Today is Roberto Baggio’s 51st birthday, so Football Italia has put together his top five goals – or, at least, five of his best.
Napoli vs Fiorentina, September 17 1989
The Divine Ponytail had already established a name for himself across four seasons with Fiorentina, and the 1989-90 season would prove to be his last for the Viola.
In the summer of 1990, Juventus broke the world transfer record to take the young Baggio to Turin, causing mass protests in Florence.
Today is Roberto Baggio’s 51st birthday, so Football Italia has put together his top five goals – or, at least, five of his best.
Napoli vs Fiorentina, September 17 1989
The Divine Ponytail had already established a name for himself across four seasons with Fiorentina, and the 1989-90 season would prove to be his last for the Viola.
In the summer of 1990, Juventus broke the world transfer record to take the young Baggio to Turin, causing mass protests in Florence.
It was easy to see why the Bianconeri wanted him, and his goal against Napoli is an early classic of the Baggio genre.
Picking the ball up in his own half, the skinny attacker surged toward the Partenopei defence, vaulting a couple of tackles before taking the ball around goalkeeper Giuliano Giuliani and stroking it into the empty net.
Italy vs Czechoslovakia, June 19 1990
He may have been wowing the crowds in Italy, but it was at the 1990 World Cup that Baggio truly announced himself to the world.
The Azzurri were hosting the tournament, but had to beat Czechoslovakia in Rome to be assured of winning Group A.
Salvatore Schillaci opened the scoring after nine minutes with a fine header, but it would be eclipsed by what Baggio did with 12 minutes remaining.
With 78 minutes on the clock, the forward played a one-two with Giannini which took two Czechoslovakian players out of the game.
With space suddenly opening up in front of him, Baggio surged toward the goal, hurdling a tackle from Czech captain Ivan Hosek.
Miroslav Kadlec came forward to try and stop the Fiorentina striker on the edge of the box, but Baggio twisted him inside and out before firing the ball past Jan Stejskal.
Inter vs Juventus, April 26 1992
Having finished a dismal seventh in Baggio’s first season, Juventus had improved hugely by his second and wen in to Week 30 six points behind leaders Milan.
Though the Rossoneri would go on to take the Scudetto under Fabio Capello, Baggio lit up San Siro against their city rivals in a statement win for the Old Lady.
Having opened the scoring with a penalty after half an hour, Baggio put Inter to the sword seven minutes later in a goal which began with an Inter attack.
Alessandro Bianchi lost the ball to Baggio in midfield, and Il Divin Codino passed it wide to Schillaci.
After receiving the ball back from his teammate, he spread the ball wide to Paolo Di Canio, who drew the runner and returned it to the number 10.
Baggio glided forward, played a lovely one-two with Pierluigi Casiraghi and curled a perfect right-footed finish into the far corner.
Borussia Dortmund vs Juventus, 18 April 1995
Serie A dominated Europe in the 1990s, and the 1995 UEFA Cup final was an all-Italian affair between Juventus and Parma, with the Ducali winning a two-legged final.
That the Bianconeri got there though was largely thanks to Baggio, who scored in the 2-2 draw in the first leg in Turin.
That handed the Germans the advantage on away goals, but Sergio Porrini gave Juve the lead in Dortmund.
Julio Cesar equalised but it proved to be in vain, as Baggio scored the winner after half an hour with a perfect free-kick.
Juventus vs Brescia, 1 April 2001
Persistent knee injuries meant he couldn’t even train toward the end of his career, but Baggio lost none of the magic in his feet.
A trip to the Stadio Delle Alpi with Brescia in 2001 saw one of the last great goals of a calcio legend, as well as a flash of inspiration from a future one.
A young Andrea Pirlo was given time and space in the centre circle, and the midfielder displayed the vision and passing skill for which he would become famous in picking out Baggio’s run.
The veteran still had plenty to do, but he killed the ball dead on the run, taking it round Bianconeri goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in the same action.
Given the Dutchman stands at 1.97m that was no mean feat, but Baggio made it look easy and calmly tucked the finish away.