Italy legend Roberto Baggio has been injured in an armed robbery at his villa in Altavilla Vicentina, northern Italy.
The incident, saw at least five assailants break into the 57-year-old’s home, local media reported.
Baggio, renowned for his stellar football career, was taken to an emergency room in Arzignano where he received stitches to his forehead after being struck by one of the burglars wielding a gun.
In his first public address since the incident, Baggio expressed gratitude for the support he has received, stating, “Now all that remains is to overcome the fear.” He added that “fortunately the violence I suffered only caused a few stitches on my person, bruises, and a lot of fear.”
The robbery took place while Baggio and his family were watching Italy’s match against Spain in the European Championships. According to Corriere della Sera, the violent encounter lasted approximately 40 minutes. Baggio reportedly attempted to fend off the burglars, but one struck him on the forehead with a gun. Subsequently, Baggio and his family were locked in a room while the intruders ransacked the house for valuables. It remains unclear how much was stolen during the robbery.
The footballer’s family, though shaken by the incident, did not suffer any injuries. Once Baggio felt it was safe, he managed to break down the door of the room they were confined in and called the police. Authorities have since received CCTV footage of the incident and are actively investigating.
Known as “Divin Codino” (the divine ponytail) during his illustrious career, Baggio led Italy to the World Cup final in 1994, though he famously missed the decisive penalty in the shootout against Brazil.
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Baggio enjoyed successful spells at both AC Milan and Inter Milan before retiring in 2004. He remains the only Italian to score at three World Cups and is tied as Italy’s top scorer in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Italian national team is competing in Euro 2024 as defending champions. They lost their second group game to Spain on Thursday.
