Paolo Rossi

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Records

Paolo Rossi's 1982 season stands as one of the most decorated individual years in football history. He is the only player ever to win the World Cup Golden Boot, Golden Ball, and Ballon d'Or in the same year. His six goals in the 1982 World Cup included a hat-trick against Brazil, widely considered one of the greatest performances in tournament history. He was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team twice (1978, 1982) and selected by Pelé for the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living footballers in 2004. Rossi remains tied with Roberto Baggio and Christian Vieri as Italy's all-time top World Cup scorer with nine goals. His posthumous induction into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2021 solidified his status as a national treasure.

AwardsRossi won the Ballon d'Or in 1982, the same year he led Italy to World Cup victory and claimed both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball. He was Serie A top scorer in 1977-78 and Serie B top scorer in 1976-77. With Juventus, he won two Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, and the European Cup. He was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame posthumously in 2021.

Honours & Distinctions

Italian Football Hall of Fame

Italian Football Federation·2021

Posthumous induction

FIFA 100

FIFA / Pelé·2004

List of greatest living footballers

UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll

UEFA·2004

Ranked 12th best European player of the past 50 years

Rankings & Lists

#Top 125

FIFA 100

FIFA·2004

#12th

UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll

UEFA·2004

#44th most popular soccer player

Pantheon Historical Popularity Index

Pantheon·2024

Records & Feats

Only player to win Golden Boot, Golden Ball, and Ballon d'Or in a single year

Career Milestone·1982

In 1982, Rossi won the World Cup Golden Boot (top scorer), Golden Ball (best player), and the Ballon d'Or (European Footballer of the Year), a unique triple.

Tied for Italy's all-time top World Cup scorer

Career Milestone·1987

Rossi scored 9 goals in 14 World Cup matches, tied with Roberto Baggio and Christian Vieri as Italy's highest World Cup goal-scorers.