Luigi Riva

Luigi Riva (born November 7, 1944) in Leggiuno, 30 km north-west of Milano, was an Italian footballer, the all-time leading scorer for the Italian national team.

Related Topics:
November 7 - 1944 - Italian - Footballer - Italian national team

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His career started in 1962 when he joined Legnano. He joined Cagliari the next season and was to stay there for the rest of his career, despite the attention of bigger clubs. He made his league debut for Cagliari on September 13, 1964, when the team lost 2-1 against Roma. He was Serie A top-scorer 3 times with Cagliari, in 1967, 1969 and 1970. His only Serie A title came in 1970.

Related Topics:
1962 - Legnano - Cagliari - September 13 - 1964 - Roma - Serie A - 1967 - 1969 - 1970

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He made his international debut on June 27, 1965 in a 2-1 defeat against Hungary. He would go on to become Italy's top-goalscorer of all-time, with 35 goals in just 42 matches and would win the 1968 European Championships. In the 1970 he obtained the second place to World Cup in Mexico with italian national Team. Italy's topscorer in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, he netted the crucial extra-time goal - his 22nd in 21 internationals - against West Germany in the semifinal.

Related Topics:
June 27 - 1965 - Hungary - 1968 European Championships - 1970

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He turned down a ? 3.500.000 move to Juventus in 1973, at the age of 29, but had a bad 1974 World Cup and was dropped for the last game against Poland.

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1973 - 1974

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In 1976, he was badly injured and, although he tried to play on, he never got back to playing again and eventually retired in 1978. He played 338 league games in his career, scoring 170 goals. After retiring he became an executive with Cagliari.

Related Topics:
1976 - 1978

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