Roberto Baggio

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Baggio's career is marked by extraordinary highs and a defining low. He starred for Italy at the 1994 World Cup, leading them to the final and winning the World Cup Silver Ball. He scored in three World Cups, and with nine goals holds the record for most World Cup goals for Italy, along with Paolo Rossi and Christian Vieri. Yet he missed the decisive penalty in the shootout of the final against Brazil. That moment, as much as his brilliance, shapes his legend. He played for seven Italian clubs, moving from Fiorentina to Juventus in 1990 for a world record transfer fee. He is known for his Buddhist beliefs and his ponytail hairstyle, which gave him the nickname Il Divin Codino.

In Their Own Story

The 1994 World Cup final. Italy vs. Brazil. The score is 0-0 after extra time. The penalty shootout comes down to Baggio. He steps up, needing to score to keep Italy alive. He sends his shot over the crossbar. Brazil wins. Baggio stands alone, hands on his hips, the image of heartbreak. This is the moment that defines his legacy as much as his genius. Four years earlier, he helped Italy finish third in the 1990 World Cup. In 1993, he was the best player on the planet. He scored 205 goals in Serie A, the seventh-highest of all time, and 318 goals in all competitions, the fifth-highest for an Italian. He is the only Italian to score in three World Cups.

Reader's Guide

In EA Sports FC, Baggio is an Icon who embodies creative playmaking. His real career saw him score his first Serie A goal from a free-kick on 10 May 1987 against Napoli. He led Fiorentina to the 1990 UEFA Cup final, losing to his future club Juventus. At Juventus, he scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists in his first Serie A season. He later played for AC Milan, Bologna, Inter Milan, and Brescia. He won two Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia, and a UEFA Cup. In 2004, he became the first player in over 30 years to score 200 goals in Serie A. Use him as a central playmaker. His dribbling and curling free-kicks are his signature weapons. He is best as a second striker or attacking midfielder, pulling strings and scoring from distance.

Did You Know?

• Baggio is the only Italian to score in three World Cups.
• He holds the record for most World Cup goals for Italy, with nine, along with Paolo Rossi and Christian Vieri.
• He moved from Fiorentina to Juventus in 1990 for a world record transfer fee.
• In 2004, he became the first player in over 30 years to score 200 goals in Serie A.
• He was named Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2002.