09 December 2022
Paolo Rossi's unforgettable World Cup 1982 didn't begin on January 1st, but rather on May 2nd, when all eyes are on him. Away from the field for two years, the Juventus number 9 returned in Udinese-Juve to savour the joy of playing football. With a shirt not too different from that of the national team, he would become the leading man of a beautiful story.
BEFORE THE WORLD CUP
The third-to-last day of the season saw Juve play in Friuli and managed to overwhelm Udinese 5-1. Paolo Rossi scored the goal to make it 3-1 goal, heading in a free-kick, getting to the ball just ahead of teammate, Antonio Cabrini. It would be a feat similar to the one he would repeat just months later in the World Cup final, to open the scoring against Germany.
THE LOVE OF THE STADIO COMUNALE
The banner dedicated to Paolo Rossi goes around the athletics track of the Stadio Comunale before the kick-off of Juventus-Napoli. The Comunale is filled with affection for the boy who began in the Bianconeri youth set-up, became a man at Vicenza and then returned to the Old Lady. The following week, he and Juventus would win the Scudetto of the second star in Catanzaro.
PABLITO
Paolo Rossi is pictured along with teammate, Franco Causio in the national team. At the World Cup in Spain, the midfielder known as "the Baron" would enter the pitch for the last minutes of the final. Pablito's story, on the other hand, is so well known that it has become the paradigm of football rebirth. After four difficult games, Rossi would put in a memorable performance: a hat-trick that eliminates Brazil, a double in the semifinal against Poland and a goal in the last act against Germany, that saw Italy crowned World Champions!
THREE YEARS IN BIANCONERO
The photo shows Rossi in action in his first Juventus match as world champion, Sampdoria-Juventus in 1982/83. After Spain 1982, Paolo would have three seasons in Bianconero, winning practically everything, starting from the Ballon d'Or of this memorable year.
