In a touching display of love and admiration, Mattia Schillaci, son of the late Italian football legend Totò Schillaci, has penned an emotional tribute to his father. Totò Schillaci, best known for his heroic performances during the 1990 World Cup, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, leaving a void in the hearts of many, especially his family.
Mattia, born in 1990 during his father’s World Cup exploits, shared a poignant letter on Instagram, later reposted on Totò Schillaci’s official profile. In his heartfelt message, Mattia expressed the profound impact his father had on his life:
“I promised I would be with you until the end, but I lied, because between you and me, between our bond, in our love, there will never be an end. Thank you for what you were, thank you for what you gave us. Thank you for everything, Dad. We’ll see each other again someday. I love you.”
While the world remembers Totò Schillaci as the hero of Italy’s “Magical Nights” during the 1990 World Cup, Mattia’s words reveal a more intimate portrait of the man behind the legend:
“Everyone knew you as the hero of the magical nights, but unfortunately for them, no one knew you as a father. You were, and will always be, my best friend. You were the most beautiful example, the superhero that all children dream of when they close their eyes.”
Mattia’s letter also touches on the unexpected nature of his father’s passing:
“You left so suddenly, as you used to do: always surprising, without warning. A boulder in the heart, in the soul, a stab in the chest, a huge wound, and the scars will remain forever.”
The younger Schillaci recounted his father’s strength in his final days:
“You fought like a lion – your heart was steel, you were tied to life. That’s what the blue-eyed doctor told me, in that ward, in the last days. You were born fighting and you went away the same way.”
In closing his tribute, Mattia affirmed the enduring bond between father and son: “We will always be together, wherever you are.”
