Ricorrenze Azzurre

Happy birthday to Roberto Baggio, Azzurri champion and Ballon d’Or winner in 1993

Our shining star of the USA ’94 World Cup turns 54 today, with 'The Divine Ponytail' having played 56 games and scored 27 goals for the Azzurri

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Happy birthday to Roberto Baggio, Azzurri champion and Ballon d’Or winner in 1993

Roberto Baggio was born on 18 February 1967 in Caldogno, a town near Vicenza. Nicknamed 'Il Divin Codino' (The Divine Ponytail) due to his iconic hairstyle for the majority of his career, he's considered one of the greatest footballers to ever play the game and was just the third Italian to win the Ballon d’Or after Gianni Rivera and Paolo Rossi.

He began his career with Vicenza prior to joining Fiorentina, where he made his Serie A debut. Baggio then played for Juventus, AC Milan, Bologna, Inter and Brescia, winning a total of two Scudetti, one Coppa Italia and a UEFA Cup, as well as a series of personal awards, including both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player Award in 1993. 

Baggio’s contribution to the Azzurri was also certainly impressive, as he almost inspired his side to World Cup success, with Italy being denied on penalties in the final of the USA ’94 World Cup. Having found the net 27 times in 56 appearances, 'Il Divin Codino' sits in fourth place for all-time goals scored for the Azzurri. In 2011, he was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame.