death of Argentina football legend Diego Maradona, winner of the 1986 World Cup.</p>.<p>Rossi won the hearts of Italian fans during the summer of 1982, when his goals dragged Enzo Bearzot's Azzurri to a third world title.</p>.<p>Italy started the tournament with three uninspiring draws before they came to life and marched to the title.</p>.<p>But Italy's sporting icon almost missed out on the tournament.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>He exploded onto the stage of the 1982 tournament with a hat-trick in the 3-2 defeat of Brazil.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>Rossi finished top scorer in the tournament with six goals.</p>.<p>He was also a member of the Italy side that finished fourth in Argentina in 1978.</p>.<p>Along with Christian Vieri and Roberto Baggio, he holds the Italian record for nine goals scored in the World Cup.</p>.<p>He scored 20 goals in 48 appearances for Italy and was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1982.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>His first club successes were with Vicenza where he was the top scorer in Serie B with 21 goals in the 1976-1977 season, and helped the club into the top flight.</p>.<p>The following season Vicenza challenged Juventus for the league title and Rossi finished the season as top Serie A scorer with 24 goals.</p>.<p>He spent another season 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.</p>.<p>As a result, Rossi missed out on the 1980 European Championship, where Italy finished fourth on home soil.</p>.<p>After his suspension Rossi returned to Juventus, and the 1983-1984 season was his most successful at club level.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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'.</p>.<p>In 1987, aged 31, Rossi decided to turn the page after nearly 400 league games and 154 goals, and 48 caps and 20 goals for Italy.</p>.<p>After his career as a footballer, Rossi worked as a TV pundit.</p>.<p>"Such terribly sad news: Paolo Rossi has left us," said RAI Sport presenter Enrico Varriale.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p>"RIP dear Paolo."</p>.<p>Rossi is survived by his wife and three children.</p>