Roberto Baggio, born in Caldogno, north Vicenza in February 1967, has been one of the best players in the world through out the 1990s. He started his career in Vicenza back in the 1982/83 season, and stayed there for three seasons until he was picked up by Fiorentina in 1985. It was from there he started to show his true potential. In the 1988/89 he won his first cap for Italy after having a very good season scoring 24 goals in 40 games in Italian football (league/cup). The following season was even better, Baggio knocked in goals for fun and Fiorentina couldn't afford to keep him. The big clubs in the north were prepared to put the big money on the table. 

It was Juventus who finally got him for a world record fee of £7.700.000 in the summer of 1990, just before the World Cup on homesoil. Baggio scored two goals as Italy went on to get bronze, after losing on penalties in the semifinals to Argentina. He spent five seasons in Juventus. Five great years for him, as he won the Seria A, Italian Cup and UEAF Cup as well as been voted "World and European Player of the Year" in 1993. 

Baggio's best World Cup was in 1994 in the United States. After a slow start he woke up in the second round, scoring twice against Nigeria, then once against Spain in the quarterfinal, and two more in the semifinal against Bulgaria. In the final against Brazil. Missed chances and heat exhaustion played key roles in the final between Italy and Brazil. The two teams played to a scoreless draw through regulation and overtime. 

The penalty kick shootout was less than a textbook display as first Baresi and Santos failed on their first attempts. Albertini finally put one behind the keeper to give Italy a 1-0 lead and Romario replied for the Brazilians, 1-1. 

Evani put Italy back on top while Branco evened the score again for Brazil. Massaro's attempt was stopped by goalkeeper Taffarel while Dunga put Brazil ahead 3-2. Roberto Baggio's shot went high and wide, sending the Brazilians into celebration, becoming the first nation to win the World Cup title four times.
                                                
Since then, Baggio has been in and out of the Italian squad. He was dropped from the EURO 96 squad by Arrigo Sacchi. He has played for AC Milan winning the Seria A once, and also in Bologna and is now (Oct 1998) playing for Inter Milan. Hopefully we haven't seen the last of Roberto Baggio yet!

                    

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