Baggio - The Man Who Died Standing

Roberto Baggio did not die. This moment has been given the title of “The man who died standing” by football fans around the world.

One of the finest players of all time - overshadowed by a penalty missed. For those who know nothing about football - Italy didn’t even deserve to be in the final, Baggio carried the whole team on his shoulders until the final. Amazing talent, one of the GOATs

One penalty miss overshadowed the ridiculous talent of this genius. Grande Roberto baggio

I don't know why they blame Baggio until this moment, he's not the only player in Italy who missed a penalty

He had the courage to go and congratulate the Brazilians even when he was feeling broken. I have great respect for this man.

Context needed here. He is unquestionably the best Italian footballer of all time and one of the world's best ever - a pure genius whose career doctors said was over at 18 because of a busted knee requiring 220 stitches, recovered to play for 20 years on one good leg winning the Ballon D'Or, who carried that often insipid '94 Azzurri team on his shoulders to the final, played with a hamstring problem for the entire 120 minutes against Brazil and stepped up only to save Italy (again) from losing as two others had already missed their penalties and after he missed went on to be ostracised by coach after coach, Sacchi, Lippi, Zoff, Trapattoni, even Ancelotti etc. until he found the right man in Mazzone at Brescia far too late in his career. They left him out of Serie A matches, Euros, World Cups - can you just imagine the outcry if, at any point, Argentina had dared to leave out Maradona or Messi or Brazil benching Ronaldo, Rivaldo or Ronaldinho during their heyday? That's the difference.

Many don't understand why this is the most famous penalty in football history. It's 1994, Roberto Baggio is the winner of the last Ballon d'Or. The whole world expects to see the world champions: Maradona, Baggio, Romario, just as today we expect to see the performance of Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe. In Italy's first 3 matches, Baggio played badly and didn't score, and was overwhelmed by criticism. Round of 16: Italy are losing against Nigeria 1-0, 2 minutes left. Suddenly Roberto Baggio rises again, with a precision goal. From that moment it will never stop. 2 goals against Nigeria in the round of 16, 1 goal against Spain in the quarterfinals, dribbling past the goalkeeper in the last minutes, 2 goals against Bulgaria in the semifinals. Italy-Brazil final, Baggio-Romario duel, both top scorers with 5 goals. Baggio took Italy to the final practically alone, an Italy that hadn't played very well. If he had won the World Cup, he would have done something comparable to Maradona in '86: winning a World Cup by himself. Imagine today a Ballon d'Or of the year, for example Messi, who wins all the matches by himself up to the final of the World Cup, and then misses the decisive penalty, just him! What happened to Roberto Baggio is something incredible, one who never missed penalties: the bitterness of the cruellest defeat, in one of the most iconic moments in the history of sport, not just football.

I saw this. He was injured but he keep playing because italy was so depend on him at the time. The were exhausted even before the game started but they kept fighting up to the penalty. They lost but gain my respect until today even they missed the world cup. Forza Italia 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇲🇨🇲🇨🇲🇨🇲🇨

My first world cup. I was 9 years old. This man introduced me to football. Thank you, Roberto Baggio.

I was heart broken for Italy and Baggio when they lost this game, but this WC was when I feel in love with the Italian national team. I wonder how good Baggio could have been if he didn't struggle with injuries most of his career, I really wish he could have won a WC. :( Baggio will always be my favorite player.

My father was a big fan of Baggio. So he named me Bagio.

The expectations on Baggio were astronomical during the 1994 World Cup. I mean he was the poster boy along side Romario as the two headlining stars of the event. On top of that he was the reigning Ballon D'or so he was under tremendous pressure to carry the nation. Unfortunately for Italy, he was the main star especially in the attacking department. Whereas for Romario, his burdens were shared with an equally capable Bebeto as the accomplice striker.

One of the finest ball player. Probably The best at that generation.

we love him, thank you legend, from a Brazilian.

I still remember Roberto Baggio from Italia 90.....One of his outstanding goals where he ran and dribbled to the very last moment and hit the goal.

One of the greatest and most talented footballers of all time. A little bit of history for those who don't know, Roberto Baggio was one of the most skilled individuals of his generation and he was formidable during this world cup. He took on entire football teams and without him, Italy definitely would not have made it to the final. He did all the work and carried Italy to the final. Roberto Baggio, you are one of footballs greatest heroes.

This goes to show that no matter how much good things you do as a hero, everyone will remember and criticise you for that one mistake you did.

Football media is great at turning football heroes into football villains. Roberto Baggio is one of the greatest of all time. This one penalty does not some up his magnificent career. He's one of the pioneers of modern day football talent.

Both those teams had so much talent it's sickening. He was injured should never have taken the pk. There were plenty of guys on the bench that could have sunk that shot.

I fell in love with football because of Baggio, his the reason why I love the game so much, people talk about his penalty miss a lot but all I ever see is everything else his done not just for football in general but for Italian football, I never hear anyone criticise or banter him as a player which is beautiful to see, he was my idol, from the first time I seen him play in 1994 World Cup till the day he retired was an absolute honour and childhood experience. Even till today every time I was a football match I miss him, I wish I could rewind back in time to watch him play his career out one more time. You will never be forgotten and will always be remembered as the player you were not the penalty you missed ❤