Italy is reeling from a shocking incident involving football legend Roberto Baggio and his family. During Italy's European Championship match against Spain, five masked men broke into Baggio's home in Altavilla Vicentina, assaulted him, and robbed the family. The ordeal lasted approximately 40 minutes, during which Baggio was hit on the head with a gun handle when he tried to confront the robbers.
The robbers locked Baggio, his wife, his mother-in-law, and his children in a room while they ransacked the house, taking money, jewelry, and watches. After the robbers fled, Baggio managed to break down the door and contacted the Carabinieri. He was subsequently treated in a hospital for his injuries, which included a deep wound on his forehead requiring stitches.
Baggio expressed his gratitude to the public for their support, stating, 'First of all, my family and I would like to thank everyone for the great love that has been shown to us. Fortunately, the violence I suffered only caused me a few stitches, bruises, and a lot of fear. Now we just have to overcome the fear.'
The incident has left the local community in shock. The former Ballon d'Or winner has lived in Altavilla Vicentina for 15 years, in a farmhouse that offers a picturesque view of the area. The robbers reportedly jumped the perimeter fence and took advantage of the fact that the alarm system was turned off while the family was watching the match.
This incident coincided with Italy's 0-1 loss to Spain in the European Championship, adding to the dismay. The Italian team, known as the Squadra Azzurra, is now in second place in Group B and needs at least one point in their final group match against Croatia to secure a spot in the round of 16.
- Roberto Baggio, a celebrated figure in Italian football, had an illustrious career spanning 22 years. He played 490 games in Serie A and won two league titles, one with Juventus in the 1994/95 season and another with Milan in 1995/96. Baggio also won the Coppa Italia with Juventus in 1994/95 and the UEFA Cup in 1992/93.
- Baggio represented Italy in three World Cups: Italy 1990, United States 1994, and France 1998. He is famously remembered for missing the decisive penalty in the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil. Throughout his international career, he scored 27 goals in 56 appearances for the national team.
- After retiring in 2004, Baggio served as the director of the Technical Area of the Italian Federation of Football (FIGC) from 2010 to 2013. He has since dedicated his time to practicing Buddhism, animal husbandry, and sport hunting.
- The attack on Baggio has drawn comparisons to what it would be like if a similar incident happened to a football legend in another country, such as Lothar Matthäus in Germany. The local authorities are currently investigating the robbery, and video footage from the surveillance camera has been secured to aid in their efforts.
