Pure Baggio brilliance Italy's Roberto Baggio (left) scored a spectacular goal against Czechoslovakia in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. (more) Famous FIFA World Cup Goals: Roberto Baggio’s Brilliance Written by Gitanjali Roy Gitanjali Roy is deputy managing editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. She has over two decades of editorial experience across digital and broadcast media. Gitanjali Roy Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated June 9, 2026 •History Italian forward Roberto Baggio made his FIFA World Cup debut in spectacular fashion during the 1990 edition. Baggio, then a rising star, was benched for the first two matches played by the Italian national team, known as the Azzurri, at the tournament. That changed in Italy’s third, and final, Group A match, against Czechoslovakia. Not only did Baggio start for Italy, he scored an individual goal regarded as one of the greatest in World Cup...

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