ITALIAN football legend Roberto Baggio was injured in an armed robbery at his home in Italy last night as his country was facing Spain at the Euro 2024 European Championship.
According to reports, the incident began at around 10pm local time when the second half of the high-profile fixture was about to start.
At least five people broke into the 57-year-old former Juventus and AC Milan forward’s villa in Altavilla Vicentina, Italian media reported.
The Azzurri great was taken to an emergency room in Arzignano and was treated with stiches to his forehead after one of the robbers hit him with a gun, the report added.
In his first public address since the incident, Baggio thanked well wishers, adding: “Now all that remains is to overcome the fear.”
Italian outlet Corriere della Sera reported that the violent incident took place while Baggio and his family were watching the Italy versus Spain encounter, which the latter won 1-0.
Luca Zaia, the president of Veneto region, said all Venetians hope Baggio can recover “from this bad evening”. He described the striker as the “symbolic champion of our football and our region”.
“What happened must be condemned without ifs and buts,” Zaia said, adding that he hopes “the bandits will soon be brought to justice”.
The incident reportedly went on for roughly 40 minutes.
Baggio is said to have tried to stop the burglars, but one of the thieves hit him on the forehead with a gun, the AFP news agency reported.
Shortly after, he and his family were locked in a room while the culprits tore the house apart searching for valuables. It is unclear how much was taken in the robbery.
His family is said to be shaken by the incident in the Veneto region, but not injured.
When Baggio felt it was safe to do so, he broke down the door of the room they were locked in and called the police.
Italian media said police were handed CCTV footage of the incident and are looking into it.
Baggio is considered a hero of Italian football after leading the country to the 1994 World Cup final, although he missed a penalty as the Azzurri lost to Brazil in a shootout.
He remains the only Italian to score at three World Cups and is still their joint top goal scorer in the competition.
Baggio also won bronze with Italy at the 1990 World Cup on home soil and scored 27 goals in 56 appearances for his country.
In 1999, Baggio came fourth in the FIFA Player of the Century internet poll and was chosen on the FIFA World Cup Dream Team in 2002.
In 1993, he was named FIFA World Player of the Year and won the Ballon d’Or. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100, a list of the world’s greatest living players.
At club level, Baggio won Serie A titles with both Juventus (1995) and AC Milan (1996), and is considered one of Italy’s all-time best players.
