Italy's record goalscorer and former Cagliari forward Luigi Riva has died at the age of 79. Riva had been in hospital in Sardinia's capital after reportedly suffering a heart attack over the weekend. Nicknamed 'Roar of Thunder', Riva scored 35 goals in 42 appearances for the Azzurri, with whom he won the 1968 European Championship and reached the World Cup final two years later.

He also helped Cagliari to their only Serie A title in 1970. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Cagliari wrote,"Forever GIGI RIVA." Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina said: "Italian soccer is grieving because a real and proper national hero has left us. Gigi Riva was the embodiment of a great man and an extraordinary footballer."