View source for Roberto Baggio

{{Short description|Italian former footballer (born 1967)}}
{{redirect|The Divine Ponytail|the biographical film|Baggio: The Divine Ponytail}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Roberto Baggio<br />{{post-nominals|list=[[OMRI]]}}
| image = روبرتو باجو (cropped).jpg
| caption = Baggio in 2023
| full_name = Roberto Baggio<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legaseriea.it/uploads/default/attachments/comunicati/comunicati_m/3473/files/allegati/3478/cu4422__comunicato_442_dell_8_maggio_2001.pdf |title=Comunicato Ufficiale N. 442 |trans-title=Official Press Release No. 442 |publisher=Lega Serie A |page=4 |date=8 May 2001 |access-date=13 December 2020 |language=it |archive-date=30 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930173609/https://www.legaseriea.it/uploads/default/attachments/comunicati/comunicati_m/3473/files/allegati/3478/cu4422__comunicato_442_dell_8_maggio_2001.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|2|18|df=y}}<ref name="Baggio - Goals in Serie A"/>
| birth_place = [[Caldogno]], Italy<ref name="Baggio - Goals in Serie A"/>
| height = 1.74 m<ref name="Baggio - Goals in Serie A"/>
| position = [[Second striker]], [[Attacking midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 1974–1980
| youthclubs1 = Caldogno
| youthyears2 = 1980–1983
| youthclubs2 = [[Vicenza Calcio|Vicenza]]
| years1 = 1982–1985
| clubs1 = [[Vicenza Calcio|Vicenza]]
| caps1 = 36
| goals1 = 13
| years2 = 1985–1990
| clubs2 = [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]]
| caps2 = 94
| goals2 = 39
| years3 = 1990–1995
| clubs3 = [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
| caps3 = 141
| goals3 = 78
| years4 = 1995–1997
| clubs4 = [[AC Milan]]
| caps4 = 51
| goals4 = 12
| years5 = 1997–1998
| clubs5 = [[Bologna FC 1909|Bologna]]
| caps5 = 30
| goals5 = 22
| years6 = 1998–2000
| clubs6 = [[Inter Milan]]
| caps6 = 41
| goals6 = 9
| years7 = 2000–2004
| clubs7 = [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]]
| caps7 = 95
| goals7 = 45
| totalcaps = 488
| totalgoals = 218
| nationalyears1 = 1984
| nationalteam1 = [[Italy national under-16 football team|Italy U16]]<ref name="R.Baggio49-59">{{harvnb|Baggio|2001|pp=49–59}}</ref>
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 1988–2004
| nationalteam2 = [[Italy national football team|Italy]]<ref name="Nazionale in cifre - FIGC: Baggio, Roberto"/>
| nationalcaps2 = 56
| nationalgoals2 = 27
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{flag|Italy}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]|}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]|}}
}}
'''Roberto Baggio''' ({{IPA|it|roˈbɛrto ˈbaddʒo}}; born 18 February 1967) is an Italian former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who mainly played as a [[Forward (association football)#Second striker|second striker]], or as an [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|attacking midfielder]], although he was capable of playing in several offensive positions.<ref name="=Del Piero, Totti e Baggio la fantasia al potere">{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/fantasisti/fantasisti/fantasisti.html|title=Del Piero, Totti e Baggio la fantasia al potere|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author=Andrea di Nicola|date=6 October 2001|access-date=16 February 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104335/http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/fantasisti/fantasisti/fantasisti.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He is the former president of the technical sector of the [[Italian Football Federation]]. A technically gifted creative [[playmaker]] and [[Direct free kick|set piece]] specialist, renowned for his [[Curl (football)|curling]] free-kicks, [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills, and goalscoring, Baggio is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.{{#tag:ref|See <ref name="FIFA 94" /><ref name="A History of the Gala">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2002/m=12/news=history-the-gala-part-european-legends-84548.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222155132/http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2002/m=12/news=history-the-gala-part-european-legends-84548.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 December 2015|title=A History of the Gala: Part I - European legends|publisher=FIFA|date=13 December 2002|access-date=18 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=151911.html#baggio+beckham|title=24-22: Baggio to Beckham|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=9 February 2015|archive-date=17 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917180046/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=151911.html#baggio+beckham|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="top 20">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/name/93/post/1845146/headline|title=All-time Top 20: No. 7 Roberto Baggio|date=13 April 2014|publisher=ESPN FC|access-date=9 February 2015|archive-date=11 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811133619/http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/name/93/post/1845146/headline|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AFS Top-100 Players of All-Time">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/afstop100.html|title=AFS Top-100 Players of All-Time|author1=Marcelo Leme de Arruda|date=14 December 2007|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-date=30 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530051331/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/afstop100.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Best of The Best">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/bestbest.html|title=The Best of The Best|author1=Marcelo Leme de Arruda|date=19 June 2009|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=28 September 2017|archive-date=26 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126041553/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/bestbest.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="I wanted to die">{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/73161/baggio-i-wanted-die|title=Baggio: 'I wanted to die'|publisher=Football Italia|date=19 September 2015|access-date=21 September 2015|archive-date=22 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922231806/http://www.football-italia.net/73161/baggio-i-wanted-die|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/pele-or-puskas-maradona-or-messi-just-who-best-no10-all-time#:LI88bVyLMf3plA|title=Pele or Puskas? Maradona or Messi? Just who is the best No.10 of all-time?|magazine=FourFourTwo|author1=Louis Massarella|date=5 November 2015|access-date=11 February 2016|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108081642/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/pele-or-puskas-maradona-or-messi-just-who-best-no10-all-time#:LI88bVyLMf3plA|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Three ex-Bianconeri number 10s in FIFA's all-time list">{{cite web|url=http://www.juventus.com/en/news/news/2013/three-ex-bianconeri-number-10s-in-fifa-s-all-time-list.php|title=Three ex-Bianconeri number 10s in FIFA's all-time list|publisher=Juventus.com|date=3 March 2014|access-date=11 February 2016|archive-date=15 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415103057/http://www.juventus.com/en/news/news/2013/three-ex-bianconeri-number-10s-in-fifa-s-all-time-list.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="huffingtonpost">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/luke-chandley/roberto-baggio-transfers-_b_9586534.html|title=Roberto Baggio: Transfers That Broke the Richter Scale|work=The Huffington Post|author1=Luke Chandley|date=1 April 2016|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-date=4 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404072240/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/luke-chandley/roberto-baggio-transfers-_b_9586534.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CM">{{cite web|url=http://www.calciomercato.com/news/sconcerti-a-cm-giusta-la-vittoria-di-riva-ma-rivera-e-al-suo-liv-217354|title=Riva il migliore per i lettori di CM. Sconcerti: 'Ma Rivera era al suo livello'|publisher=Calciomercato.com|language=it|author1=Mario Sconcerti|date=28 March 2016|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-date=14 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214003603/http://www.calciomercato.com/news/sconcerti-a-cm-giusta-la-vittoria-di-riva-ma-rivera-e-al-suo-liv-217354|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Baggio: The Divine Ponytail">{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/117400/baggio-divine-ponytail|title=Baggio: The Divine Ponytail|publisher=Football Italia|author1=Greg Murray|date=18 February 2018|access-date=20 February 2018|archive-date=21 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221100137/https://www.football-italia.net/117400/baggio-divine-ponytail|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ravanelli elogia Baggio">{{cite web|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/2017/02/18-21756568/ravanelli_elogia_baggio_il_piu_forte_di_sempre_/|title=Ravanelli elogia Baggio: "Il più forte di sempre"|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|date=18 February 2017|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=7 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107104317/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/2017/02/18-21756568/ravanelli_elogia_baggio_il_piu_forte_di_sempre_/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="16 May 2012"/>|name="greatest-players"|group="nb"}}

In 1999, Baggio came fourth in the [[FIFA Player of the Century#FIFA Internet vote|FIFA Player of the Century]] internet poll,<ref name="FIFA Player of the Century">{{cite web|url=http://en03.touri.com/Berichte/FIFA-Spieler/MalePlayer.pdf|title=FIFA Player of the Century|publisher=FIFA|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426005029/http://en03.touri.com/Berichte/FIFA-Spieler/MalePlayer.pdf|archive-date=26 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and was chosen on the [[FIFA World Cup Dream Team]] in 2002.<ref name="World All-Time Teams">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/wrldallt.html|title=World All-Time Teams|author1=Marcelo Leme de Arruda|date=24 July 2014|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-date=22 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122104208/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/wrldallt.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1993, he was named [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] and won the [[Ballon d'Or]]. In 2004, he was named by [[Pelé]] in the [[FIFA 100]], a list of the world's greatest living players.<ref name="Pele">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3533891.stm|title=Pele's list of the greatest|work=BBC Sport|date=4 March 2004|access-date=15 June 2013|archive-date=19 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019102653/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Baggio played for [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in 56 matches and is the joint [[Italy national football team#Top goalscorers|fourth-highest goalscorer]] for his national team. He starred in the Italian team that finished third in the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]]. At the [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 World Cup]], he led Italy to [[1994 FIFA World Cup final|the final]], received the World Cup [[FIFA World Cup awards#Golden Ball|Silver Ball]] and was named in the [[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|World Cup All-Star Team]]. Although he was the star performer for Italy at the tournament, he missed the decisive penalty in the shootout of the final against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]].<ref name="A History of the Gala"/> Baggio is the only Italian to score in three [[FIFA World Cup|World Cups]], and with nine goals holds the record for [[Italy national football team records#Goalscorers|most goals scored in World Cup tournaments for Italy]], along with [[Paolo Rossi]] and [[Christian Vieri]].<ref name="Mondial">{{cite web|url=http://it.eurosport.yahoo.com/10052010/45/top-10-mondiali-pele-baggio-i-10-grandi.html|title=10 Leggende Mondiali|trans-title=10 World Cup Legends|publisher=Eurosport|language=it|access-date=29 June 2012|archive-date=16 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216233952/http://it.eurosport.yahoo.com/10052010/45/top-10-mondiali-pele-baggio-i-10-grandi.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, Baggio became the first Italian player in over 50 years to score more than 300 career goals; he is the [[Football records in Italy#Highest-scoring Italian players in all competitions|fifth-highest scoring Italian in all competitions]] with 318 goals. In 2004, during the final season of his career, Baggio became the first player in over 30 years to score 200 goals in [[Serie A]], and is the [[Football records in Italy#Goalscoring|seventh-highest goalscorer of all time in Serie A]], with 205 goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fantasista10.co.uk/when-totti-surpassed-baggio/|title=When Totti Surpassed Baggio|publisher=fantasista10.co.uk|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=27 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427152408/http://www.fantasista10.co.uk/when-totti-surpassed-baggio/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1990, he moved from [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] to [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] for a [[World football transfer record|world record transfer fee]].<ref name="Record">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23903470|title=The history of the world transfer record|work=BBCSport|date=1 September 2013|access-date=1 May 2014|archive-date=2 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102073058/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23903470|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio won two Serie A titles, a [[Coppa Italia]], and a [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]], playing for seven different Italian clubs during his career ([[Vicenza Calcio|Vicenza]], Fiorentina, Juventus, [[AC Milan]], [[Bologna FC 1909|Bologna]], [[Inter Milan]], and [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]]).

Baggio is known as '''{{lang|it|Il Divin Codino}}'''<!--CORRECT ITALIAN SPELLING: "DIVIN"--> ("The Divine [[Ponytail]]"), for the hairstyle he wore for most of his career, for his talent, and for his [[Buddhist]] beliefs.<ref name="au.fourfourtwo.com">{{cite magazine|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/features/5146,roberto-baggio-italys-finest-no10.aspx|title=Roberto Baggio: Italy's Finest no. 10|magazine=FourFourTwo|access-date=29 June 2012|archive-date=9 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109223941/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/features/5146,roberto-baggio-italys-finest-no10.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2002, Baggio was nominated [[FAO Goodwill Ambassador|Goodwill Ambassador]] of the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] of the United Nations. In 2003, he was the inaugural winner of the [[Golden Foot]] award. In recognition of his human rights activism, he received the [[Man of Peace]] award from the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] Laureates in 2010. In 2011, he was the first footballer to be inducted into the [[Italian Football Hall of Fame]].

== Early life ==
Roberto Baggio was born in [[Caldogno]], [[Veneto]], the son of Matilde and Florindo Baggio, the sixth of eight siblings. His younger brother, [[Eddy Baggio]], was also a footballer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.com/eddy-baggio/profile-80735.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223011438/http://www.in.com/eddy-baggio/profile-80735.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2014|title=Eddy Baggio: Profile|access-date=29 June 2012}}</ref>

== Club career ==

=== 1976–1985: Early career and Vicenza ===
[[File:Roberto Baggio - Lanerossi Vicenza.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Baggio on his debut with [[Vicenza Calcio|Vicenza]]]]

Baggio began his youth career after being noticed by his hometown youth team, Caldogno, at age nine. By the time he turned 11, he had scored 45 goals and provided 20 assists in 26 matches, also scoring six goals in one match. His talent was recognised by scout Antonio Mora, and he was acquired by the [[Vicenza Calcio|Vicenza]] youth team at age 13 for £300 (500,000 Lit). After scoring 110 goals in 120 matches, Baggio began his professional career with the Vicenza senior side in 1983, at age 15.<ref name="Fantasista Legends: Roberto Baggio">{{cite web|url=http://www.fantasista10.co.uk/roberto-baggio/|title=Fantasista Legends: Roberto Baggio|publisher=fantasista10.co.uk|access-date=26 May 2014|archive-date=28 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528011232/http://www.fantasista10.co.uk/roberto-baggio/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="battezzò">{{cite news |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2004/02/15/la-samp-battezzo-il-codino.html |title=E la Samp battezzò il Codino |newspaper=La Repubblica |language=it |last=Mangini |first=Lorenzo |date=15 February 2004 |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619190258/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2004/02/15/la-samp-battezzo-il-codino.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the age of 16, Baggio made his [[Serie C1]] debut with Vicenza on 5 June 1983, a 1–0 home loss against [[Piacenza Calcio 1919|Piacenza]], in the final league match of the season, coming on as a second-half substitute. He scored his first goal in Serie C1 during [[1983–84 Serie C1|the following season]], on 3 June 1984, from a penalty in a 3–0 win against [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]], the club with which he retired in 2004.<ref name="Baggio - Goals in Serie A"/><ref name="battezzò"/><ref name="golcalcio.it">{{cite web|url=http://www.golcalcio.it/Bag3002.htm|title=Roberto Baggio: Statistiche|website=gocalcio.it|language=it|access-date=30 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904011324/http://www.golcalcio.it/Bag3002.htm|archive-date=4 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/Itemid,3/action,detail/id,1376_02_1984_0152_0021_14595766/ |title=Inutile la vendemmiata del Vicenza sul Brescia |publisher=La Stampa Sera |page=7 |language=it |date=4 June 1984 |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619213941/http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/Itemid,3/action,detail/id,1376_02_1984_0152_0021_14595766/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.storiapiacenza1919.it/part82.htm#ViPc |title=Le partite della stagione 1982/1983 |publisher=www.storiapiacenza1919.it |language=it |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806172901/http://www.storiapiacenza1919.it/part82.htm#ViPc |url-status=live }}</ref> Baggio scored the first professional goal of his career in the [[Coppa Italia Serie C]] in a 4–1 away win over [[Legnano Calcio|Legnano]] on 30 November 1983.<ref name="Baggio - Goals in Serie A"/><ref name="golcalcio.it"/> He also made his [[Coppa Italia]] debut with the club on 31 August 1983, against [[US Città di Palermo|Palermo]], and he scored his first [[1984–85 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] goal in a 4–2 away loss to [[Empoli FC|Empoli]], on 26 August 1984.<ref name="Baggio - Goals in Serie A"/><ref name="golcalcio.it"/> During the [[1984–85 Lanerossi Vicenza season|1984–85 Serie C1]] season under manager [[Bruno Giorgi (footballer)|Bruno Giorgi]], he scored 12 goals in 29 appearances, helping the club to gain promotion to [[Serie B]]. Baggio began to draw the attention of larger Italian clubs, in particular Serie A side [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]], and his playing style was compared to that of his idol [[Zico (footballer)|Zico]].<ref name="Fantasista Legends: Roberto Baggio"/><ref name="battezzò"/> Baggio was also awarded the Guerin d'Oro in 1985 as the Best Player in Serie C1.<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche">{{cite web|url=http://www.robertobaggio.org/italian/statistiche.html|title=Roberto Baggio: Statistiche|website=robertobaggio.org|language=it|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-date=10 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810050521/http://www.robertobaggio.org/italian/statistiche.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the end of his final season at Vicenza, Baggio shattered both the [[anterior cruciate ligament]] (ACL) and the meniscus of his right knee while playing against [[Rimini Calcio|Rimini]] on 5 May 1985, while attempting a slide tackle. The injury occurred two days before his official transfer deal to Fiorentina had been finalised, and it seriously threatened his career, at age 18. Although several team doctors feared he would not play again, Fiorentina retained their faith in him, agreeing to commit to the transfer as well as fund the required surgery, one of many reasons for Baggio's attachment to the club.<ref name="Fantasista Legends: Roberto Baggio"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/accade-oggi/21-settembre-1986-roberto-baggio-esordisce-in-serie-a-880064|title=21 settembre 1986, Roberto Baggio esordisce in Serie A|publisher=Tutto Mercato Web.com|language=it|author1=Gaetano Mocciaro|date=21 September 2016|access-date=20 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922140647/http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/accade-oggi/21-settembre-1986-roberto-baggio-esordisce-in-serie-a-880064|archive-date=22 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 1985–1990: Fiorentina ===
Fiorentina purchased Baggio in 1985 for £1.5&nbsp;million. During his time at the club, despite initial injuries, he became extremely popular, and is regarded as one of the club's best ever players.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiorentinacalcio.net/i-giocatori-che-hanno-fatto-la-storia-della-fiorentina-roberto-baggio/|title=I giocatori che hanno fatto la storia della Fiorentina: Roberto Baggio|publisher=FiorentinaCalcio.net|language=it|access-date=20 October 2014|archive-date=20 October 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141020054938/http://www.fiorentinacalcio.net/i-giocatori-che-hanno-fatto-la-storia-della-fiorentina-roberto-baggio/|url-status=live}}</ref> In his [[1985–86 AC Fiorentina season|first season]] with the club, Baggio did not appear in [[Serie A]] as he was sidelined by injury; Fiorentina finished in fifth place in the league and reached the semi-finals of the [[1985–86 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]], with Baggio making his club debut in the latter competition on 29 January 1986, coming on as a second-half substitute for Davide Pellegrini in a 3–1 home win over [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]] in the round of 16.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.violanews.com/statistiche/bv-1986-la-prima-di-baggio-nel-giorno-del-sentimento-viola/ |title=BV 1986: Baggio nel giorno del “sentimento” viola |publisher=Viola News |language=it |date=29 January 2014 |access-date=19 May 2026 }}</ref> He finally made his [[Serie A]] debut the following season on 21 September 1986, in a 2–0 home win against [[UC Sampdoria|Sampdoria]],<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio">{{cite web|url=http://www.robertobaggio.org/italian/biografia.html|title=Biografia: Roberto Baggio|website=robertobaggio.org|language=it|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-date=8 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808054427/http://www.robertobaggio.org/italian/biografia.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/common/area_gazzetta/vhs/biog_baggio.htm |title=Biografia e Carriera di Baggio |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |access-date=19 April 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806195226/https://www.gazzetta.it/common/area_gazzetta/vhs/biog_baggio.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="A PASSION BEYOND THE GAME"/> and he also made his European debut that season on 17 September 1986, in a 1–0 home win in an [[1986–87 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] match against [[Boavista F.C.|Boavista]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/match-report/ma611403/lineup/|title=Fiorentina vs. Boavista: 1-0|website=worldfootball.net|access-date=18 March 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084917/http://www.worldfootball.net/report/europa-league-1986-1987-1-runde-acf-fiorentina-boavista/|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio suffered another knee injury on 28 September, and he was operated again, requiring 220 stitches to have it rebuilt, losing 12&nbsp;kg as a result and missing most of the [[1986–87 AC Fiorentina season|season]].<ref name="au.fourfourtwo.com"/> Baggio returned, and scored his first league goal from a free-kick on 10 May 1987 in a 1–1 draw against [[Diego Maradona]]'s [[SSC Napoli|Napoli]], the eventual Serie A champions; Baggio's equaliser saved Fiorentina from relegation.<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/>

{{Quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="The angels sing in his legs."|source=—Former Fiorentina manager [[Aldo Agroppi]] on Baggio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/5673057/why-us-needs-true-no-10|title=The U.S. needs a true No. 10|publisher=ESPN|author1=David Hirshey|date=11 October 2010|access-date=31 October 2015|archive-date=21 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321171532/http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/5673057/why-us-needs-true-no-10|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
Baggio led Fiorentina to a [[1988–89 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] quarter-final during the [[1988–89 AC Fiorentina season|1988–89 season]] under manager [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]], scoring nine goals, as Fiorentina were eliminated by eventual champions Sampdoria.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italcuptops.html |title=Coppa Italia Top Scorers |access-date=19 May 2012 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029033413/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/italcuptops.html |archive-date=29 October 2015 }}</ref> This season would be Baggio's breakthrough, as he scored 15 goals in [[1988–89 Serie A|Serie A]], finishing third in the ''[[capocannoniere]]'' (top goalscorer) title. He also helped Fiorentina finish in seventh place in Serie A and win an [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] spot, assisting the only goal by [[Roberto Pruzzo]] in the tiebreak qualifier against [[AS Roma|Roma]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/news/2011/06/29/6522997.shtml|title=Il passato e' domani: Fiorentina in coppa Uefa|publisher=Mediaset.it|language=it|date=29 June 2011|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119205444/http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/news/2011/06/29/6522997.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> He formed a notable attacking partnership with [[Stefano Borgonovo]], and the pair scored 29 of Fiorentina's 44 Serie A goals, earning the nickname "B2".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2008/10/08/Baggio.shtml|title=Baggio: "Borgonovo? E' un eroe moderno"|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=8 October 2008|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=11 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011004343/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2008/10/08/Baggio.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio's performances elevated him to hero status among the fans, and he drew praise from several pundits. His characteristics led former Fiorentina playmaker [[Miguel Montuori]] to say Baggio was "more productive than Maradona; he is without doubt the best [[Playmaker|number 10]] in the league", also stating that Baggio had "ice in his veins" due to his composure in front of goal.<ref name="Fantasista Legends: Roberto Baggio"/>

Although Fiorentina were struggling against relegation during the [[1989–90 AC Fiorentina season|1989–90 season]], Baggio led the club to the [[1990 UEFA Cup final]], only to be defeated by his future club, [[Juventus FC|Juventus]].<ref name="huffingtonpost"/> Baggio scored 1 goal in 12 appearances in the competition, in a round of 16 1–0 home win against [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]], from a penalty, on 22 November 1989; this was his first goal in [[UEFA club competitions|European competitions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2441--fiorentina-vs-dynamo-kyiv/|title=Fiorentina vs. Dinamo Kiev (1-0) UEFA Cup, 1989-90|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=18 March 2016|archive-date=20 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120023558/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1989/matches/round=620/match=2441/postmatch/statistics/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He also scored the decisive penalty in the first round [[Penalty shootout (football)|shootout]] against [[Atlético Madrid]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calcio.com/cronaca_partita/europa-league-1989-1990-1-runde-acf-fiorentina-atletico-madrid/|title=Fiorentina Atlético de Madrid: 0-1 (3-1)|publisher=calcio.com|language=it|access-date=13 January 2015|archive-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119000543/http://www.calcio.com/cronaca_partita/europa-league-1989-1990-1-runde-acf-fiorentina-atletico-madrid/|url-status=live}}</ref> With 17 goals, Baggio was the second-highest goalscorer in the 1989–90 Serie A season after [[Marco van Basten]], and was awarded the [[Bravo Award]] as the best under-23 player in European competitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.overnewsmagazine.com/legends-roberto-baggio/ |title=Legends: Roberto Baggio |access-date=2 May 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304223214/http://www.overnewsmagazine.com/legends-roberto-baggio/ |archive-date= 4 March 2016 }}</ref> He also placed eighth in the [[1990 Ballon d'Or]].<ref name="Ballon d'Or 1990">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy90.html|title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1990|first=José Luis|last=Pierrend|date=26 March 2005|access-date=15 November 2013|website=[[RSSSF]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130314042336/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/europa-poy90.html|archive-date=14 March 2013}}</ref> With Fiorentina, Baggio scored 55 goals in 136 appearances, 39 of which were in Serie A, from 94 appearances.<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/>

=== 1990–1995: Juventus ===
{{quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="One game stands out in particular, one against [[US Ancona 1905|Ancona]] [actually Udinese] which we won 5–1 [actually 5–0]. Baggio scored four goals in the first 20 minutes and killed the game off. I don't think I've seen a better performance from any player in any game I've ever played in. For half an hour, he was on fire. As footballers go, he's a genius."|source=—Former Juventus teammate [[David Platt (footballer)|David Platt]] on Baggio, 1995.<ref name="Fourfourtwo"/>}}
In 1990, Baggio was sold to [[ACF Fiorentina–Juventus FC rivalry|one of Fiorentina's rivals]], Juventus, for £8&nbsp;million, the [[World football transfer record|world record transfer]] for a footballer at the time.<ref name="Record"/> He inherited the [[Squad number (association football)|number 10 shirt]], formerly worn by [[Michel Platini]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/foto-gallery/sport/17_luglio_25/da-platini-del-piero-tutti-numeri-10-juventus-aspettando-bernardeschi-fc1f9762-70f9-11e7-97e0-849a9c15ef13.shtml|title=Da Platini a Del Piero, tutti i numeri 10 della Juventus aspettando Bernardeschi|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=25 July 2017|access-date=26 July 2017|archive-date=29 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829175957/http://www.corriere.it/foto-gallery/sport/17_luglio_25/da-platini-del-piero-tutti-numeri-10-juventus-aspettando-bernardeschi-fc1f9762-70f9-11e7-97e0-849a9c15ef13.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the transfer, there were riots on the streets of [[Florence]], where 50 people were injured.<ref name="pro-paul">{{cite web |url=http://www.pro-paul.net/baggio/special/sportsillustrated.html |title=Roberto Baggio's World |publisher=pro-paul.net |access-date=2 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203085652/http://www.pro-paul.net/baggio/special/sportsillustrated.html |archive-date=3 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Baggio replied to his fans, saying: "I was compelled to accept the transfer."<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

When Juventus played Fiorentina on 7 April 1991, Baggio refused to take a penalty, stating Fiorentina goalkeeper [[Gianmatteo Mareggini]] knew him too well. However, [[Luigi De Agostini]], Baggio's replacement, missed the penalty and Juventus eventually lost the match. When Baggio was substituted, he picked up a Fiorentina scarf thrown onto the field, a gesture which, although appreciated by his former club's fans, caused outrage among the Juventus supporters, who were initially reluctant to accept Baggio. He claimed to be "always purple" in his heart, with purple being the colour of Fiorentina.<ref name="Le sfide nel segno di Baggio">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2009/03/12/bagnati.shtml|title=Le sfide nel segno di Baggio R.|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author=Giuseppe Bagnati|date=12 March 2009|access-date=18 June 2012|archive-date=16 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016205143/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2009/03/12/bagnati.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

In this [[1990–91 Serie A|first season]] at Juventus, Baggio scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists in Serie A, often playing behind the forwards under [[Luigi Maifredi]], although Juventus finished in seventh place in Serie A, outside the European qualification spots. However, Juventus did reach the semi-finals of the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]] [[1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup|that year]], a tournament in which Baggio was top scorer with nine goals, bringing his seasonal total to 27 goals. Juventus would ultimately be eliminated by [[Johan Cruyff]]'s [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] "Dream Team". Juventus were also eliminated in the quarter-finals of the [[1990–91 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] to eventual winners Roma, with Baggio scoring three goals. Juventus also lost the [[1990 Supercoppa Italiana|Supercoppa Italiana]] against Napoli at the beginning of the season; Baggio scored Juventus's only goal from a free-kick.<ref name="Roberto Baggio detto Roby"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mondi.it/almanacco/voce/17028|title=La Supercoppa italiana al Napoli|publisher=Mondi.it|language=it|access-date=12 February 2015|archive-date=12 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212130436/http://www.mondi.it/almanacco/voce/17028|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio made his 100th Serie A appearance in a 0–0 draw against [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] on 21 October 1990.<ref name="golcalcio.it" />

In his [[1991–92 Serie A|second season]], under new manager [[Giovanni Trapattoni]], Baggio finished runner-up to Marco van Basten for the Serie A [[Capocannoniere|top scorer title]], scoring 18 goals and providing 8 assists,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital92.html|title=Italy Championship 1991/92|author1=Maurizio Mariani|date=31 October 2000|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=3 April 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030403001439/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ital92.html|url-status=live}}</ref> as Juventus finished runners-up to [[Fabio Capello]]'s [[AC Milan]] in Serie A,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2012/m=5/news=eight-goal-milan-make-history-foggia-1637247.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922131704/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2012/m=5/news=eight-goal-milan-make-history-foggia-1637247.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 September 2015|title=Eight-goal Milan make history in Foggia|publisher=FIFA.com|date=24 May 2012|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> and to [[Parma AC|Parma]] in the [[1991–92 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia final]], in which Baggio scored in his club's 1–0 victory in the first leg from a penalty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italcup92.html|title=Coppa Italia 1991/92|author1=Roberto Di Maggio|date=17 November 2005|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=23 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023013420/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italcup92.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was during his second season with the club that Baggio came to be accepted by the Juventus fans, as he was seen as a leader around whom the club's play revolved.<ref name="Baggio, il nome della Juve">{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/febbraio/18/Baggio_nome_della_Juve_co_0_92021815209.shtml?refresh_ce-cp|title=Baggio, il nome della Juve|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|author1=Luca Valdiserri|date=18 February 1992|access-date=31 May 2014|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925112030/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/febbraio/18/Baggio_nome_della_Juve_co_0_92021815209.shtml?refresh_ce-cp|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Trapattoni often deployed Baggio in a more advanced role,<ref name="Baggio, il nome della Juve"/> which led to minor disagreements between the player, his coach<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/dicembre/05/Trapattoni_Baggio_divorzio_non_fine_co_0_92120516884.shtml|title=Trapattoni a Baggio: " divorzio? non e' la fine del mondo "|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=5 December 1992|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119034714/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/dicembre/05/Trapattoni_Baggio_divorzio_non_fine_co_0_92120516884.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/novembre/04/Baggio_firma_armistizio_con_Trapattoni_co_0_9211045619.shtml|title=Baggio firma l' armistizio con Trapattoni|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=4 November 1992|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=29 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029060456/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/novembre/04/Baggio_firma_armistizio_con_Trapattoni_co_0_9211045619.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> and Juventus management.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/novembre/30/Baggio_trasmette_malumore_diretta_societa_co_0_92113011383.shtml|title=Baggio trasmette il malumore in diretta: " la societa' deve difendermi dalle critiche "|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=30 November 1992|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=20 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120224855/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/novembre/30/Baggio_trasmette_malumore_diretta_societa_co_0_92113011383.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Baggio was appointed [[List of Juventus FC players#Club captains|team]] [[Captain (association football)|captain]] for the [[1992–93 Serie A|1992–93 season]]. He had a dominant season, winning the only European club trophy of his career after helping Juventus to the [[1992–93 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] [[1993 UEFA Cup final|final]], in which he scored twice and assisted another goal over both legs, defeating [[Borussia Dortmund]] 6–1 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/maggio/06/Juve_vince_Coppa_prenotata_co_0_9305068330.shtml|title=la Juve vince 3 1 Coppa prenotata|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|date=6 May 1993|access-date=31 May 2014|archive-date=5 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105025526/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/maggio/06/Juve_vince_Coppa_prenotata_co_0_9305068330.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> ''En route'' to the final, Baggio scored two goals in the 2–1 home victory against [[Paris Saint-Germain FC|Paris Saint-Germain]], in the first leg of the semi-final, and he went on to score the only goal in the return leg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/aprile/07/tutto_Baggio_Juve_puo_sperare_co_0_9304074051.shtml|title=Tutto Baggio e la Juve puo' sperare|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|date=7 April 1993|access-date=31 May 2014|archive-date=26 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026021614/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/aprile/07/tutto_Baggio_Juve_puo_sperare_co_0_9304074051.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/aprile/23/Juve_vola_sulle_ali_Baggio_co_0_9304231569.shtml|title=La Juve vola sulle ali di Baggio|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=23 April 1993|access-date=31 May 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407074903/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/aprile/23/Juve_vola_sulle_ali_Baggio_co_0_9304231569.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Juventus also reached the semi-finals of the [[1992–93 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]], losing on away goals to [[Derby della Mole|local rivals]] and winners [[Torino FC|Torino]]. Juventus finished fourth in Serie A that season, although they managed a 3–1 away win against the Serie A champions Milan, with Baggio scoring a memorable individual goal while also setting-up [[Andreas Möller]]'s first goal of the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaziojuve.it/2014/milan-juve-secolo-suon-goal/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212083330/http://www.spaziojuve.it/2014/milan-juve-secolo-suon-goal/|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2015|title=Milan-Juve, da più di un secolo a suon di goal|website=spaziojuve.it|language=it|access-date=11 February 2015}}</ref> One of the highlights of the season involved Baggio scoring four goals in open play against [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]] in a 5–0 Juventus home win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/novembre/10/Baggio_Van_Basten_gol_perpetuo_co_0_9211106953.shtml|title=Baggio. Van Basten, il gol perpetuo|trans-title=Baggio. Van Basten, the perpetual goal|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=10 November 1992|access-date=25 May 2014|archive-date=5 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305123217/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/novembre/10/Baggio_Van_Basten_gol_perpetuo_co_0_9211106953.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio was once again runner-up for the Serie A ''capocannoniere'' title with 21 goals and 6 assists. He scored a personal best of 30 goals in all club competitions that season, in addition to five goals with the Italy national team. During the 1993 calendar year, Baggio managed a personal record 39 goals across all competitions, scoring 23 goals in Serie A, 3 in the Coppa Italia, 8 goals in European competitions and 5 goals for Italy, helping his national side qualify for the World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.golcalcio.it/Bag3001.htm|title=Roberto Baggio: Tutti i suoi Gol e le sue Statistiche|website=golcalcio.it|language=it|access-date=30 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904011353/http://www.golcalcio.it/Bag3001.htm|archive-date=4 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Baggio's performances throughout the year earned him both the [[European Footballer of the Year]], with 142 points from a possible 150,<ref name="Ballon d'Or 1993">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy93.html|title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1993|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=6 February 2014|archive-date=28 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728123529/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy93.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] awards.<ref name="FIFA 94" /> He was also awarded the [[Onze d'Or]],<ref name="Onze Mondial Awards"/> and the [[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer Player of the Year Award]].<ref name="ws"/>

In the [[1993–94 Serie A|1993–94 season]], Baggio often played as a second striker alongside [[Gianluca Vialli]] or [[Fabrizio Ravanelli]], and occasionally the young Alessandro Del Piero;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/giugno/14/Baggio_Del_Piero_Trapattoni_gia_co_0_98061413824.shtml|title=Baggio Del Piero? Trapattoni lo ha gia' fatto|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=14 June 1998|access-date=31 May 2014|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119082443/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/giugno/14/Baggio_Del_Piero_Trapattoni_gia_co_0_98061413824.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/agosto/06/esce_Ravanelli_Juve_Baggio_rimonta_co_0_9308067950.shtml|title=Esce Ravanelli e la Juve di Baggio rimonta e vince|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=6 August 1993|access-date=31 May 2014|archive-date=18 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118070623/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/agosto/06/esce_Ravanelli_Juve_Baggio_rimonta_co_0_9308067950.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Juventus once again finished runners up to Milan in Serie A, and Baggio finished third in the ''capocannoniere'' title with 17 goals and 8 assists, while the club suffered a quarter-final elimination in the [[1993–94 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] against [[Cagliari Calcio|Cagliari]]. On 31 October 1993, Baggio scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over [[Genoa CFC|Genoa]], which included his 100th Serie A goal; he also set up a goal for Möller during the match.<ref name="Baggio - Goals in Serie A"/><ref name="golcalcio.it"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.calciomercato.com/news/juve-il-ricordo-della-tripletta-di-baggio-al-genoa-video-25181 |title=Juve, il ricordo della tripletta di Baggio al Genoa Video |publisher=www.calciomercato.com |language=it |date=18 October 2018 |access-date=19 October 2018 |archive-date=19 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019205645/https://www.calciomercato.com/news/juve-il-ricordo-della-tripletta-di-baggio-al-genoa-video-25181 |url-status=live }}</ref> Baggio made his 200th Serie A appearance on 5 December 1993 in a 1–0 win over Napoli.<ref name="golcalcio.it"/> After sustaining an injury earlier that season, Baggio was operated on his meniscus in March 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/marzo/08/Baggio_menisco_sara_operato_dopo_co_0_94030810043.shtml|title=Baggio, e' menisco: sara' operato dopo Juve Cagliari|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=8 March 1994|access-date=31 May 2014|archive-date=25 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125183130/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/marzo/08/Baggio_menisco_sara_operato_dopo_co_0_94030810043.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio placed second in the [[1994 Ballon d'Or]],<ref name="Baggio elogia Stoichkov"/> third in the [[1994 FIFA World Player of the Year]],<ref name="FIFA 94"/> and was awarded the 1994 Onze de Bronze.<ref name="Onze Mondial Awards"/>

In the [[1994–95 Serie A|1994–95 season]], Trapattoni's replacement, [[Marcello Lippi]], wanted to create a more cohesive team, less dependent on Baggio,<ref name=oppression>{{cite web|last=Gates|first=Emmet|date=15 March 2013|title=The Oppression of Roberto Baggio|url=https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2013/03/the-oppression-of-roberto-baggio/|access-date=4 June 2021|website=Forza Italian Football|archive-date=25 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025000140/https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2013/03/the-oppression-of-roberto-baggio/|url-status=live}}</ref> who was deployed as an outside forward in a [[Formation (association football)#4–3–3|4–3–3 formation]].<ref name="corriere2">{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/agosto/17/disoccupato_Roberto_Baggio_prova_stregare_co_0_0008178872.shtml|title=Il "disoccupato" Roberto Baggio prova a stregare il Real Madrid alla festa della Francia pigliatutto|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=17 August 2000|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=20 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120105554/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/agosto/17/disoccupato_Roberto_Baggio_prova_stregare_co_0_0008178872.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio was injured for most of the season, being ruled out for over three months after sustaining a knee injury against [[Padova Calcio|Padova]] on 27 November 1994. After scoring from a free-kick, he was substituted by Alessandro Del Piero, who temporarily took his place in the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/aprile/25/Baggio_Zola_varata_coppia_impossibile_co_0_9504251849.shtml|title=Baggio Zola, varata la coppia impossibile " Il goleador del Parma avrebbe giocato comunque, l' altro mi e' piaciuto col Borussia " " Uno dei due mi ha detto: un anno fa avrei rifiutato, adesso sono pronto "|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=25 April 1995|access-date=31 May 2014|archive-date=26 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126221454/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/aprile/25/Baggio_Zola_varata_coppia_impossibile_co_0_9504251849.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio returned to the starting line-up in the first leg of the [[1994–95 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] semi-final against [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] in [[Rome]] on 8 March 1995, setting up Fabrizio Ravanelli's winner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaziojuve.it/2012/11-giugno-1995-la-juventus-vince-la-nona-coppa-italia/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622081314/http://www.spaziojuve.it/2012/11-giugno-1995-la-juventus-vince-la-nona-coppa-italia/|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 June 2012|title=11 giugno 1995, la Juventus vince la nona Coppa Italia|website=spaziojuve.it|language=it|date=11 June 2012|access-date=7 January 2015}}</ref> On his first Serie A match back from injury, on 12 March 1995, Baggio scored Juventus' second goal in a 2–0 win over [[Foggia Calcio|Foggia]], and set up Ravanelli's goal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legaseriea.it/it/serie-a-tim/match-report/-/match-report/Juventus-Foggia/4190s |title=Juventus-Foggia, 12 Marzo 1995 (2-0) |publisher=legaseriea.it |language=it |date=12 March 1995 |access-date=29 August 2014 }}{{dead link|date=May 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Due to his injury, Baggio only managed 17 Serie A appearances, but still contributed to his first ''[[scudetto]]'' with Juventus by contributing eight goals and eight assists.<ref name="altervista">{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/roberto-baggio.html|title=Storie di Calcio: Roberto Baggio, Il Poeta Errante|publisher=Storie di Caldio|language=it|access-date=14 January 2015|archive-date=18 January 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150118020646/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/roberto-baggio.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="spaziomilan.it">{{cite web|url=http://www.spaziomilan.it/2012/02/3-baggio-immensa-fantasia-poche-parole-tanti-litigi/|title=#3 – Baggio: immensa fantasia, poche parole, tanti litigi|website=spaziomilan.it|language=it|date=3 February 2012|access-date=10 August 2012|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225124356/https://www.spaziomilan.it/2012/02/3-baggio-immensa-fantasia-poche-parole-tanti-litigi/|url-status=live}}</ref> He provided assists for three of the goals in the title-deciding match against Parma, which Juventus won 4–0 in [[Turin]] on 21 May 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juvenewsradio.it/21-maggio-1995-juventus-parma-4-0-di-nuovo-scudetto-dopo-nove-anni-di-digiuno/ |title=21 maggio 1995, Juventus-Parma 4-0: di nuovo scudetto dopo nove anni di digiuno! |publisher=Juventus News Radio |access-date=7 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107131720/http://www.juvenewsradio.it/21-maggio-1995-juventus-parma-4-0-di-nuovo-scudetto-dopo-nove-anni-di-digiuno/ |archive-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref> He helped Juventus win the [[1994–95 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] that year, notching two goals and two assists, scoring the winning goal in the second leg of the semi-final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italcup95.html|title=Coppa Italia 1994/95|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=29 August 2014|archive-date=27 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927201346/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italcup95.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He helped lead Juventus to another [[1994–95 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup final]] by scoring four goals, including two goals and an assist over both legs of the semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/51596--juventus-vs-b-dortmund/|title=Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund, UEFA Cup, 1994-95 (2-2)|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=30 August 2014|archive-date=28 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140928195449/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1994/matches/round=655/match=51596/postmatch/lineups/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/aprile/19/sigillo_Baggio_Juve_Parma_co_0_9504191004.shtml|title=Il sigillo di Baggio su Juve Parma|trans-title=Baggio's seal on Juve Parma|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=19 April 1995|access-date=21 April 2015|archive-date=26 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126214440/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/aprile/19/sigillo_Baggio_Juve_Parma_co_0_9504191004.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/coppa_uefa/UEFA_94_95.html|title=La vendetta dell'ex si abbatte sulla Juventus|trans-title=The ex's revenge strikes against Juventus|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=21 April 2015|archive-date=7 January 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150107170732/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/coppa_uefa/UEFA_94_95.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite Baggio's strong performance, Juventus were defeated in the [[1995 UEFA Cup final|UEFA Cup final]] by Parma.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/maggio/19/Juve_ora_roviniamo_festa_scudetto_co_0_9505195514.shtml|title=Juve, ora ti roviniamo la festa scudetto|trans-title=Juve, now we will ruin your scudetto celebrations|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=19 May 1995|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=5 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105175857/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/maggio/19/Juve_ora_roviniamo_festa_scudetto_co_0_9505195514.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Baggio scored 115 goals in 200 appearances during his five seasons at Juventus; 78 were scored in Serie A in 141 appearances.<ref name="FIFA 94"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc-now.co.uk/sport/0/football/23078711|title=Carlos Tevez: Striker proud to take Juventus number 10 shirt|work=BBC Sport|access-date=1 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602200113/http://www.bbc-now.co.uk/sport/0/football/23078711|archive-date=2 June 2014}}</ref> In 1995, Baggio was nominated for the [[1995 Ballon d'Or|Ballon d'Or]] and placed fifth in the [[1995 FIFA World Player of the Year|1995 FIFA World Player of the Year Award]].<ref name="FIFA Awards – World Player of the Year - Top 10"/> He was also awarded the 1995 Onze d'Argent Award, behind [[George Weah]].<ref name="Onze Mondial Awards"/> Baggio is currently [[List of Juventus FC records and statistics#All-time top 10 goalscorers|Juventus' ninth-highest goalscorer in all competitions]],<ref name="MyJuve-Statistiche: Reti">{{cite web|url=http://www.myjuve.it/statistiche-giocatori-juventus/riassunto_reti_segnate.aspx|title=Statistiche: Reti|publisher=myjuve.it|language=it|access-date=23 February 2017|archive-date=24 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324043838/http://www.myjuve.it/statistiche-giocatori-juventus/riassunto_reti_segnate.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> and is the joint tenth-highest goalscorer for Juventus in Serie A, alongside [[Pietro Anastasi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myjuve.it/statistiche-giocatori-juventus/classifica-reti_segnate-campionato_serie_a-SerA.aspx|title=Statistiche: Reti - Campionato Serie A|publisher=myjuve.it|language=it|access-date=23 February 2017|archive-date=13 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813032540/http://www.myjuve.it/statistiche-giocatori-juventus/classifica-reti_segnate-campionato_serie_a-SerA.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> He is the sixth-highest Juventus goalscorer in the Coppa Italia with 14 goals, and is also the joint fourth all-time Juventus goalscorer in European competitions, as well as the joint fifth all-time Juventus goalscorer in international competitions, with 22 goals, alongside Anastasi once again.<ref name="MyJuve-Statistiche: Reti"/> In 2010, he was named one of the club's 50 greatest legends.<ref name="Juve, 50 stelle da onorare">{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttosport.com/calcio/serie_a/juventus/2010/04/19-64719/Juve,+50+stelle+da+onorare|title=Juve, 50 stelle da onorare|publisher=Tutto Sport|language=it|date=19 April 2010|access-date=11 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912004457/http://www.tuttosport.com/calcio/serie_a/juventus/2010/04/19-64719/Juve,+50+stelle+da+onorare|archive-date=12 September 2014}}</ref>

=== 1995–1997: AC Milan ===
{{Quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="Baggio on the bench? It's something that I will never understand in my lifetime."|source=—[[Zinedine Zidane]] on Baggio starting on the bench.<ref name=oppression/>}}
In 1995, Marcello Lippi, [[Roberto Bettega]] and [[Umberto Agnelli]] announced that Baggio no longer featured in their plans at Juventus and decided to focus on the emerging star Alessandro Del Piero, who would inherit Baggio's number 10 shirt.<ref name="spaziomilan.it"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/dicembre/27/Baggio_Pallone_oro_sente_solo_co_0_94122714160.shtml|title=Baggio, l' ex " Pallone d' oro " si sente solo|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=27 December 1994|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=12 March 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140312063712/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/dicembre/27/Baggio_Pallone_oro_sente_solo_co_0_94122714160.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/11/sports/11iht-rob.t.html|title=Juventus Gambles on Youth : Soccer's Old Lady Prefers Younger Men|work=The New York Times|first=Rob|last=Hughes|date=11 September 1996|access-date=10 August 2012|archive-date=23 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123035903/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/11/sports/11iht-rob.t.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio faced difficulties with Agnelli, [[Luciano Moggi]], and Juventus management during his final season, as they stated they would only renew his contract if he reduced his salary by 50%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/giugno/26/una_sorpresa_nel_bilancio_Juve_co_0_95062611792.shtml|title=C' e' una sorpresa nel bilancio Juve Vialli guadagna la meta' di Baggio|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=26 June 1995|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222110146/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/giugno/26/una_sorpresa_nel_bilancio_Juve_co_0_95062611792.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="archiviostorico.corriere.it">{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/giugno/01/Baggio_Juve_divorzio_davanti_agli_co_0_95060110928.shtml|title=Baggio Juve, divorzio davanti agli ultra'|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=1 June 1995|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222153718/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/giugno/01/Baggio_Juve_divorzio_davanti_agli_co_0_95060110928.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> After strong pressure from [[AC Milan]] chairman [[Silvio Berlusconi]] and manager Fabio Capello, Baggio was sold to the Milanese club for £6.8&nbsp;million, amidst several protests from Juventus fans.<ref name="archiviostorico.corriere.it"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/giugn/18/Baggio_Milan_anche_una_firma_co_0_95061813037.shtml|title=Baggio-Milan: Anche una Firma|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=18 June 1995|access-date=19 May 2012|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113948/http://archivio.corriere.it/Archivio/interface/landing.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/luglio/02/Tifosi_Baggio_manifestano_Umberto_Agnelli_co_0_9507022952.shtml|title=Tifosi di Baggio manifestano Umberto Agnelli: va al Milan|trans-title=Baggio's fans protest Umberto Agnelli: he's going to Milan|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=2 July 1995|access-date=19 May 2012|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222090439/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/luglio/02/Tifosi_Baggio_manifestano_Umberto_Agnelli_co_0_9507022952.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time, Baggio had been linked with [[Inter Milan]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/06/15/baggio-al-milan-ore-decisive.html|title=Baggio Al Milan, Ore Decisive|trans-title=Baggio to Milan, decisive hours|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=15 June 1995|access-date=10 August 2012|archive-date=9 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109230536/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/06/15/baggio-al-milan-ore-decisive.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]], and English [[Premier League]] clubs [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]].<ref name="distrusted">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/apr/28/sport.comment|title=Loved by the people, distrusted by coaches, Baggio bows out|newspaper=The Guardian|author=Kevin McKarra|date=28 April 2004|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=6 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206221807/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/apr/28/sport.comment|url-status=live}}</ref>

Although Baggio initially struggled with injuries at the beginning of his first season with Milan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/settembre/11/Milan_nel_tunnel_Baggio_fiuta_co_0_95091110931.shtml|title=Milan nel tunnel: Baggio fiuta l' uscita|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=11 September 1995|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222163915/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/settembre/11/Milan_nel_tunnel_Baggio_fiuta_co_0_95091110931.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/ottobre/02/Roby_Baggio_infortuna_Meno_dilemmi_co_0_9510022887.shtml|title=Roby Baggio s' infortuna Meno dilemmi per il c. t.|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=2 October 1995|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208162816/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/ottobre/02/Roby_Baggio_infortuna_Meno_dilemmi_co_0_9510022887.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> he came back into the starting line-up and was appointed the main penalty taker.<ref name="altervista"/> He helped Milan win [[1995–96 Serie A|the Serie A title]], notably scoring a goal against his former team Fiorentina from a penalty in the title-deciding match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinquantamila.corriere.it/storyTellerThread.php?threadId=cronomilan|title=15° scudetto rossonero|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-date=21 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121203742/http://cinquantamila.corriere.it/storyTellerThread.php?threadId=cronomilan|url-status=dead}}</ref> Baggio finished the season with 10 goals in all competitions, in 34 appearances; seven of his goals were scored in [[1995–96 Serie A|Serie A]], in 28 appearances, and he also provided 12 assists in Serie A, making him the top assist provider of the season. He became one of only six players to win the ''scudetto'' in consecutive years with different teams,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportzoom.it/serie-a-i-migliori-della-stagione-i-top-ruolo-per-ruolo/ |title=Serie A |language=it |access-date=10 August 2012 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109224734/http://www.sportzoom.it/serie-a-i-migliori-della-stagione-i-top-ruolo-per-ruolo/ |archive-date= 9 January 2014 }}</ref><ref name="beaute">{{cite web |url=https://www.labeautedufootball.fr/2018/10/le-meilleur-ballon-dor-de-lhistoire-22eme-roberto-baggio/ |title=Le meilleur Ballon d'Or de l'Histoire : 22ème – Roberto Baggio |publisher=www.labeautedufootball.fr |language=fr |author1=Raphael Hassine |date=10 October 2018 |access-date=23 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623134554/https://www.labeautedufootball.fr/2018/10/le-meilleur-ballon-dor-de-lhistoire-22eme-roberto-baggio/ |archive-date=23 June 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was voted the club's best player of the season by the fans, despite playing a more creative role.<ref name="altervista"/><ref name="p193">{{Cite book |publisher=Bantam Books |isbn=978-0-553-82566-4 |last=Marcotti |first=Gabriele |title=Capello: The Man Behind England's World Cup Dream |year=2008 |page=[https://archive.org/details/capellomanbehind0000marc/page/193 193] |url=https://archive.org/details/capellomanbehind0000marc/page/193 }}</ref> Towards the end of the season, Baggio had disagreements with Capello due to limited playing time, as Capello believed he was no longer fit enough to play for 90 minutes; although Baggio frequently started matches, he was often substituted during the second half;<ref name="altervista"/><ref name="spaziomilan.it"/> during the course of the season, he only played nine matches in their entirety, being substituted on 17 occasions, and coming off the bench twice.<ref name="campione vero o mito sopravvalutato">{{cite web |url=https://www.ilposticipo.it/calcio/roberto-baggio-campione-vero-o-no/ |title=Roberto Baggio, campione vero o mito sopravvalutato? |publisher=Il Posticipo |last1=Stabile |first1=Adriano |language=it |date=17 February 2017 |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806172812/https://www.ilposticipo.it/calcio/roberto-baggio-campione-vero-o-no/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During the opening of the [[1996–97 Serie A]] under new Milan manager [[Óscar Tabárez]], Baggio was initially left out of the first team, with the former commenting "[t]here is no place for poets in modern football."<ref name="FIFA 94"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1996/09/24/baggio-zidane-ciao-fantasia.html |title=Baggio – Zidane, Ciao Fantasia |work=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Currò |first1=Enrico |date=24 September 1996 |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113955/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1996/09/24/baggio-zidane-ciao-fantasia.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Baggio was later able to convince the Uruguayan manager of his abilities and earn himself a spot in the starting line-up; he became the focal point of the team's offensive play, and was initially started in his preferred role behind George Weah, and on occasion as a left-winger or as a central-midfielder playmaker.<ref name="solocalcio">{{cite web|url=http://www.solocalcio.com/gallery/players/robaggio_uk.htm|title=Roby Baggio - SoloCalcio.com|website=solocalcio.com|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=9 February 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150209110622/http://www.solocalcio.com/gallery/players/robaggio_uk.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="trapianto"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1996/09/12/maldini-il-peggiore-in-campo.html |title=Maldini Il Peggiore In Campo |work=La Repubblica |language=it |date=12 September 1996 |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806161435/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1996/09/12/maldini-il-peggiore-in-campo.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="WON AC MILAN'S HEART">{{cite web |url=https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/celebration/2018-02-18/baggio-divin-codino-who-won-ac-milans-heart |title=Baggio, "Divin Codino" Who Won AC Milan's Heart |publisher=AC Milan |date=18 February 2018 |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113956/https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/articles/celebration |url-status=live }}</ref> After a series of disappointing results, Baggio was relegated to the bench,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/novembre/10/Baggio_che_sorpresa_felice_Take_co_0_9611105638.shtml|title=Baggio, che sorpresa! Fa felice il Take That|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=10 November 1996|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222165557/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/novembre/10/Baggio_che_sorpresa_felice_Take_co_0_9611105638.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> and Milan's former coach [[Arrigo Sacchi]], also the former Italy manager with whom Baggio had argued following the [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 World Cup]], was called in as a replacement.<ref name="spaziomilan.it"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/30/Sacchi_Baggio_attenti_quei_due_co_0_94063014123.shtml|title=Sacchi e Baggio, attenti a quei due|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=30 June 1994|access-date=10 August 2012|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222165210/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/30/Sacchi_Baggio_attenti_quei_due_co_0_94063014123.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Although their relationship initially improved,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/dicembre/19/Baggio_Milan_scoppia_pace_Resto_co_8_9612192566.shtml|title=Baggio Milan, scoppia la pace " Resto al servizio di Sacchi "|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=19 December 1996|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222151801/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/dicembre/19/Baggio_Milan_scoppia_pace_Resto_co_8_9612192566.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Sacchi gave Baggio limited playing time, and he soon fell out of form, along with the rest of the squad, which caused their relationship to deteriorate again.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1997/aprile/08/Arrigo_Codino_separati_casa_solo_co_0_9704084513.shtml|title=Arrigo e Codino separati in casa: solo Carmignani convince Baggio a giocare|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=8 April 1997|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222093928/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1997/aprile/08/Arrigo_Codino_separati_casa_solo_co_0_9704084513.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Milan failed to retain their league title, finishing the season in a disappointing 11th place,<ref name="Tra Tabarez e il ritorno di Sacchi">{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/sport/cards/milan-c-era-anche-quando-si-stava-peggio-tutte-annate-dimenticare/quel-ritorno-dell-arrigo.shtml|title=Milan: c'era anche quando si stava peggio, tutte le annate da dimenticare: Tra Tabarez e il ritorno di Sacchi|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|author=Fiorenzo Radogna|date=23 October 2017|access-date=15 January 2018|archive-date=15 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115124745/http://www.corriere.it/sport/cards/milan-c-era-anche-quando-si-stava-peggio-tutte-annate-dimenticare/quel-ritorno-dell-arrigo.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> and they were knocked out once again in the quarter-finals of the [[1996–97 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]].<ref name="Roberto Baggio">{{cite web|url=http://www.francobrain.com/robybaggio.htm|title=Roberto Baggio|access-date=19 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618135820/http://www.francobrain.com/robybaggio.htm|archive-date=18 June 2010}}</ref> Baggio made his [[UEFA Champions League]] debut in the [[1996–97 UEFA Champions League|1996–97 season]], scoring his first goal in the competition,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/53235--milan-vs-goteborg/|title=Milan 4-2 Göteborg|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=20 November 2016|archive-date=24 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424022838/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1996/matches/round=76/match=53235/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> although Milan were eliminated in the group stage.<ref name="Tra Tabarez e il ritorno di Sacchi"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/clubs/50058--milan/|title=UEFA Champions League 1996/97 - History - Milan|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=20 November 2016|archive-date=27 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727094158/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1996/clubs/club=50058/matches/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Milan also lost the [[1996 Supercoppa Italiana]] to Fiorentina, as Baggio was left on the bench.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegentlemanultra.com/calcio-caught-on-camera/classic-match-the-1996-supercoppa-italiana-ac-milan-1-2-fiorentina|title=Classic Match: The 1996 Supercoppa Italiana – AC Milan 1-2 Fiorentina|publisher=The Gentleman Ultra|date=16 January 2016|access-date=20 November 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120222731/http://www.thegentlemanultra.com/calcio-caught-on-camera/classic-match-the-1996-supercoppa-italiana-ac-milan-1-2-fiorentina|archive-date=20 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Supercoppa Finals">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italsupcuphist.html|title=Italy Super Cup Finals|author1=Roberto Di Maggio|author2=Sorin Arotaritei|date=17 August 2017|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=15 January 2018|archive-date=20 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720200901/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/italsupcuphist.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During his time at Milan, Baggio scored 19 goals in 67 appearances in all competitions; 12 of his goals were scored in Serie A, in 51 appearances, 3 were scored in the Coppa Italia in 6 appearances, and 4 were scored in European competitions, in 10 appearances.<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/>

=== 1997–1998: Bologna ===
{{quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="I said, 'No, you have to play striker.' Baggio went to another club. That year Baggio scored 25 [actually 22] goals – for Bologna! I lost 25 goals! Big mistake."|source=—[[Carlo Ancelotti]] talking to [[Simon Kuper]] of the ''[[Financial Times]]'' in 2014, reminiscing his greatest regret in football, choosing a system over a generational talent.<ref name=MM>{{cite web |url=http://www.managingmadrid.com/2017/4/1/15110610/how-zidanes-experience-in-italy-shaped-his-coaching-philosophy |title=How Zidane's experience in Italy shaped his coaching philosophy |work=Managing Madrid |last=Wiltse |first=Matt |date=1 April 2017 |access-date=4 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403051512/http://www.managingmadrid.com/2017/4/1/15110610/how-zidanes-experience-in-italy-shaped-his-coaching-philosophy |archive-date=3 April 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
In 1997, Capello returned to Milan, subsequently stating Baggio was not a part of his plans with the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1999/febbraio/24/Baggio_Sparavo_con_papa_ora_co_0_9902241958.shtml|title=Baggio: "Sparavo con papa', ora faccio la lepre con i miei figli|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=24 February 1999|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119215803/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1999/febbraio/24/Baggio_Sparavo_con_papa_ora_co_0_9902241958.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio chose to move to Parma, but the manager at the time, [[Carlo Ancelotti]], impeded the transfer, as he also did not feel Baggio would fit into his tactical plans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1997/luglio/10/Tanzi_pensa_mercato_Baggio_Parma_co_0_9707103541.shtml|title=Tanzi pensa al mercato: Baggio al Parma|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=10 July 1997|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119082851/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1997/luglio/10/Tanzi_pensa_mercato_Baggio_Parma_co_0_9707103541.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Ancelotti would later state he regretted this decision, stating that in his naïveté, he believed that the [[Formation (association football)#4–4–2|4–4–2 formation]] was the ideal formation for success, and he felt that at the time, creative players such as [[Gianfranco Zola]] and Baggio were not compatible with this system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/43963/ancelotti-pirlo-and-baggio|title=Ancelotti: 'Pirlo and Baggio'|date=17 January 2014|publisher=Football Italia|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127173212/https://www.football-italia.net/43963/ancelotti-pirlo-and-baggio|url-status=live}}</ref>

Baggio subsequently transferred to [[Bologna FC 1909|Bologna]], aiming to save the squad from relegation, and earn a place at the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]]. Baggio refound his form with the club and had a dominant season, scoring a personal best of 22 goals in [[1997–98 Serie A|Serie A]], as well as providing 9 assists, leading Bologna to an eighth-place finish, allowing them to qualify for the [[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]. Baggio was the highest scoring Italian in Serie A that season, and the third-highest goalscorer in Serie A. His performances earned him a place in Italy's 1998 World Cup squad. Baggio also led Bologna to the round of 16 in the [[1997–98 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]], where he scored one goal in three appearances. Although he rose to hero status amongst the fans,<ref name="Pacearmata"/> he had difficulties with his manager [[Renzo Ulivieri]], in particular when he was left out of the starting 11 against Juventus.<ref name="Pacearmata">{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/gennaio/20/Baggio_Bologna_una_pace_armata_co_0_980120233.shtml|title=Baggio e Bologna, una pace armata|work=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|author=Luca Valdisseri|date=20 January 1998|access-date=3 March 2014|archive-date=1 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701161612/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/gennaio/20/Baggio_Bologna_una_pace_armata_co_0_980120233.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Ulivieri later denied ever having any difficulties with Baggio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=194559|title=Ulivieri: "Baggio? Un campione, mai avuto problemi con lui"|publisher=Tutto Mercato Web.com|language=it|access-date=10 August 2012|archive-date=20 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220022317/http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=194559|url-status=live}}</ref> At the beginning of the season, Baggio cut off his iconic ponytail, signifying his rebirth.<ref name="Roberto Baggio" /> Baggio was named as Bologna's captain for part of the season, before handing the armband to [[Giancarlo Marocchi]].<ref name="Le sfide nel segno di Baggio"/> Baggio made his 300th Serie A appearance while at Bologna, in a 0–0 draw against [[Empoli FC|Empoli]] on 11 January 1998.<ref name="golcalcio.it"/> Baggio received nominations for both the [[1998 Ballon d'Or|Ballon d'Or]] and the [[1998 FIFA World Player of the Year|FIFA World Player of the Year]] due to his performances for Bologna and Italy that season. He was also nominated for the 1998 [[Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year]] and [[Serie A Footballer of the Year]] awards, losing out to Alessandro Del Piero and [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]], respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/storia-assocalciatori-sergio-campana_6.html|title=Gli Oscar del Calcio|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115825/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/storia-assocalciatori-sergio-campana_6.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199809/22/3607ef0f06e63/|title=La notte degli Oscar|trans-title=Oscar Night|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|date=22 September 1998|access-date=4 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208154017/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199809/22/3607ef0f06e63/|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 1998–2000: Inter Milan ===
[[File:Boots of Roberto Baggio.jpg|thumb|upright|Baggio's [[Diadora]] [[Football boots|boots]] in the [[San Siro]] museum, home of Inter and AC Milan]]
After the 1998 World Cup, Baggio signed with his favourite childhood club Inter Milan in order to compete in the [[1998–99 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]].<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/> He made his club debut on 12 August 1998, in the first leg of the [[1998–99 UEFA Champions League#Second qualifying round|second round of the qualifying stages of the latter competition]], scoring a goal and providing three assists in a 4–0 win over [[Skonto FC]] in [[Arena Garibaldi – Stadio Romeo Anconetani|Pisa]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,25/articleid,0558_01_1998_0221_0025_7466721/ |title=Baggio ha l'Inter in pugno |work=La Stampa |page=25 |language=it |last1=Badolato |first1=Franco |date=13 August 1998 |access-date=29 February 2024 }}</ref> After injuries, disappointing results, and several managerial changes throughout the season, including [[Luigi Simoni]], [[Mircea Lucescu]], and [[Roy Hodgson]], Baggio struggled to gain playing time,<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/><ref name="Le sfide nel segno di Baggio"/><ref name=eroi>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-roberto-baggio-41807|title=Gli eroi in bianconero: Roberto BAGGIO|publisher=Tutto Juve|author1=Stefano Bedeschi|language=it|date=18 February 2014|access-date=20 April 2016|archive-date=9 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409061345/http://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-roberto-baggio-41807|url-status=live}}</ref> and was used out of position as a winger, often as a substitute.<ref name=InterVenezia>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1999/gennaio/11/Inter_una_miniera_piena_gol_co_0_990111434.shtml|title=Inter, una miniera piena di gol|work=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|author1=Fabio Monti|author2=Giancarla Ghisi|date=11 January 1999|access-date=11 March 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407071457/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1999/gennaio/11/Inter_una_miniera_piena_gol_co_0_990111434.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio scored five league goals and provided 10 assists in 23 appearances during the [[1998–99 Serie A|1998–99 season]], as Inter finished in eighth place, missing out on a European spot.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/rubriche/la-storia/2010/11/09/news/le_confessioni_di_zanetti_la_coppa_uefa_il_momento_pi_bello-8939632/?refresh_ce|title=Le confessioni di Capitan Zanetti "Dal caos alle vittorie con l'Inter"|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Giovanni Marino|date=9 November 2010|access-date=20 April 2016|archive-date=8 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508221230/http://www.repubblica.it/rubriche/la-storia/2010/11/09/news/le_confessioni_di_zanetti_la_coppa_uefa_il_momento_pi_bello-8939632/?refresh_ce|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="In celebration of Roberto Baggio">{{cite web |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/07/27/in-celebration-of-roberto-baggio/ |title=In celebration of Roberto Baggio: the divine ponytail |publisher=thesefootballtimes.co |last1=Kristjánsson |first1=Tryggvi |date=27 July 2015 |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806194145/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/07/27/in-celebration-of-roberto-baggio/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He helped Inter to a [[1998–99 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] semi-final, losing out to eventual winners Parma.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/199903/09/36e5859404e9f/|title=Parma in finale|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|author1=Alessandro Forti|date=9 March 1999|access-date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427140518/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/199903/09/36e5859404e9f/|archive-date=27 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Baggio scored a goal against his former club Bologna in a European play-off match, but Inter lost both matches, failing to qualify for the UEFA Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/199905/27/374d9bf0035df/|title=Spareggio UEFA 1998-99: Inter-Bologna 1-2|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722072352/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/199905/27/374d9bf0035df/|archive-date=22 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Baggio also scored four goals in the Champions League, helping lead Inter through the qualifying rounds to the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Manchester United,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttochampions.it/campioni-senza-coppe/baggio-due-maglie-una-citta-zero-champions-5354|title=Baggio: due maglie, una città, zero Champions|publisher=TuttoChampions.it|language=it|author1=Gaetano Mocciaro|date=18 March 2011|access-date=20 April 2016|archive-date=8 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508111024/http://www.tuttochampions.it/campioni-senza-coppe/baggio-due-maglie-una-citta-zero-champions-5354|url-status=live}}</ref> also scoring a memorable brace against [[1998 UEFA Champions League final|defending champions]] Real Madrid in the group stage.<ref name="altervista"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/199811/25/365c7eb90415c/|title=Inter-Real Madrid 3-1|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629131520/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/199811/25/365c7eb90415c/|archive-date=29 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the [[1999–2000 Serie A|1999–2000 season]], Marcello Lippi, Baggio's former manager at Juventus, was appointed as Inter's new coach. Lippi did not favour Baggio and left him out of the squad for most of the season, stating Baggio was out of shape. In his autobiography, Baggio stated Lippi had dumped him after Baggio refused to point out which of Inter's players had expressed negative opinions about the coach, also highlighting an incident during a training session where he called out [[Christian Vieri]] and [[Christian Panucci]] for applauding Baggio for a notable assist.<ref name="Fantasista Legends: Roberto Baggio"/><ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/><ref name="Le sfide nel segno di Baggio"/><ref name="altervista"/><ref name="Roberto Baggio"/><ref name=eroi/>

Baggio was used scarcely and often as a substitute, scoring 4 goals in 18 appearances during the regular Serie A season. He made five appearances in the [[1999–2000 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]], with his only goal coming against [[Derby della Madonnina|local rivals]] AC Milan in the second leg of the quarter-finals, as he helped Inter reach the [[2000 Coppa Italia final|final]],<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/sport/ita/derby/derby.html|title=Baggio regala all'Inter la semifinale di Coppa Italia|trans-title=Baggio earns Inter a place in the Coppa Italia semi-final|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=27 January 2000|access-date=28 April 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073007/http://www.repubblica.it/online/sport/ita/derby/derby.html|url-status=live}}</ref> only to be defeated by Lazio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/200005/18/39244d01019db/|title=Anche la Coppa Italia|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|author1=Dario Di Gennaro|date=18 May 2000|access-date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427112804/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/200005/18/39244d01019db/|archive-date=27 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite his limited playing time, Baggio still managed several important goals to help Inter to a fourth-place finish, alongside Parma, such as his match winning goal against [[Hellas Verona FC|Hellas Verona]], which he scored after coming off the bench, after being excluded from the team since 18 December 1999. Baggio had also previously helped to set up Inter's equaliser during the match. This was the first time Baggio had scored for Inter since his goal on 27 May of the previous season, and in the post-match the interview, he denied accusations made by Lippi in regard to his personal form.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/gennaio/24/BAGGIO_gol_contro_tutti_co_0_000124472.shtml|title=BAGGIO Un gol contro tutti|trans-title=Baggio A goal against everyone|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=24 January 2000|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222074735/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/gennaio/24/BAGGIO_gol_contro_tutti_co_0_000124472.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Baggio's last important contribution to Inter was scoring two memorable goals against Parma in the play-off match for the last remaining Champions League place, which Inter won 3–1;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/200005/23/392ad14d06645/|title=Baggio porta l'Inter tra i Campioni|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|date=23 May 2000|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201024554/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/200005/23/392ad14d06645/|archive-date=1 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Lippi had been forced to field Baggio due to several injuries. Baggio was given a perfect 10 rating from the Italian sports newspaper ''[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]]'', which described his performance as "absolutely perfect all game".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fantasista10.co.uk/totti-tops-40-years-of-gazzetta-ratings-but-baggio-is-perfect-10/|title=Totti tops 40 years of Gazzetta ratings but Baggio is perfect 10|publisher=fantasista10.co.uk|access-date=26 May 2014|archive-date=27 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527214155/http://www.fantasista10.co.uk/totti-tops-40-years-of-gazzetta-ratings-but-baggio-is-perfect-10/|url-status=dead}}</ref> This match is considered an example of professionalism shown by Baggio, as Inter president [[Massimo Moratti]] had stated Lippi would only stay on if the team qualified for the Champions League.<ref name="Le sfide nel segno di Baggio"/><ref name="Roberto Baggio" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/sport/spareggio/qualificata/qualificata.html|title=Grande Baggio, l'Inter è in Champions League|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=23 May 2000|access-date=20 April 2016|archive-date=8 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508215414/http://www.repubblica.it/online/sport/spareggio/qualificata/qualificata.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2000–2004: Brescia ===
{{Quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="Roberto Baggio was the best Italian ''[[Playmaker|fantasista]]''; he was better than [[Giuseppe Meazza|Meazza]] and [[Giampiero Boniperti|Boniperti]], and he was amongst the greatest of all time, right behind [[Diego Maradona|Maradona]], [[Pelé]], and maybe [[Johan Cruyff|Cruyff]]. Without the injury problems and the difficulties with his knees, he would have been the very best player in history."|source=—[[Carlo Mazzone]], Baggio's coach at Brescia.<ref name="il più grande del calcio">{{cite web|url=http://www.calciopro.com/calcio-italiano/roberto-baggio-il-piu-grande-del-calcio-italiano/|title=Roberto Baggio: il più grande del calcio italiano|website=calciopro.com|date=5 February 2008 |language=it|access-date=9 October 2014|archive-date=15 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015162159/http://www.calciopro.com/calcio-italiano/roberto-baggio-il-piu-grande-del-calcio-italiano/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
After two years with Inter, Baggio decided not to renew his expiring contract due to his conflicts with Marcello Lippi, making him a free agent at age 33.<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/> He was linked with several Serie A clubs, such as Napoli and [[Reggina Calcio|Reggina]],<ref name="Baggio eyes Spain">{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2000/08/08/baggio-eyes-spain|title=Baggio eyes Spain|publisher=SBS|date=8 August 2000|access-date=20 October 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070108/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2000/08/08/baggio-eyes-spain|url-status=live}}</ref> and also various Premier League and [[La Liga]] clubs, including Barcelona.<ref name="Baggio eyes Spain"/> Baggio ultimately transferred to Serie A newcomers Brescia under head coach [[Carlo Mazzone]], aiming to save them from relegation; he remained in Italy in order to have a greater opportunity of being called up for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]].<ref name="Ambitious Baggio joins Brescia">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/4771342/Ambitious-Baggio-joins-Brescia.html|title='Ambitious' Baggio joins Brescia|newspaper=The Telegraph|author=Astrid Andersson|date=15 September 2000|access-date=20 October 2014|archive-date=26 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926005759/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/4771342/Ambitious-Baggio-joins-Brescia.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was made captain and was given the number 10 shirt,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2000/09/17/mazzone-juve-accuse-veleni.html|title=Mazzone-Juve, accuse e veleni|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=ENRICO CURRO'|date=17 September 2000|access-date=22 January 2016|archive-date=28 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128175752/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2000/09/17/mazzone-juve-accuse-veleni.html|url-status=live}}</ref> playing as an attacking midfielder.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2000/09/16/brescia-baggio-subito-contro-la-juve.html|title=Brescia, Baggio subito contro la Juve|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=16 September 2000|access-date=22 January 2016|archive-date=28 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128171130/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2000/09/16/brescia-baggio-subito-contro-la-juve.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite injury problems during the first half of the season, Baggio re-found his form and managed ten goals and ten assists in the [[2000–01 Serie A|2000–01 season]].<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/><ref name="Storie di Provincia">{{cite web|url=http://www.mondopallone.it/2013/07/18/storie-di-provincia-le-quattro-stagioni-del-brescia-di-baggio-e-mazzone-e-non-solo/|title=Storie di Provincia: le quattro stagioni del Brescia di Baggio e Mazzone (e non solo)|website=mondopallone.it|language=it|date=18 July 2013|access-date=20 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020060539/http://www.mondopallone.it/2013/07/18/storie-di-provincia-le-quattro-stagioni-del-brescia-di-baggio-e-mazzone-e-non-solo/|archive-date=20 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Brescia finished in a joint seventh place, their best Serie A finish since the league's re-establishment in 1946, and qualified for the UEFA Intertoto Cup, also reaching the quarter-finals of the [[2000–01 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]], losing to eventual winners Fiorentina.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/campionato_partite/bresciabari/bresciabari/bresciabari.html|title=Mazzone fa il capolavoro Brescia settimo in classifica|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=17 June 2001|access-date=22 January 2016|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619145027/https://www.repubblica.it/online/campionato_partite/bresciabari/bresciabari/bresciabari.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio helped Brescia to the final of the [[2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup]], where they were defeated by Paris Saint-Germain on away goals. Baggio scored one goal in the tournament, in the final from a penalty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=3975.html|title=PSG edge past Brescia|publisher=UEFA|date=21 August 2001|access-date=29 May 2015|archive-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018143819/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=3975.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> His performances earned him a nomination for the [[2001 Ballon d'Or]], and he finished 25th overall in the rankings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2001/11/13/nomination-del-pallone-oro-anche-baggio-fra.html|title=Pallone d'Oro 2001: Anche Baggio fra i Magnifici 50|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=13 November 2001|access-date=10 June 2012|archive-date=28 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728174405/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2001/11/13/nomination-del-pallone-oro-anche-baggio-fra.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio was one of the best offensive [[playmaker]]s in the league,<ref name="The Trequartista">{{cite web|url=http://www.soccertranslator.com/2013/10/part-ii-of-tactical-thesis-trequartista.html |title=Part II of a Tactical Thesis: "The Trequartista" by Roberto Mancini |access-date=20 October 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141020151631/http://www.soccertranslator.com/2013/10/part-ii-of-tactical-thesis-trequartista.html |archive-date=20 October 2014 }}</ref> winning the [[Guerin d'oro]] Award in 2001, awarded by the Italian sports magazine ''[[Guerin Sportivo]]'', to the player with the highest average rating throughout the season with at least 19 appearances.<ref name="Guerin d'Oro">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/italpoy.html |title=Italy - Footballer of the Year |access-date=6 February 2015 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121013030/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/italpoy.html |archive-date=21 January 2015 }}</ref>

At the start of [[2001–02 Serie A|2001–02 season]], Baggio scored eight goals in the first nine matches, leading him to the top of the Serie A goalscoring table.<ref name="altervista"/> In his eighth league appearance of the season, against Piacenza, Baggio scored a goal but later suffered an injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.gelocal.it/lanuovasardegna/archivio/lanuovasardegna/2001/10/22/SWC02.html|title=Codino Decisivo Baggio: gol da tre punti e infortunio E il Brescia dopo tredici anni espugna lo stadio Garilli di Piacenza|publisher=La Nuova Sardegna|language=it|date=22 October 2001|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=9 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109085954/http://ricerca.gelocal.it/lanuovasardegna/archivio/lanuovasardegna/2001/10/22/SWC02.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> A week later, against [[AC Venezia|Venezia]], he scored from a penalty, but he endured a more serious injury following a hard challenge which caused him to tear the ACL of his left knee, keeping him out of action for four months.<ref name="corriere">{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2002/febbraio/05/Baggio_operato_addio_sogno_Mondiale_co_0_0202057521.shtml|title=Baggio operato, addio al sogno Mondiale|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=5 February 2002|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222110435/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2002/febbraio/05/Baggio_operato_addio_sogno_Mondiale_co_0_0202057521.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> He suffered a second serious injury that season, tearing the meniscus in his left knee, after returning to the team, and coming off the bench, in the [[2001–02 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] semi-final against Parma on 31 January 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio_coppe/bresciaparma/bresciaparma/bresciaparma.html|title=Coppa Italia, Baggio si infortuna ancora|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153839/http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio_coppe/bresciaparma/bresciaparma/bresciaparma.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was operated on 4 February 2002 and he returned for three matches before the end of the season, making a recovery in 76 days.<ref name="repubblica.it">{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/baggiogol/baggiogol/baggiogol.html|title=Baggio fa felice il calcio ritorno record e due gol|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153606/http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/baggiogol/baggiogol/baggiogol.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 21 April 2002, in the first game after his comeback, Baggio came on as a substitute to score two goals against Fiorentina, helping Brescia win the match.<ref name="repubblica.it"/> He scored again against Bologna, saving Brescia from relegation on the final matchday, and bringing his seasonal tally to 11 goals in 12 Serie A matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legaseriea.it/it/serie-a-tim/match-report/-/match-report/Brescia-Bologna/10450s |title=Brescia-Bologna (3-0) |publisher=legaseriea.it |access-date=7 January 2015 }}{{dead link|date=May 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Despite Baggio's performances and public demand, Italy national team head coach Giovanni Trapattoni did not deem him fully fit, prompting the coach to leave Baggio out of the final squad for the 2002 World Cup.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/primamond/primamond/primamond.html|title=Trapattoni: "Basta con Baggio Ora pensiamo al Mondiale"|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=12 May 2002|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153652/http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/primamond/primamond/primamond.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Trapattoni also expressed concern about bringing Baggio to the World Cup due to the presence of [[Francesco Totti]] and Alessandro Del Piero in his role, believing that this could create a rivalry between the players.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/azzuanalisi/azzuanalisi/azzuanalisi.html|title=La logica di Trapattoni esclude Robi Baggio|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=20 October 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153604/http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/azzuanalisi/azzuanalisi/azzuanalisi.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After missing out on the tournament, Baggio reversed his initial decision to retire after the World Cup, expressing his intention to surpass the 200 Serie A goal mark.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport.it/articolo/roberto-baggio |title=Baggio, il ritorno |website=sport.it |language=it |access-date=20 October 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924121837/http://www.sport.it/articolo/roberto-baggio |archive-date=24 September 2010 }}</ref>

Baggio maintained a high level of performance under new coach [[Gianni De Biasi]].<ref name="Storie di Provincia"/> Baggio managed 12 goals and 9 assists during the [[2002–03 Serie A|2002–03 season]], helping Brescia to an eighth-place finish and another [[2003 UEFA Intertoto Cup|UEFA Intertoto Cup]] spot. He scored his 300th career goal from a penalty on 15 December 2002, in Brescia's 3–1 home victory over [[AC Perugia Calcio|Perugia]], also setting-up one of [[Igli Tare]]'s goals.<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio2002_partite_a/bresciaperugia/bresciaperugia/bresciaperugia.html|title=Con Tare e Baggio da record il Brescia supera il Perugia|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=14 January 2015|archive-date=14 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114082010/http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio2002_partite_a/bresciaperugia/bresciaperugia/bresciaperugia.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[2003–04 Serie A|2003–04 season]], the final season of his career, Baggio recorded 12 goals and 11 assists. He scored his 200th goal in Serie A in a 2–2 draw against Parma on 14 March 2004,<ref name="Parma vs. Brescia, 2004 - Baggio 200 gol">{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2004/c/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata25/parmabrescia/parmabrescia.html|title=Parma vs. Brescia, 2004 - Baggio 200 gol|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=10 June 2012|archive-date=30 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130094934/http://www.repubblica.it/2004/c/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata25/parmabrescia/parmabrescia.html|url-status=live}}</ref> saving Brescia from relegation, as they finished the season in 11th place.<ref name="Parma vs. Brescia, 2004 - Baggio 200 gol"/> Baggio was the first player in almost 30 years to surpass the 200-goal milestone, and is currently only one of seven players to have accomplished the feat. Baggio scored his final and 205th Serie A career goal on the second last matchday, in a 2–1 home win over [[2003–04 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia winners]] Lazio on 9 May 2004; he also set up Brescia's first goal in that match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2004/e/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata33/brescialazio/brescialazio.html|title=Lazio: brutto tonfo, Champions lontana Il Brescia in festa nell'addio di Baggio|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=9 May 2004|access-date=14 January 2015|archive-date=14 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114081332/http://www.repubblica.it/2004/e/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata33/brescialazio/brescialazio.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio played his last career match on 16 May 2004 on the final matchday of the season at the [[San Siro]] against Milan, which ended in a 4–2 loss to the Serie A champions; during the game, he set-up [[Matuzalém]]'s second goal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2004/e/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata34/milanbrescia/milanbrescia.html|title=A San Siro la festa del Milan E il saluto a Roby Baggio|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=16 May 2004|access-date=14 January 2015|archive-date=14 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114081412/http://www.repubblica.it/2004/e/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata34/milanbrescia/milanbrescia.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 88th minute, De Biasi substituted Baggio, prompting the 80,000 present at the San Siro to give him a standing ovation; Milan's captain, defender [[Paolo Maldini]], who was Baggio's former teammate both with the Italy national team and Milan, also embraced him before he left the pitch.<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/sport/articoli/articolo201382.shtml |title=Tutti in piedi, Baggio dice basta |publisher=www.tgcom24.mediaset.it |language=it |date=16 May 2004 |access-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307173728/https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/sport/articoli/articolo201382.shtml |archive-date=7 March 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

With Brescia, Baggio scored 46 goals in 101 appearances in all competitions, scoring 45 goals in 95 Serie A appearances, and one goal in two European matches. Baggio also made four Coppa Italia appearances with Brescia. Baggio retired as Brescia's all-time leading goalscorer in Serie A. He ended his career with 205 goals in Serie A, making him the seventh-highest scorer of all time, behind Silvio Piola, Francesco Totti (who overtook him in 2011), [[Gunnar Nordahl]], Giuseppe Meazza, [[José Altafini]], and [[Antonio Di Natale]] (who overtook him in 2015). Baggio's number 10 shirt was [[Retired numbers in football (soccer)|retired]] by Brescia in his honour, and he is considered the club's greatest ever player.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eurocalcionews.sportlive.it/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=32961|title=Un uomo, un numero, una maglia|publisher=EuroCalcioNews|language=it|access-date=10 June 2012}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Before Baggio had joined Brescia, they had never been able to avoid relegation after being newly promoted to Serie A, in over 40 years. During the four years under Baggio, Brescia recorded their best ever Serie A run and were never relegated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://golcalcio.it/Brescia.htm|title=Il Grande Brescia di Baggio|website=gocalcio.it|language=it|access-date=19 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526115323/http://www.golcalcio.it/Brescia.htm|archive-date=26 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== International career ==
=== Youth career and senior debut ===
Baggio totalled 27 goals in 56 caps for his [[Italy national football team|national team]] at senior level, making him Italy's fourth-highest all-time goalscorer, tied with [[Alessandro Del Piero|Del Piero]], who managed the tally in 91 appearances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/Marcatori?squadra=1&mode=|title=FIGC: Classifica Marcatori|publisher=FIGC|language=it|access-date=29 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731000359/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/Marcatori?squadra=1&mode=|archive-date=31 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> At youth level, he was capped for the [[Italy national under-16 football team|Italy U16]] on four occasions in 1984, scoring three goals.<ref name="R.Baggio49-59"/> Under [[Cesare Maldini]], he was called up for one [[Italy national under-21 football team|Italy under-21]] match against [[Switzerland national under-21 football team|Switzerland]] on 16 October 1987, although he was an unused substitute, and strangely failed to make an appearance for the ''azzurrini''.<ref name="Nazionale in cifre - FIGC: Baggio, Roberto"/>

His first senior International call-up was given to him by manager [[Azeglio Vicini]], and he made his first appearance for Italy on 16 November 1988 at age 21 in a 1–0 friendly victory over the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]], assisting Gianluca Vialli's match-winning goal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museofiorentina.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1780:16-novembre&catid=133:battito-viola&Itemid=217|title=16 Novembre 1988: Roby, dal viola all'azzurro|publisher=MuseoFiorentina.it|language=it|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=12 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312090041/http://www.museofiorentina.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1780:16-novembre&catid=133:battito-viola&Itemid=217|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-b/?action=read&idtmw=900654|title=16 novembre 1988, Roberto Baggio fa il suo esordio in Nazionale|publisher=Tutto Mercato Web.com|language=it|author1=Gaetano Mocciaro|date=16 November 2016|access-date=16 November 2016|archive-date=17 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117070659/http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-b/?action=read&idtmw=900654|url-status=live}}</ref> He scored his first goal for Italy on 22 April 1989, from a free-kick in a 1–1 draw against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] in an international friendly in [[Verona]].<ref name="FIFA 94"/> Later that year, in his following international appearance in Italy's friendly against [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]], held in Cesena on 20 September, he scored his first brace for Italy in a 4–0 victory,{{#tag:ref|Baggio's first goal of the match, which came from the penalty spot, was Italy's 500th goal in home matches.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/accadde-oggi/20-settembre-1989-prima-doppietta-di-roberto-baggio-in-nazionale-1291654 |title=20 settembre 1989, prima doppietta di Roberto Baggio in Nazionale |publisher=www.tuttomercatoweb.com |language=it |last1=Mocciaro |first1=Gaetano |date=20 September 2019 |access-date=25 September 2019 |archive-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925170045/https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/accadde-oggi/20-settembre-1989-prima-doppietta-di-roberto-baggio-in-nazionale-1291654 |url-status=live }}</ref>|name="ItalyBrace1989"|group="nb"}} also later assisting [[Andrea Carnevale]]'s goal with a cross from a free kick, and contributing to [[Nikolay Iliev]]'s own goal by setting-up Vialli, whose shot was subsequently deflected by the Bulgarian defender.<ref name="Illuminati">{{cite news |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1989/09/21/illuminati-da-baggio.html |title=Illuminati da Baggio |newspaper=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Brera |first1=Gianni |date=21 September 1989 |access-date=5 September 2018 |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619190247/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1989/09/21/illuminati-da-baggio.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,19/articleid,0946_01_1989_0215_0021_12848618/ |title=Gli azzurri nel segno di Baggio |newspaper=La Stampa |pages=21 |language=it |author1=Bruno Perrucca |date=21 September 1989 |access-date=5 September 2018 |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619213937/http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,19/articleid,0946_01_1989_0215_0021_12848618/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://video.gazzetta.it/baggio-prima-doppietta-nazionale-20-settembre-1989/8bab0422-b2b5-11e8-98cd-900568a11a97 |title=Baggio e la prima doppietta in Nazionale: 20 settembre 1989 |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=7 September 2018 |access-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922063632/https://video.gazzetta.it/baggio-prima-doppietta-nazionale-20-settembre-1989/8bab0422-b2b5-11e8-98cd-900568a11a97 |archive-date=22 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== 1990 FIFA World Cup ===
{{Quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="Baggio. Oh yes, oh yes…oh yes! What a goal by Baggio! That's the goal they've all been waiting for!"|source=—ITV Commentator [[Alan Parry]]'s reaction to Baggio's goal in Italy's group stage match against Czechoslovakia, during the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990 World Cup]].<ref name="Fantasista Legends: Roberto Baggio"/>}}
Baggio was called up for his first World Cup tournament in 1990, on home soil. Baggio appeared in five matches, starting in four of them, as Italy manager Azeglio Vicini preferred the more experienced Gianluca Vialli to start against Argentina.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/20-03-2013/vicini-80-notte-magica-la-piu-seguita-piu-divertente-era-mia-italia-92574358605.shtml|title=Gli 80 anni di Azeglio Vicini È il c.t. delle Notti Magiche|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=20 March 2013|access-date=26 May 2014|archive-date=23 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323001832/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/20-03-2013/vicini-80-notte-magica-la-piu-seguita-piu-divertente-era-mia-italia-92574358605.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio was still able to display his ability throughout the tournament, and Vicini's decision not to use him more frequently was later criticised,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1990_usa.html|title=Italia-Stati Uniti: 1-0 - Giannini, poi il buio|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=14 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814011547/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1990_usa.html|url-status=live}}</ref> as Baggio's creative combinations with [[Salvatore Schillaci]] were praised.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Mondiali/21-05-2014/calcio-beffa-maradona-rovina-notti-magiche-80723709462.shtml|title=Calcio, La beffa di Maradona rovina le notti magiche|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=21 May 2014|access-date=26 May 2014|archive-date=22 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822094554/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Mondiali/21-05-2014/calcio-beffa-maradona-rovina-notti-magiche-80723709462.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio scored twice during the tournament, including the "goal of the tournament" in a 2–0 win in his first competitive international fixture, in Italy's final group match against [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]]. The goal, which drew him comparisons with Giuseppe Meazza, involved an exchange with [[Giuseppe Giannini]] on the left wing, followed by a dribbling run from midfield, in which Baggio beat several players, wrong-footing the last defender with a [[Dummy (football)|feint]], before putting the ball past the goalkeeper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1990_cecoslovacchia.html|title=Italia-Cecoslovacchia: 2-0 - E lo Stadio urlò: è nato il genio che ci farà felici|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=13 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513064739/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1990_cecoslovacchia.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This goal was later recognised as the seventh-best goal in World Cup history in a [[FIFA]] poll.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=82406/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523231346/http://www.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=82406/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 May 2012|title=Diego Maradona goal voted the FIFA World Cup Goal of the Century|publisher=FIFA|date=30 May 2002|access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Roberto Baggio - Italia '90.jpg|thumb|Baggio with [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in 1990]]
In the round of 16 match against Uruguay, which Italy won 2–0, Baggio started the play which led to Italy's first goal, scored by Schillaci. Baggio also scored a goal from a direct free-kick, but it was disallowed as the referee had awarded an indirect free-kick.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1990_uruguay.html|title=Italia - Uruguay: 2-0 - Un Serena per amico|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105415/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1990_uruguay.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio also had a goal incorrectly ruled offside in the quarter-final against the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]], which Italy won 1–0; Baggio was once again involved in the build-up which led to Schillaci's match winning goal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1990_eire.html|title=Italia - Eire: 1-0 - Schillaci ci prende gusto|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=6 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606212322/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1990_eire.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Italy were eliminated on penalties against defending champions [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] in the semi-finals after a 1–1 draw, although Baggio was able to score his penalty in the shootout.<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/> Baggio had come off the bench in the second half for Giannini, and came close to winning the match with a free-kick, but it was saved by [[Sergio Goycochea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olimpiazzurra.com/2014/05/storie-mondiali-litalia-e-i-maledetti-rigori/|title=Storie Mondiali: l'Italia e i maledetti rigori|date=17 May 2014|publisher=olimpiazzurra.com|language=it|access-date=19 May 2014|archive-date=19 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519095055/http://www.olimpiazzurra.com/2014/05/storie-mondiali-litalia-e-i-maledetti-rigori/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the bronze medal match against [[England national football team|England]], Baggio returned to the starting line-up, playing behind Schillaci. He scored Italy's first goal of the match after stealing the ball from [[Peter Shilton]]. [[David Platt (footballer)|David Platt]] momentarily equalised, but with five minutes left on the clock, Baggio set up Schillaci, who was fouled inside the area by [[Paul Parker (footballer)|Paul Parker]]. Although Baggio was the regularly designated penalty taker for his national team, he stepped aside to allow Schillaci to score and capture the [[FIFA World Cup awards#Golden Boot|Golden Shoe]], a gesture which was praised by the Italian media.<ref name="storiedicalcio.altervista.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1990_inghilterra.html|title=Italia-Inghilterra: 2-1 - L'Italia non s'è persa|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=24 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624204608/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1990_inghilterra.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/it/features/schillaci-ricorda-fft-dopo-italia-90-ho-pianto-e-fumato|title=Schillaci ricorda a FFT: "Dopo Italia '90 ho pianto e fumato"|magazine=FourFourTwo|language=it|access-date=19 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516205407/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/it/features/schillaci-ricorda-fft-dopo-italia-90-ho-pianto-e-fumato|archive-date=16 May 2014}}</ref> Baggio assisted a goal by [[Nicola Berti]] in the dying minutes of the match, but it was incorrectly ruled offside.<ref name="storiedicalcio.altervista.org"/> Italy won the match 2–1, capturing the third place medal.<ref name="FIFA 94" />

Following the World Cup, Baggio was not called up often by Vicini for the [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying Group 3|Euro 1992 Qualification]] matches, only making three appearances and scoring two goals as Italy failed to qualify for the [[UEFA Euro 1992|tournament]], finishing second in their qualifying group behind the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/euro2012/history/season=1992/round=218/group=74.html|title=Euro 1992 Qualifying Group 3 - Italy|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=29 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926142411/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/euro2012/history/season=1992/round=218/group=74.html|archive-date=26 September 2010}}</ref>

=== 1994 FIFA World Cup ===
Under Italy's new manager, Arrigo Sacchi, Baggio was his team's top scorer during their [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 1)|qualifying campaign for the 1994 World Cup]], scoring five goals of the team's 14 goals in the eight games in also providing seven assists. He helped Italy top their group and qualify for the 1994 World Cup, notably contributing to [[Dino Baggio]]'s winner in the decisive final group match against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]], which secured Italy's place in the final competition.<ref name="A PASSION BEYOND THE GAME">{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-06-15-9406150155-story.html |title=A Passion Beyond the Game |work=The Chicago Tribune |last1=Hersh |first1=Phil |date=15 June 1994 |access-date=19 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113952/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/febbraio/25/Juve_Sacchi_spazza_Portogallo_co_0_93022512671.shtml|title=la Juve di Sacchi spazza il Portogallo|trans-title=Sacchi's Juve sweeps Portugal away|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|author=Gianfranco Teotino|date=25 February 1993|access-date=12 February 2015|archive-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109165949/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/febbraio/25/Juve_Sacchi_spazza_Portogallo_co_0_93022512671.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/novembre/18/Baggio_timbra_visto_per_America_co_0_9311185994.shtml|title=Baggio 2 timbra il visto per l' America|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|author1=Giancarlo Padovan|author2=Gianfranco Teotino|date=18 November 1993|access-date=27 April 2015|archive-date=13 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313001144/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/novembre/18/Baggio_timbra_visto_per_America_co_0_9311185994.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> One of his best performances during the qualifying campaign occurred on 14 October 1992 against [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]; Italy were trailing 2–0 at home and Baggio led his team to a 2–2 draw comeback, scoring a goal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/ottobre/15/cuore_grande_Italia_no_co_0_9210151028.shtml|title=il cuore e' grande, ma l'Italia no|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=15 October 1992|access-date=3 September 2014|archive-date=5 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105140252/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/ottobre/15/cuore_grande_Italia_no_co_0_9210151028.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Under Sacchi, Baggio made his first and only starting appearance as [[List of Italy national football team captains|Italy's captain]] in the [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification|1994 World Cup qualifying]] match in [[Glasgow]] against [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] on 18 November 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=1047|title=Roberto Baggio|publisher=eu-football.info|access-date=16 November 2016|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405072301/http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=1047|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/Capitani?squadra=1&mode=|title=Capitani|trans-title=Captains|website=figc.it|publisher=[[Italian Football Federation]]|language=it|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503080300/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/Capitani?squadra=1&mode=|archive-date=3 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, he was substituted off in the final minutes of the 0–0 draw after injuring his rib.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/novembre/20/Baggio_rotto_fuori_mese_co_0_92112013949.shtml|title=Baggio rotto, fuori un mese|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=20 November 1992|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222144847/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/novembre/20/Baggio_rotto_fuori_mese_co_0_92112013949.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/luglio/04/Qui_Milan_Baggio_proprio_nostro_co_0_9507042399.shtml|title=Qui Milan: " Baggio e' proprio nostro "|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=4 July 1995|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=12 March 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140312173751/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/luglio/04/Qui_Milan_Baggio_proprio_nostro_co_0_9507042399.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite a series of injuries prior to the tournament,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/ottobre/11/sta_male_anche_Baggio_Roberto_co_0_9310113855.shtml|title=Sta male anche Baggio Roberto giocherà ma ha una tendinite. Allarme per Eranio|work=Il Corriere della Sera|author=Fabio Monti|language=it|date=11 October 1993|access-date=11 March 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073431/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/ottobre/11/sta_male_anche_Baggio_Roberto_co_0_9310113855.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio was expected to be one of the stars of the 1994 World Cup, entering the competition as the reigning Ballon d'Or winner and FIFA World Player of the Year, and at the peak of his career; after a lacklustre start, he led his team to the final with three match winning performances in the knockout rounds, wearing the number 10 shirt, and scoring five goals in the process.<ref name="FIFA 94" /><ref name="Leggende Azzurre: Roberto Baggio">Leggende Azzurre: Roberto Baggio</ref><ref name="Il Fantasista, l'Incompreso">{{cite web|url=http://www.assoallenatori.it/aiacweb.nsf/WebviewAllenatorebyNumero/fd813c4c32c13907c1256f20004b5032|title=Il Fantasista, l'Incompreso|website=assoallenatori.it|language=it|author=Pietro Cesaro|access-date=16 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621060717/http://www.assoallenatori.it/aiacweb.nsf/WebviewAllenatorebyNumero/fd813c4c32c13907c1256f20004b5032|archive-date=21 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/30/dilemma_Baggio_dito_Effenberg_co_0_94063014070.shtml|title=Il dilemma Baggio e il dito di Effenberg|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|author=Gianfranco Teotino|language=it|date=30 June 1994|access-date=2 March 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073658/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/30/dilemma_Baggio_dito_Effenberg_co_0_94063014070.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In a disappointing first match against Republic of Ireland at [[Giants Stadium]], [[New Jersey]], Italy were defeated 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/18/Baggio_parte_con_piede_sinistro_co_0_94061815863.shtml|title=Baggio parte con il piede sinistro|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=18 June 1994|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=18 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118163702/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/18/Baggio_parte_con_piede_sinistro_co_0_94061815863.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/22/Sacchi_ordina_Baggio_alzati_corri_co_0_94062213738.shtml|title=Sacchi ordina: Baggio, alzati e corri|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|author=Giancarlo Padovan|language=it|date=22 June 1994|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=18 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118162724/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/22/Sacchi_ordina_Baggio_alzati_corri_co_0_94062213738.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In the second match against [[Norway national football team|Norway]], he appeared more inspired; however, Italy goalkeeper [[Gianluca Pagliuca]] was sent off for handling the ball outside the area. [[Luca Marchegiani]] was brought in to replace him, and Arrigo Sacchi decided to sacrifice Baggio in what produced an outcry amidst the fans. Baggio later stated that Sacchi was "crazy".<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/> Italy won the match 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1994_norvegia.html|title=Italia-Norvegia, Coppa del Mondo USA 1994 - 1-0|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-date=21 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621051027/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1994_norvegia.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Italy continued to disappoint, as their final group match ended in a 1–1 draw against [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]], and he again failed to influence the result.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/30/basta_processi_Baggio_Sacchi_compagni_co_8_940630454.shtml|title=" basta processi a Baggio". Sacchi e i compagni lo difendono|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=30 June 1994|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=18 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118165433/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/30/basta_processi_Baggio_Sacchi_compagni_co_8_940630454.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The Italians finished third in their group, drawing much criticism from the press, and only advancing from the first round as the fourth-best third-placed team; Juventus president [[Gianni Agnelli]] famously called Baggio ''un coniglio bagnato'' ("a wet rabbit"), referring to his despondent demeanour, hoping the jab would spur him on to score.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/01/baggio-coniglio-bagnato.html|title=Baggio Coniglio Bagnato|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=1 July 1994|access-date=14 September 2014|archive-date=28 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128115527/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/01/baggio-coniglio-bagnato.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

After under-performing during the group stage, Baggio refound his form in the knockout stages, where he scored five memorable goals. He scored two in the [[1994 FIFA World Cup#Round of 16|round of 16]], helping a ten-man Italy defeat [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] 2–1 at [[Foxboro Stadium]] in [[Boston]], after trailing for most of the match. He scored his first goal of the match with two minutes left on the clock, after receiving ball at the edge of the area from [[Roberto Mussi]]. He then went on to score the winning goal from a penalty in extra time after setting up [[Antonio Benarrivo]] with a lobbed pass, who was then fouled in the penalty area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1994_nigeria.html|title=Nigeria-Italia, Coppa del Mondo USA 1994 - 1-2|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602073720/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1994_nigeria.html|archive-date=2 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/luglio/06/all_ultimo_respiro_Baggio_trovo_co_0_9407062653.shtml|title=all' ultimo respiro Baggio trovo' se stesso|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=6 July 1994|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=7 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707003722/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/luglio/06/all_ultimo_respiro_Baggio_trovo_co_0_9407062653.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Baggio scored another match-winning goal in the quarter-finals to defeat [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] 2–1 with three minutes remaining. After receiving the ball from [[Giuseppe Signori]], he dribbled past the Spanish goalkeeper [[Andoni Zubizarreta]], scoring off-balance from a tight angle. He was also involved in the build-up which led to Italy's first goal by his unrelated namesake Dino Baggio.<ref name="The Score">{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/roberto-baggio-1994-world-cup-tragedy-1478916-Jun2014/|title=The greatest World Cup tragedies: Roberto Baggio, USA 1994|work=The Score|date=6 June 2014|access-date=6 June 2014|archive-date=1 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801041605/http://www.the42.ie/roberto-baggio-1994-world-cup-tragedy-1478916-Jun2014/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/luglio/10/resurrezione_dell_Arrigo_co_0_9407103435.shtml|title=la resurrezione dell' Arrigo|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=10 July 1994|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=5 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105025231/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/luglio/10/resurrezione_dell_Arrigo_co_0_9407103435.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio gave a man of the match performance in the semi-finals; he scored two more goals to beat [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] 2–1 at Giants Stadium, leading Italy to the World Cup final for the first time in 12 years. He scored his first goal after beating two players and curling the ball from outside the area into the bottom-right corner. His second was scored with a half volley from a tight angle, assisted by [[Demetrio Albertini]] with a lobbed ball.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1994_bulgaria.html|title=Italia-Bulgaria, Coppa del Mondo USA 1994 - 2-1|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-date=21 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621002946/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1994_bulgaria.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/luglio/14/Baggio_porta_paradiso_co_8_9407142134.shtml|title=Baggio ci porta in paradiso|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=14 July 1994|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=8 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108053124/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/luglio/14/Baggio_porta_paradiso_co_8_9407142134.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Quote box|width=33%|align=left|quote="I knew what I had to do and my concentration was perfect. But I was so tired that I tried to hit the ball too hard."|source=—Baggio on his physical and mental state before taking the penalty in the final.<ref name="FIFA 94">{{cite web|url=https://origin.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=174363/profile.html|title="Divine by moniker, divine by magic".|publisher=FIFA.com.|access-date=1 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321173319/http://origin.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=174363/profile.html|archive-date=21 March 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
Baggio was not fully fit for the [[1994 FIFA World Cup final|final]] against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] at the [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]] in [[Pasadena, California]], after pulling his hamstring during the semi-final and playing with the aid of a painkiller injection.<ref name="FIFA 94"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/luglio/15/resta_filo_Baggio_co_0_940715257.shtml|title=ci resta un filo di Baggio|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=15 July 1994|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=18 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118171712/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/luglio/15/resta_filo_Baggio_co_0_940715257.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Has so much ever hung on a hamstring?">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/profile-has-so-much-ever-hung-on-a-hamstring-roberto-baggio-italys-buddhist-footballing-hero-1414123.html|title=Has so much ever hung on a hamstring? - Roberto Baggio, Italy's Footballing Hero|location=London|work=The Independent|date=16 July 1994|access-date=29 June 2012|archive-date=29 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729090340/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/profile-has-so-much-ever-hung-on-a-hamstring-roberto-baggio-italys-buddhist-footballing-hero-1414123.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite being far less dominant than in previous matches, he still tested Brazilian goalkeeper [[Cláudio Taffarel]] and was able to set up a few chances for his teammates. The match ended 0–0 after extra time; he took Italy's last penalty in the resulting shootout, but he put the decisive spot-kick over the crossbar, which meant the Brazilians won the title, resulting in one of the most upsetting moments in World Cup history,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/luglio/18/Baggio_sbaglia_tiro_della_sua_co_0_9407181835.shtml|title=e Baggio sbaglia il tiro della sua vita|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=18 July 1994|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=25 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125150552/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/luglio/18/Baggio_sbaglia_tiro_della_sua_co_0_9407181835.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2006/ottobre/31/Baggio_McEnroe_Schumi_Come_sbaglia_co_9_061031079.shtml|title=Da Baggio a McEnroe e Schumi Come si sbaglia un punto decisivo|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=31 October 2006|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=31 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031000328/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2006/ottobre/31/Baggio_McEnroe_Schumi_Come_sbaglia_co_9_061031079.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> and a miss with which his career would frequently become associated.<ref name="World Cup memories: Roberto Baggio, 1994">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/world-cup-memories-roberto-baggio-1994-1.945615 |title=World Cup memories: Roberto Baggio, 1994 |work=CBC Sports |last1=Molinaro |first1=John F. |date=20 May 2010 |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-date=23 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123120442/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/world-cup-memories-roberto-baggio-1994-1.945615 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Immediately after the match, Baggio stated that he was "very disappointed," also noting that "a shock of pain" went through his leg as he kicked. Reportedly, Baggio stood near the goal alone for 8 minutes with his head down after missing the penalty, which has given him the moniker "The Man who Died Standing" <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/soccer/longterm/aj/1994.htm |title=1994 Final Kick Means World to Brazil |newspaper=The Washington Post |last1=Howard |first1=Johnette |date=18 July 1994 |access-date=17 January 2024 |archive-date=10 February 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020210061918/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/soccer/longterm/aj/1994.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Baggio has since described the infamous miss as the worst moment of his career, stating that it affected him for years, and that he still "dreams" about it to this day.<ref name="The redemption of Roberto Baggio1">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/the-redemption-of-roberto-baggio|title=The redemption of Roberto Baggio|publisher=World Soccer|author1=Steven Green|author2=Jamie Rainbow|date=16 November 2013|access-date=3 September 2014|archive-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120211805/http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/the-redemption-of-roberto-baggio|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/footballers-who-became-defined-by-a-penalty-miss-01e893ts1z3b |title=Footballers Who Became Defined by a Penalty Miss |publisher=90min.com |date=14 May 2020 |access-date=17 January 2024 |archive-date=17 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117202241/https://www.90min.com/posts/footballers-who-became-defined-by-a-penalty-miss-01e893ts1z3b |url-status=live }}</ref> In his autobiography, when recounting the miss, he later reflected: "Penalties are only missed by those who have the courage to take them."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttojuve.com/storia-bianconera/auguri-campione-la-juve-non-ti-ha-dimenticato-16487|title=Auguri Campione: La Juve Non T Ha Dimenticato|publisher=Tutto Juve|language=it|access-date=1 May 2014|archive-date=2 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602201055/http://www.tuttojuve.com/storia-bianconera/auguri-campione-la-juve-non-ti-ha-dimenticato-16487|url-status=live}}</ref> Before him, two other Italians, [[Franco Baresi]] and [[Daniele Massaro]], had already missed penalties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1994_brasile.html|title=Italia-Brasile, Coppa del Mondo USA 1994 - 0-1|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-date=21 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621012626/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1994_brasile.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Having led Italy to the final with his memorable performances, Baggio received the [[FIFA World Cup awards#Golden Ball|Silver Ball]] as the second-best player of the tournament, behind [[Romário]], and also finished tied for second in goals scored throughout the tournament, although he missed out on the [[FIFA World Cup awards#Golden Boot|Bronze Boot]], which went to [[Kennet Andersson]] and Romário.<ref name="Happy birthday"/><ref name="FIFA Awards – World Cup Golden Ball"/> He was also named in the [[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|World Cup All-Star Team]].<ref name="94WCAll-Star1"/> Baggio finished runner-up for the [[Ballon d'Or]], with 136 points from a possible 245,<ref name="Ballon d'Or 1994">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy94.html|title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1994|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=7 February 2014|archive-date=1 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001010216/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy94.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and third place for the [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] in 1994.<ref name="Leggende Azzurre: Roberto Baggio"/>

Despite Baggio's association with missing the decisive penalty in the 1994 World Cup final shoot-out, former ''[[Telelatino]]'' broadcaster Alf De Blasis stated in 2010 that he believed that Baggio's performance throughout the entire tournament cemented his legacy as a footballer.<ref name="World Cup memories: Roberto Baggio, 1994"/> Reflecting on Baggio's performance at the 1994 World Cup in 2001, Stefano Bozzi of [[BBC Sport]] stated: "At the USA 94 World Cup, [Baggio] single-handedly hauled Italy to the final."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/1644696.stm |title=Baggio's final World Cup fling |publisher=BBC Sport |last1=Bozzi |first1=Stefano |date=8 November 2001 |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113955/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/1644696.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2006, the BBC described him as "Italy's best player throughout the [1994] tournament."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4851230.stm |title=World Cup history - USA 1994 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 May 2006 |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-date=13 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413134707/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4851230.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, Emmet Gates instead described Baggio's run-up to the 1994 World Cup final with Italy as "the greatest show of individual excellence since another equally majestic number ten [Maradona] dominated the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 tournament]]."<ref name="The redemption of Roberto Baggio2"/> When summarising Baggio's 1994 World Cup in 2018, Ed Dove of ''[[ESPN FC]]'' stated that "'[t]he Divine Ponytail' had arguably been the outstanding player of the tournament, bailing Italy out on numerous occasions, but his inspirational touch deserted him when it mattered most."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/23439690/world-cup-moments-baggio-heartbreak-1994 |title=World Cup moments - Baggio's heartbreak - 1994 |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Dove |first1=Ed |date=8 May 2018 |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113952/https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/23439690/world-cup-moments-baggio-heartbreak-1994 |url-status=live }}</ref> His colleague Nick Miller instead stated that "Roberto Baggio was the best player at the 1994 World Cup, dragging Italy to the final virtually on his own."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.in/football/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/1845194/roberto-baggio-skied-penalty-graham-poll-three-card-trick-in-top-world-cup-bloopers |title=Roberto Baggio's skied penalty, Graham Poll's three-card trick in top World Cup bloopers |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Miller |first1=Nick |newspaper=Espn |date=16 April 2018 |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806194017/https://www.espn.in/football/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/1845194/roberto-baggio-skied-penalty-graham-poll-three-card-trick-in-top-world-cup-bloopers |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Post-World Cup ===
After the 1994 World Cup, Italy head coach Arrigo Sacchi and Baggio infamously fell out. Their relationship deteriorated in September 1994 following a 1–1 draw against [[Slovenia national football team|Slovenia]] in a [[UEFA Euro 1996 qualification|Euro 1996 qualifying match]], where Baggio was benched.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/settembre/07/Sacchi_sfoga_Baggio_gela_co_8_9509073327.shtml|title=Sacchi si sfoga, Baggio lo gela|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=7 September 1995|access-date=3 September 2014|archive-date=29 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029175614/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/settembre/07/Sacchi_sfoga_Baggio_gela_co_8_9509073327.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> After a 2–1 defeat to [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]] in a Euro 1996 qualifying match in November, their relationship hit the breaking point, and Baggio, supported by his teammates,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/novembre/17/piccola_Italia_bambola_solo_Croazia_co_0_9411176532.shtml|title=piccola Italia in bambola, e' solo Croazia|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=17 November 1994|access-date=3 September 2014|archive-date=26 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126034557/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/novembre/17/piccola_Italia_bambola_solo_Croazia_co_0_9411176532.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> asked for the manager's dismissal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/novembre/19/caos_Italia_Baggio_scarica_Sacchi_co_0_9411196136.shtml|title=caos Italia: Baggio scarica Sacchi|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=19 November 1994|access-date=3 September 2014|archive-date=29 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029192931/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/novembre/19/caos_Italia_Baggio_scarica_Sacchi_co_0_9411196136.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to his disagreements with Sacchi, Baggio was called up to the national team less frequently, only making one more substitute appearance in a 1–0 home win against Slovenia in a Euro 1996 qualifier in September 1995. He eventually lost his spot in the squad, missing out on Italy's [[UEFA Euro 1996|Euro 1996]] squad, despite winning the ''scudetto'' that year with Milan. Sacchi justified his decision by stating Baggio was not fully fit,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2011/12/02/2782009/i-left-roberto-baggio-out-of-euro-96-because-of-fitness-concerns-|title=I left Roberto Baggio out of Euro '96 because of fitness concerns, not arguments - former Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi|publisher=Goal.com|date=2 December 2011|access-date=31 December 2014|archive-date=2 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302044648/http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2011/12/02/2782009/i-left-roberto-baggio-out-of-euro-96-because-of-fitness-concerns-|url-status=live}}</ref> and that [[Enrico Chiesa]] helped the team more when possession was lost.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/maggio/19/Sacchi_appuntamento_Baggio_co_0_9605194880.shtml|title=Sacchi da' un appuntamento a Baggio|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=19 May 1996|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016172924/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/maggio/19/Sacchi_appuntamento_Baggio_co_0_9605194880.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Italy were eliminated in the group stage of the competition. Baggio was also excluded from Cesare Maldini's [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Italian Olympic squad in 1996]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/marzo/29/Italia_sogno_olimpico_Baggio_co_0_96032912698.shtml|title=L' Italia ha un sogno olimpico: Baggio|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=29 March 1996|access-date=12 August 2014|archive-date=8 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108032334/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/marzo/29/Italia_sogno_olimpico_Baggio_co_0_96032912698.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 1998 FIFA World Cup ===
After a lengthy absence from the national team, Baggio was called up by Cesare Maldini for a [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|World Cup qualifying]] match against [[Poland national football team|Poland]] on 30 April 1997, in Naples; Baggio came off the bench and scored a goal in a 3–0 win.<ref name="altervista"/> He was subsequently selected as one of Italy's 22 players for the 1998 World Cup following his performances with Bologna.<ref name="scelte">{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/02_mondiali_calcio_1998.html|title=1998 Francia, Capitolo II: Le scelte di Cesare|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=25 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305200328/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/02_mondiali_calcio_1998.html|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="I had the image of my miss from [[1994 FIFA World Cup final|four years ago]] stuck in my mind. I was stepping up to the penalty spot and I thought to myself: 'Just hit it hard, hit it hard...'|source=—Baggio on his penalty against Chile in the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]].<ref name="The redemption of Roberto Baggio1"/>}}
In Italy's opening match of the 1998 World Cup in France, against [[Chile national football team|Chile]], Baggio started alongside Christian Vieri, playing all 90 minutes, as Alessandro Del Piero was still recovering from an injury. Vieri opened the scoring from a Baggio assist, but Chile managed to equalise and take the lead through [[Marcelo Salas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/eventi/francia98/incontri/ita_chi.htm|title=Cile-Italia, 1998 2-2 - Rai-Sport|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704030831/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/eventi/francia98/incontri/ita_chi.htm|archive-date=4 July 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Baggio created several chances, but Italy were unable to equalise. Towards the end of the match, Baggio played a low cross into the box which unintentionally touched Chilean defender [[Ronald Fuentes]]'s hand at the edge of the penalty area, resulting in a fortunate penalty for Italy.<ref name="The redemption of Roberto Baggio2">{{cite news|url=http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2017/2/17/pasadena-to-bordeaux-the-redemption-of-roberto-baggio|title=The redemption of Roberto Baggio|publisher=In Bed With Maradona|author1=Emmet Gates|newspaper=Ibwm|access-date=23 May 2017|archive-date=18 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718140017/http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2017/2/17/pasadena-to-bordeaux-the-redemption-of-roberto-baggio|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/sport/polem/polem/polem.html?ref=search |title=Quante polemiche per quel rigore |date=12 June 1998 |website=[[la Repubblica]] |language=It |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601102742/http://www.repubblica.it/online/sport/polem/polem/polem.html?ref=search |archive-date=1 June 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2017}}</ref> Despite missing the decisive penalty in the 1994 World Cup final shootout, Baggio stepped up to take the penalty, and he scored Italy's equalising goal, becoming the first Italian player to score in three World Cups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1998_italia_cile.html|title=Il Cile fa tremare l'Italia: Italia-Cile, 1998 (2-2)|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=29 August 2014|archive-date=14 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814010310/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1998_italia_cile.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This was the first penalty he had taken for Italy since the 1994 World Cup final miss; Baggio described the goal as "liberating".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blitzquotidiano.it/sport/roberto-baggio-torna-in-nazionale-464763/|title=Roberto Baggio torna in Nazionale|website=blitzquotidiano.it|date=10 July 2010|language=it|access-date=3 September 2014|archive-date=9 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109090208/http://www.blitzquotidiano.it/sport/roberto-baggio-torna-in-nazionale-464763/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In Italy's 3–0 second group match win over [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]], Baggio assisted [[Luigi Di Biagio]]'s opening goal with a cross following a corner; however, he was replaced by Del Piero during the second half after sustaining a minor injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1998_italia_camerun.html|title=Italia-Camerun, 1998 - 3-0|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-date=3 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103175553/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1998_italia_camerun.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio scored his second goal of the tournament in Italy's final group match against [[Austria national football team|Austria]], which ended in a 2–1 win to Italy. Baggio came on during the second half, replacing Del Piero, after the crowd had begun to chant his name. He scored the winning goal of the match, after combining with [[Francesco Moriero]] and [[Filippo Inzaghi]], as Italy topped their group. With this goal, he tied Paolo Rossi's record for most goals by an Italian player in the World Cup finals, with nine; this was also his 27th and final goal for Italy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/eventi/francia98/incontri/ita_aut.htm|title=Italia-Austria, 1998 - 2-1|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704112212/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/eventi/francia98/incontri/ita_aut.htm|archive-date=4 July 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was left on the bench for the round of 16 win over Norway as Italy advanced to the quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1998_italia_norvegia.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026110719/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1998_italia_norvegia.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2011|title=Italia-Norvegia, 1998 (1-0)|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=13 June 2012}}</ref>

In the quarter-final match against eventual champions [[France national football team|France]], Baggio came on as a substitute for Del Piero in the second half, and managed to create some scoring opportunities. The score remained 0–0, and the match went to extra time, although Baggio came the closest to scoring the golden goal, with a volley from a lobbed pass by Albertini, but his shot was put just wide of [[Fabien Barthez]]'s far post.<ref name="top 20"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blitzquotidiano.it/sport/italia-1998-la-traversa-di-di-biagio-del-piero-o-baggio-voto-5-in-simpatia-1879751/|title=Italia 1998: la traversa di Di Biagio. Del Piero o Baggio? Voto 5 in simpatia|website=blitzquotidiano.it|date=3 June 2014|language=it|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-date=28 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128131852/http://www.blitzquotidiano.it/sport/italia-1998-la-traversa-di-di-biagio-del-piero-o-baggio-voto-5-in-simpatia-1879751/|url-status=live}}</ref> The match eventually went to a penalty shootout. Although Baggio converted his penalty Italy's first, the shootout was won by the host nation and Italy was eliminated from a World Cup on penalties for the third consecutive time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/eventi/francia98/incontri/ita_fra.htm|title=Italia-Francia, 1998 0-0 (3-4)|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|last=Di Gennaro|first=Dario|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616003113/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/eventi/francia98/incontri/ita_fra.htm|archive-date=16 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Italy's coach was criticised for starting the recovering Del Piero ahead of Baggio, and for not allowing the two players to play alongside each other.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1998_italia_francia.html|title=Francia-Italia, world Cup France 98 - 0-0 (4-3)|date=24 February 2016|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=19 March 2016|archive-date=11 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111230320/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1998_italia_francia.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite rumours that the substitutions had created a rivalry between the players, Baggio and Del Piero remain friends. In 2008, Baggio stated that he has great respect for Del Piero, and that there had never been disagreements between them.<ref name="Messi mi entusiasma">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2008/03_Marzo/28/baggiogazza.shtml|title=Baggio: "Messi mi entusiasma"|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=28 March 2008|access-date=20 May 2012|archive-date=3 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403062840/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2008/03_Marzo/28/baggiogazza.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/baggio-speaks-about-calcio.html|title=Baggio Speaks About Calcio|access-date=20 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710143203/http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/baggio-speaks-about-calcio.html|archive-date=10 July 2012}}</ref> In turn, Del Piero expressed his admiration for Baggio in 2011.<ref name="delizia">{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Juventus/14-11-2011/del-piero-gioco-fino-40-anni-803717129549.shtml|title=Del Piero: "Gioco fino a 40 anni" E Agnelli: "Per lui porte aperte"|publisher=La Gazzetta dell Sport|language=it|date=14 November 2011|access-date=20 May 2012|archive-date=22 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222103047/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Juventus/14-11-2011/del-piero-gioco-fino-40-anni-803717129549.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Later career ===
Baggio was initially a regular squad member under [[Dino Zoff]], appearing as a substitute in two [[UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying]] matches, and in a 2–0 win against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] in 1998, setting up a goal for Vieri;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199809/05/35f17a03036fa/|title=Galles-Italia 0-2|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|access-date=29 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904183042/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199809/05/35f17a03036fa/|archive-date=4 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://it.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/55041--wales-vs-italy/|title=Galles-Italia (0-2)|publisher=[[UEFA]]|language=it|access-date=29 August 2014|archive-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903090425/http://it.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2000/matches/round=1165/match=55041/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in a 1–1 draw against [[Belarus national football team|Belarus]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://it.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/55050--italy-vs-belarus/|title=Italia-Bielorussia (1-1)|publisher=[[UEFA]]|language=it|access-date=29 August 2014|archive-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903090428/http://it.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2000/matches/round=1165/match=55050/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199903/31/37027b6305ff3/|title=Passo falso degli azzurri|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|access-date=29 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904183036/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199903/31/37027b6305ff3/|archive-date=4 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Baggio made a starting appearance in a 0–0 friendly draw against Norway in 1999, creating several chances, helping to set-up a goal which was ruled offside, and hitting the post from a free-kick.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199902/10/36c1dcd506ce9/|title=Italia-Norvegia 0-0|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|access-date=29 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722072916/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199902/10/36c1dcd506ce9/|archive-date=22 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italia1910.com/partita.asp?d=10/02/1999|title=Italia-Norvegia: 0-0|publisher=Italia 1910|access-date=29 August 2014|archive-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903111557/http://www.italia1910.com/partita.asp?d=10/02/1999|url-status=live}}</ref> However, he was later dropped from the squad after Inter's poor 1998–99 season, and he was not called up for [[UEFA Euro 2000]] due to his limited playing time during the 1999–2000 season, and accusations made against his fitness. Zoff centred his squad around younger offensive players, such as Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero, [[Stefano Fiore]], [[Marco Delvecchio]], Filippo Inzaghi and [[Vincenzo Montella]]. Baggio was voted Italy's ''Player of the Century'' in 2000.<ref name="Baggio, una hola privata">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2007/02_Febbraio/17/fetabaggio.shtml|title=Baggio, una hola privata|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=17 February 2007|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=6 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206211349/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2007/02_Febbraio/17/fetabaggio.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Baggio was controversially excluded from Italy's [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]] squad by coach Giovanni Trapattoni, who believed him to not have fully recovered from the serious injury he had sustained during the season. Although he was initially keen to include Baggio in the final 23-man list, he ultimately excluded him from the squad; Baggio had made a direct appeal to him prior to the tournament by writing him a letter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/baggioscrive/baggioscrive/baggioscrive.html|title=Baggio scrive al Trap "Portami ai Mondiali"|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=6 May 2002|access-date=6 May 2002|archive-date=13 August 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020813194208/http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/baggioscrive/baggioscrive/baggioscrive.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Fans and pundits criticised the omission, as Italy were eliminated by co-hosts [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] in the round of 16.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://brescia.corriere.it/notizie/sport/16_maggio_19/trapattoni-baggio-moreno-mondiale-corea-53c05998-1dcc-11e6-8d1a-6eb7d9c593f0.shtml |title=Trapattoni: "Nessun rimpianto per Baggio, senza Moreno avremmo vinto il mondiale" |publisher=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |author1=Luca Bertelli |date=19 May 2016 |access-date=5 September 2018 |archive-date=13 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013174637/http://brescia.corriere.it/notizie/sport/16_maggio_19/trapattoni-baggio-moreno-mondiale-corea-53c05998-1dcc-11e6-8d1a-6eb7d9c593f0.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

Many fans hoped to see him play for Italy at [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/primi_piani/calcio/2004/pp_1.0.362006415.shtml|title=Baggio: "All'Europeo da riserva"|trans-title=Baggio: "At the Euros even as a reserve"|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Diego Antonelli|date=27 April 2004|access-date=26 April 2015|archive-date=2 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802121126/http://www.gazzetta.it/primi_piani/calcio/2004/pp_1.0.362006415.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> or with the [[Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2004 Olympic]] squad that eventually managed a bronze medal,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2004/a/sezioni/sport/calcio/fuoriquota/fuoriquota/fuoriquota.html|title=Olimpiadi, Carraro possibilista Baggio fuori quota con l'Under?|trans-title=Olympics, Carraro possible Baggio over-age player with the Under-21 side?|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=9 January 2004|access-date=21 April 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112856/http://www.repubblica.it/2004/a/sezioni/sport/calcio/fuoriquota/fuoriquota/fuoriquota.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but this was not to be the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2003/febbraio/05/Baggio_scherza_sui_dubbi_del_co_0_0302051319.shtml|title=Baggio: Euro 2004?|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=5 February 2003|access-date=8 July 2012|archive-date=1 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101095811/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2003/febbraio/05/Baggio_scherza_sui_dubbi_del_co_0_0302051319.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> However, he was given an international send-off by Trapattoni at age 37 in a friendly match against Spain on 28 April 2004, in which he wore the number 10 shirt for the final time, as well as the captain's armband for part of the match. Although Baggio entertained the crowd with his creativity and skill, he was unable to score, despite winning a free-kick from which Vieri's equalising goal arose. The match finished 1–1 and Baggio was given a standing ovation after being substituted off for [[Fabrizio Miccoli]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2004/d/sezioni/sport/calcio/nazionale/italiaspagna/italiaspagna/italiaspagna.html|title=Baggio, lungo, emozionante addio ma Italia-Spagna è poca cosa|trans-title=Baggio, a long, emotional farewell but Italy-Spain amounts to little|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=28 April 2004|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-date=28 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128115229/http://www.repubblica.it/2004/d/sezioni/sport/calcio/nazionale/italiaspagna/italiaspagna/italiaspagna.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This was Baggio's 56th and final match for Italy, and it was the first time an Italian footballer's career had been celebrated this way since Silvio Piola retired.<ref name="Biografia: Roberto Baggio"/>

Baggio is the only Italian player ever to score in three World Cups with nine career World Cup goals, putting him equal with Christian Vieri and [[Paolo Rossi]] as Italy's top World Cup goalscorers.<ref name="Mondial"/><ref name="Italia">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2010/Countdown_1.shtml|title=Italia: Speciale Mondiali|trans-title=Italy: World Cup Special|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|access-date=29 June 2012|archive-date=24 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524052125/http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2010/Countdown_1.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite his performances for Italy in the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]], [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]], and [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]]s, he never played for Italy in the [[UEFA European Championship]]s,<ref name=oppression/> and is currently the Italian player with the most caps without playing in a European Championship.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ribecchini|first=Maurizio|date=3 June 2016|title=Calcio, Europei: quanti azzurri non vi hanno mai partecipato! Fra loro tre 'palloni d'oro'|url=https://news.superscommesse.it/calcio/2016/06/calcio-europei-tre-palloni-doro-italiani-non-li-hanno-mai-giocati-200289/|access-date=4 June 2021|website=SuperNews|language=it|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604160218/https://news.superscommesse.it/calcio/2016/06/calcio-europei-tre-palloni-doro-italiani-non-li-hanno-mai-giocati-200289/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Player profile ==
=== Style of play ===
{{Quote box|width=27%|align=right|quote="He's without doubt the most skilful [[Squad number (association football)|number ten]] in the modern game, the archetypal [[playmaker]], if you like, who can create chances and score goals."|source=—[[Brian Laudrup]] on Baggio, 1995.<ref name="Fourfourtwo">"Roberto Baggio", ''FourFourTwo'', June 1995, p. 8.</ref>}}

Described as a ''[[Playmaker#Advanced playmakers|fantasista]]'', ''trequartista'', ''mezzapunta'', or ''rifinitore'' throughout his career in the Italian media, due to his role on the pitch and creative playing style,<ref name="=Del Piero, Totti e Baggio la fantasia al potere"/><ref name="San Zico"/> Baggio was a world class playmaker with an eye for goal, who was renowned for his vision, creativity, ability to read the game, [[Cross (association football)|crossing]] accuracy, and passing ability, which made him an excellent [[Assist (association football)|assist]] provider;{{#tag:ref|See <ref name="FIFA 94"/><ref name="A History of the Gala"/><ref name="huffingtonpost"/><ref name="Ambitious Baggio joins Brescia"/><ref name="Happy birthday"/><ref name="Baggio to join Italy"/><ref name="acmilan.com"/><ref name=irishtimes.com>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/the-buddha-of-milan-1.157649|title=The Buddha of Milan|newspaper=Irish Times|date=27 February 1999|access-date=19 July 2015|archive-date=23 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723091835/http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/the-buddha-of-milan-1.157649|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Falcone">{{cite web|url=http://www.alleniamo.com/libri.riviste/2012/urbone/roberto.baggio.htm|title=Roberto Baggio. Breve viaggio nel mondo del Codino più amato|website=alleniamo.com|language=it|last=Falcone|first=Gabriella|access-date=16 May 2012|archive-date=27 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627145454/http://www.alleniamo.com/libri.riviste/2012/urbone/roberto.baggio.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Baggio Takes Great Strides Toward Soccer Greatness">{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1994/06/15/baggio-takes-great-strides-toward-soccer-greatness/|title=Baggio Takes Great Strides Toward Soccer Greatness|newspaper=The Orlando Sentinel|date=15 June 1994|access-date=13 January 2015|archive-date=14 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114003756/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-06-15/features/9406150766_1_baggio-great-soccer-players-goals-in-world|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="flowering"/><ref name="Baggio on USA 94">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/roberto-baggio-interview-exclusive-usa-94-penalty-diadora-football-boots-a7848946.html|title=Roberto Baggio on USA 94, playing through the pain and putting the beautiful in the beautiful game|newspaper=The Independent|author1=Miguel Delaney|date=19 July 2017|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-date=22 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722001312/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/roberto-baggio-interview-exclusive-usa-94-penalty-diadora-football-boots-a7848946.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ricerca.gelocal.it/iltirreno/archivio/iltirreno/2002/12/16/LS4LG_LS480.html |title=Tare-Baggio, il Brescia vola |publisher=Il Tirreno |language=it |date=16 December 2002 |access-date=20 September 2018 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921034514/http://ricerca.gelocal.it/iltirreno/archivio/iltirreno/2002/12/16/LS4LG_LS480.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1989/03/23/borgonovo-baggio-spazio-per.html |title=Borgonovo - Baggio: C'è Spazio per Loro |newspaper=La Repubblica |language=it |author1=Licia Granello |date=23 March 1989 |access-date=8 October 2018 |archive-date=9 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009053123/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1989/03/23/borgonovo-baggio-spazio-per.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Other Baggio ready to step into hero's role WORLD CUP 1994">{{cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/07/16/other-baggio-ready-to-step-into-heros-role-world-cup-1994/|title='Other' Baggio ready to step into hero's role WORLD CUP 1994|work=The Baltimore Sun|last=Preston|first=Mike|date=16 July 1994|access-date=20 July 2014|archive-date=22 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822125332/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-07-16/sports/1994197049_1_dino-baggio-roberto-baggio-world-cup|url-status=live}}</ref>|name="style1"|group="nb"}} however, he usually played as a [[second striker]] throughout his career, as he was known for scoring goals as well as creating them.{{#tag:ref|See <ref name="Fourfourtwo"/><ref name="corriere2"/><ref name="Ambitious Baggio joins Brescia"/><ref name=irishtimes.com/><ref name="Baggio Takes Great Strides Toward Soccer Greatness"/><ref name="Baggio on USA 94"/><ref name="Baggio's month of May">{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/48791/baggio%E2%80%99s-month-may|title=Baggio's month of May|publisher=Football Italia|author1=Dave Taylor|date=5 May 2014|access-date=14 November 2015|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108085059/https://football-italia.net/48791/baggio%E2%80%99s-month-may|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=discontent>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jun/11/euro2000.sport|title=Italy's season of discontent|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=Joe McGiniss|date=11 June 2000|access-date=20 April 2016|archive-date=27 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427231414/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jun/11/euro2000.sport|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="100 Greatest Footballers EVER"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1634018-25-most-skilled-passers-in-world-football-history |title=25 Most Skilled Passers in World Football History |publisher=bleacherreport.com |author1=Max Towle |date=9 May 2013 |access-date=10 October 2018 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708142243/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1634018-25-most-skilled-passers-in-world-football-history |url-status=live }}</ref>|name="style2"|group="nb"}} This led [[Michel Platini]] to describe him as a "9 and a half", namely a player whose role lay half-way between that of a forward and a midfielder, as he was not a true number 9 (the shirt number usually associated with a striker), due to his creative ability, but he scored more than a number 10 (the shirt number commonly associated with an advanced playmaker), a description which often saw him identified with the role of an [[inside forward]].<ref name="FIFA 94"/><ref name=irishtimes.com/><ref name="Estro e fantasia"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.calciomercato.com/altre-notizie/roberto-baggio-allenare-l-italia-non-si-sa-mai-826328|title=Roberto Baggio: 'Allenare l'Italia? Non si sa mai'|magazine=GQ|language=it|date=5 January 2011|access-date=16 May 2012|archive-date=9 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109223702/http://www.calciomercato.com/altre-notizie/roberto-baggio-allenare-l-italia-non-si-sa-mai-826328|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=sports.yahoo.com>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/mystery-solved--why-do-the-best-soccer-players-wear-no--10-052229677.html|title=Mystery solved: Why do the best soccer players wear No. 10?|publisher=Yahoo|author1=Khalil Garriot|date=21 June 2014|access-date=19 May 2015|archive-date=26 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626005732/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/mystery-solved--why-do-the-best-soccer-players-wear-no--10-052229677.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He also stated that Baggio's playing style coincided with the re-emergence of the attacking midfielder in Italy during the early 2000s;<ref name="corriere2"/> indeed, he served as an inspiration to many future players.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://punditarena.com/football/thepateam/football-italia-roberto-baggio-50/ |title=Looking Back On Football Italia As Roberto Baggio Turns 50 |publisher=punditarena.com |date=18 February 2017 |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113954/https://punditarena.com/football/thepateam/football-italia-roberto-baggio-50/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:ROBERTO BAGGIO LANEROSSI VICENZA BIANCOROSSO.jpg|thumb|upright=0.68|left|A young Baggio with Vicenza]]
Baggio was a tactically versatile player, with a good understanding of the game, and was comfortable attacking on either [[Forward (association football)#Winger|flank]] or through the centre of the pitch; this allowed him to operate anywhere along the front-line.<ref name="FIFA 94"/><ref name="huffingtonpost"/><ref name="corriere2"/><ref name="flowering">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-greatness-has-a-last-flowering-in-baggio-1077893.html|title=Football: Greatness has a last flowering in Baggio|newspaper=The Independent|author1=Richard Williams|date=1 March 1999|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-date=14 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214101836/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-greatness-has-a-last-flowering-in-baggio-1077893.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> His preferred position was in a free playmaking role behind the forwards, as a creative [[attacking midfielder]], although he was rarely deployed in this position throughout his career due to the prevalence of the 4–4–2 formation, in which he usually functioned either as a main [[Striker (association football)|striker]], or more frequently in a supporting role as a deep-lying forward.<ref name="corriere2"/><ref name=evoluzione>{{cite web|url=http://it.eurosport.com/calcio/serie-a/2014-2015/levoluzione-del-numero-dieci-da-pele-a-pirlo_sto4827915/story.shtml|title=L'evoluzione del numero dieci: da Pelé a Pirlo|publisher=Eurosport.com|language=it|author=Mattia Fontana|date=21 July 2015|access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref> It was only in later years that he was able to play in this free role more frequently.<ref name="Il Fantasista, l'Incompreso"/><ref name=irishtimes.com/><ref name="Falcone"/> He was also occasionally deployed out of position as a left winger in an attacking trident,<ref name="corriere2"/><ref name="p193"/><ref name="solocalcio"/><ref name=InterVenezia/> as a [[wide midfielder]],<ref name="L'addio del grande incompreso"/> or even in [[central midfield]] as a ''[[mezzala]]'' or [[deep-lying playmaker]] on rarer instances.<ref name="solocalcio"/><ref name="trapianto">{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/agosto/01/Tabarez_tenta_trapianto_Baggio_Codino_co_0_9608016997.shtml|title=Tabarez tenta il trapianto di Baggio. E Codino regista è il faro del Milan|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|author1=Alberto Costa|date=1 August 1996|access-date=5 March 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407071858/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/agosto/01/Tabarez_tenta_trapianto_Baggio_Codino_co_0_9608016997.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Piano con Baggio"/> During the lead-up to the 1994 World Cup, he was also initially employed by Italy's manager [[Arrigo Sacchi]] as a [[centre-forward]], in a role known in Italian football jargon as ''centravanti di manovra'' (which literally translates to "manoeuvring centre-forward"), which was a precursor to the modern [[Forward (association football)#False 9|false-nine]] role; in this position, Baggio was expected to link-up with other players and create chances for them, in addition to creating space with his movement by dropping deep into midfield, and allowing the team's wingers to cut inside and make attacking runs into the centre.<ref name="R.Baggio9-10">{{harvnb|Baggio|2001|pp=9–10}}</ref>

A prolific goalscorer,<ref name=treccani.it>{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/roberto-baggio_%28Enciclopedia-dello-Sport%29/|title=Baggio, Roberto|publisher=Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002)|language=it|access-date=19 July 2015|archive-date=23 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723175635/http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/roberto-baggio_%28Enciclopedia-dello-Sport%29/|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio was an accurate finisher from both inside and outside the area, and was known for his accurate bending shots and composure in front of goal, rather than his power. Due to his excellent technique, he was a precise [[Volley (association football)|volleyer]], and he had a penchant for scoring from [[Chip (association football)|chip]] shots. Moreover, he was also a [[Set piece (football)|set piece]] specialist, who was highly regarded for his ball delivery from dead-ball situations, as well as his precision from direct [[Free kick (association football)|free-kick]]s and his ability to curl the ball, which earned him a reputation as one of the best free kick takers of his generation.{{#tag:ref|See <ref name="A History of the Gala"/><ref name="top 20"/><ref name=eroi/><ref name="Baggio to join Italy"/><ref name="Baggio's month of May"/><ref name="I SIGNORI BAGGIOS">{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/11/signori-baggios.html |title=I Signori Baggios |work=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Tommasi |first1=Alessandro |date=11 July 1994 |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807030514/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/11/signori-baggios.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilpost.it/2012/02/23/come-fare-gol-su-calcio-dangolo/6/|title=Come fare gol su calcio d'angolo|publisher=Il Post|language=it|date=23 February 2012|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=5 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605051500/http://www.ilpost.it/2012/02/23/come-fare-gol-su-calcio-dangolo/6/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2017/02/13/news/il_campione_diverso_rimasto_tra_noi_con_la_sua_assenza-158175485/|title=Baggio, il campione diverso rimasto tra noi con la sua assenza|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Emanuela Audisio|date=13 February 2017|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213234253/http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2017/02/13/news/il_campione_diverso_rimasto_tra_noi_con_la_sua_assenza-158175485/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Baggio compie 50 anni">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/17-02-2017/roberto-baggio-compie-50-anni-ha-unito-mondo-calcio-180870588689.shtml?login=ok|title=Roberto Baggio compie 50 anni: ha unito il mondo del calcio|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author=Luca Calamai|date=17 February 2017|access-date=18 February 2017|archive-date=19 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219101141/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/17-02-2017/roberto-baggio-compie-50-anni-ha-unito-mondo-calcio-180870588689.shtml?login=ok|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Baggio at 50">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2017/feb/17/roberto-baggio-50-free-kicks-milan-juventus-brescia-inter|title=Roberto Baggio at 50: celebrating his five greatest free-kicks|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=Emmet Gates|date=17 February 2017|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072518/https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2017/feb/17/roberto-baggio-50-free-kicks-milan-juventus-brescia-inter|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0236-0e9c796056f7-f3fd6b8afebb-1000--roberto-baggio-turns-50-five-of-his-best-uefa-goals/ |title=Roberto Baggio turns 50: five of his best UEFA goals |publisher=[[UEFA]] |author1=Paolo Menicucci |date=18 February 2017 |access-date=20 September 2018 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921034329/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2442335.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/fifa-18-icons-7-all-time-legends-we-really-want-see-included?page=0%2C1 |title=FIFA 18 Icons: 7 all-time legends we really want to see included |magazine=FourFourTwo |author1=Tom Bogert |date=4 August 2017 |access-date=20 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921034903/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/fifa-18-icons-7-all-time-legends-we-really-want-see-included?page=0%2C1 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/primi_piani/2003/pp_1.0.164416480.shtml |title=Brescia-Reggina da ottovolante |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=21 September 2003 |access-date=20 September 2018 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921034602/https://www.gazzetta.it/primi_piani/2003/pp_1.0.164416480.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,5/articleid,0909_02_1990_0177_0029_18577080/ |title=Carnevale e Vialli i due insufficienti |work=La Stampa Sera |page=5 |language=it |last1=Perucca |first1=Bruno |date=9 July 1990 |access-date=2 September 2019 |archive-date=2 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902172357/http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,5/articleid,0909_02_1990_0177_0029_18577080/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1998/dicembre/15/Mihajlovic_tripletta_fatta_casa_ga_0_9812155442.shtml |title=Mihajlovic, tripletta fatta in casa |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Maurizio |first1=Nicita |date=15 December 1998 |access-date=19 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113956/http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1998/dicembre/15/Mihajlovic_tripletta_fatta_casa_ga_0_9812155442.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultimouomo.com/fisica-del-gol-olimpico/ |title=Fisica del gol olímpico |publisher=Ultimo Uomo |last1=Bizzarri |first1=Cosimo |language=it |date=30 October 2015 |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=23 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223223758/http://www.ultimouomo.com/fisica-del-gol-olimpico/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.gelocal.it/lanuovasardegna/archivio/lanuovasardegna/2001/05/07/SWA02.html |title=La " Perla" Della Settimana Con Baggio salvarsi in corner è rischioso |work=La Nuova Sardegna |language=it |date=7 May 2001 |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113956/https://ricerca.gelocal.it/lanuovasardegna/archivio/lanuovasardegna/2001/05/07/SWA02.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/2018/02/04/gol-da-calcio-d-angolo-storia-gol-olimpico |title=Breve storia del "gol olimpico": l'antica arte di segnare dalla bandierina |publisher=sport.sky.it |language=it |date=4 February 2018 |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113955/https://sport.sky.it/calcio/2018/02/04/gol-da-calcio-d-angolo-storia-gol-olimpico |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-07-17-1994198115-story.html |title=World Cup ready to go fourth san |work=The Baltimore Sun |last1=Preston |first1=Mike |date=17 July 1994 |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113954/https://www.baltimoresun.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://tribuna.com/it/news/juventus-2020-06-06-alex-del-piero-svela-i-suoi-gol-alla-del-piero-sicuramente-ce-quello-a-dortmund-e-stato-s/ |title=Alex Del Piero svela i suoi "gol alla Del Piero": "Sicuramente c'è quello a Dortmund, è stato speciale" |publisher=Tribuna.com |language=Italian |last1=M. |first1=Mattia |date=6 June 2020 |access-date=21 May 2021 |archive-date=21 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521235408/https://tribuna.com/it/news/juventus-2020-06-06-alex-del-piero-svela-i-suoi-gol-alla-del-piero-sicuramente-ce-quello-a-dortmund-e-stato-s/ |url-status=live }}</ref>|name="style3"|group="nb"}} His free-kick technique influenced several other players who came to be renowned for their prowess from dead-ball situations,<ref name="Baggio at 50"/> such as [[Alessandro Del Piero]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1998/gennaio/19/Baggio_meglio_casa_che_panchina_ga_0_9801194973.shtml?refresh_ce-cp|title=Baggio, meglio a casa che in panchina: "sono schifato"|trans-title=Baggio, better at home than on the bench: "I'm disgusted"|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Alessandra Bocci|author2=Silvano Stella|date=19 January 1998|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-date=24 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224052524/http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1998/gennaio/19/Baggio_meglio_casa_che_panchina_ga_0_9801194973.shtml?refresh_ce-cp|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Andrea Pirlo]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2005/c/sezioni/sport/calcio/nazionale/pirlo/pirlo/pirlo.html|title=Pirlo l'uomo nuovo "Ho imparato guardando Baggio"|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|last=Currò|first=Enrico|date=29 March 2005|access-date=16 May 2012|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130134042/https://www.repubblica.it/2005/c/sezioni/sport/calcio/nazionale/pirlo/pirlo/pirlo.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During his time with Juventus, his free kick technique was described as a cross between that of [[Diego Maradona|Maradona]]'s, [[Zico (footballer)|Zico]]'s, and Platini's, as at the time, his ball-striking technique was thought to resemble Platini's, although, like Zico and Maradona, he preferred to take free kicks from close range, usually from a distance of around 20 to 16 metres from the goal, or even just outside the area, and to have the ball touched by a teammate first before striking it.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/ottobre/24/Del_Piero_Tira_alla_Platini_co_0_951024456.shtml|title=Del Piero? Tira alla Platini|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=24 October 1995|page=44|archive-url=https://archive.today/20151106152619/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/ottobre/24/Del_Piero_Tira_alla_Platini_co_0_951024456.shtml|archive-date=6 November 2015}}</ref> Despite his decisive miss in the 1994 World Cup final shootout, Baggio was also a [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty kick]] specialist.<ref name="The Score"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://francovaldevies.wordpress.com/tag/baggio-piu-rigori-segnati-e-calciati/|title=Record di Serie A: I rigoristi|language=it|access-date=29 August 2014|archive-date=5 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905020210/https://francovaldevies.wordpress.com/tag/baggio-piu-rigori-segnati-e-calciati/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Although naturally right-footed,<ref name="Baggio, il fu nove e mezzo"/> Baggio was comfortable using either foot,<ref name=irishtimes.com/><ref name="100 Greatest Footballers EVER"/> and often began [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] with his left foot.<ref name="Baggio, il fu nove e mezzo">{{cite web|url=http://www.eatsport.net/2012/roberto-baggio-il-nove-e-mezzo/ |title=Roberto Baggio, il fu nove e mezzo |language=it |access-date=16 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604152313/http://www.eatsport.net/2012/roberto-baggio-il-nove-e-mezzo/ |archive-date= 4 June 2013 }}</ref> Not particularly imposing physically, or in the air, due to his diminutive stature and slender physique,<ref name="FIFA 94"/><ref name=treccani.it/><ref name="Perfect 10">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/my-perfect-10-roberto-baggio|title=My Perfect 10: Roberto Baggio|magazine=FourFourTwo|date=30 August 2010|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-date=14 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214175807/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/my-perfect-10-roberto-baggio|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Other">{{cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/07/16/other-baggio-ready-to-step-into-heros-role-world-cup-1994/|title='Other' Baggio ready to step into hero's role WORLD CUP 1994|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|author1=Mike Preston|date=16 July 1994|access-date=14 February 2017|archive-date=22 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822125332/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-07-16/sports/1994197049_1_dino-baggio-roberto-baggio-world-cup|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/06/17/part-maradona-part-madonna-bag-gio-takes-the-stage/596302f7-4e45-466d-adae-a0ac80015a7b/ |title=Part Maradona, Part Madonna, Bag-gio Takes The Stage |newspaper=The Washington Post |last1=Gildea |first1=William |date=17 June 1994 |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728114004/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/06/17/part-maradona-part-madonna-bag-gio-takes-the-stage/596302f7-4e45-466d-adae-a0ac80015a7b/ |url-status=live }}</ref> he was known however for his pace and acceleration over short distances, which, along with his movement, positioning, anticipation, technical ability, quick feet, low centre of gravity, and resulting agility,<ref name="FIFA 94"/><ref name="ricerca.gelocal.it"/><ref name="Mito Baggio in 10 motivi">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/22-02-2010/mito-baggio-10-motivi-603085441092.shtml|title=Mito Baggio in 10 motivi|trans-title=Baggio A Legend in 10 reasons|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Germano Bovolenta|date=22 February 2010|access-date=22 March 2015|archive-date=11 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111061322/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/22-02-2010/mito-baggio-10-motivi-603085441092.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Guardiola's world"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxDbam1w3NU&t=131s | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728113956/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxDbam1w3NU&t=131s| archive-date=28 July 2020 | url-status=dead|title=Football's Greatest – Roberto Baggio |publisher=Youtube |date=27 March 2020 |access-date=31 March 2020 }}</ref> allowed him to lose his markers when making offensive runs into the area, both on and off the ball.<ref name="Falcone"/><ref name="ricerca.gelocal.it"/><ref name="Guardiola's world">{{cite web |url=http://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2018/09/13/5b9acb67ca474190068b463e.html |title=Guardiola's world: Cruyff, the best Real Madrid and how the Premier League sells itself |publisher=Marca.com |date=13 September 2018 |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929000253/http://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2018/09/13/5b9acb67ca474190068b463e.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="polvere-derby">{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/marzo/12/Hodgson_Baggio_stelle_polvere_derby_co_0_96031210093.shtml|title=Hodgson Baggio, stelle e polvere di derby|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=12 March 1996|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=8 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108031509/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/marzo/12/Hodgson_Baggio_stelle_polvere_derby_co_0_96031210093.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Italy's All-Time No 10s">{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/46195/italys-all-time-no-10s|title=Italy's All-Time No 10s|publisher=Football Italia|date=9 March 2014|access-date=19 July 2015|archive-date=22 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722022705/http://www.football-italia.net/46195/italys-all-time-no-10s|url-status=live}}</ref> Regarded as one of the greatest dribblers ever,<ref name="incredibile"/><ref name="Caro Balotelli">{{cite web|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/2015/09/18-4151694/veltroni_intervista_baggio_vi_racconto_il_mio_calcio/|title=Veltroni intervista Baggio: "Caro Balotelli, ascoltami"|trans-title=Veltroni Baggio interview: "Dear Balotelli, listen to me"|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|author1=Walter Veltroni|date=18 September 2015|access-date=31 October 2015|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925085648/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/2015/09/18-4151694/veltroni_intervista_baggio_vi_racconto_il_mio_calcio/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/oct/15/the-joy-of-six-great-dribbles|title=The Joy of Six: Great dribbles|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=Scott Murray|date=15 October 2010|access-date=14 February 2017|archive-date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924010036/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/oct/15/the-joy-of-six-great-dribbles|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1037524-50-greatest-dribblers-in-world-football-history|title=50 Greatest Dribblers in World Football History|website=Bleacher Report|author1=Allan Jiang|date=25 January 2012|access-date=22 December 2017|archive-date=23 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102830/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1037524-50-greatest-dribblers-in-world-football-history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1506625-50-greatest-dribblers-in-world-football-history |title=50 Greatest Dribblers in World Football History |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Tighe |first1=Sam |date=30 January 2013 |access-date=8 November 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/11/08/7-greatest-dribblers-of-all-time/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730004140/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/11/08/7-greatest-dribblers-of-all-time/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2020 |title=7 Greatest Dribblers of All Time |publisher=www.hitc.com |last1=Harmer |first1=Alfie Potts |date=8 November 2018 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref> and as one of the most technically accomplished players of all time,{{#tag:ref|See <ref name="incredibile">{{cite book|last1=Altafini|first1=José|last2=Pardo|first2=Pierluigi|title=Incredibile amici! Il mio manuale del calcio|date=2009|publisher=Rizzoli Libri|location=Milan|isbn=978-88-58-60527-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9GfZROD1giwC&q=incredibile+amici+jose+altafini&pg=PT5|access-date=14 February 2017|language=it}}</ref><ref name="Golazos galore"/><ref name="first touches">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/nov/11/joy-of-six-first-touches-bergkamp|title=The Joy of Six: football first touches|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=Rob Smyth|date=11 November 2011|access-date=22 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/sport/17_gennaio_11/da-buffon-riva-gioco-infinito-squadra-ideale-80a67d42-d83a-11e6-9dfa-46bea8378d9f.shtml|title=Da Buffon a Riva, il gioco infinito della squadra ideale|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|author1=Mario Sconcerti|date=11 January 2017|access-date=13 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="enemiga">{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/futbol-internacional/2017/02/18/58a76624ca4741622c8b45e5.html|title=Roberto Baggio: la coleta rebelde enemiga del 'catenaccio' que falló el penalti de su vida|newspaper=Marca|language=it|author1=Alberto Ortega|author2=Joseba Arroyo|date=18 February 2017|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="Baggio va ricordato">{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/fiorentina/2017/02/18/news/fiorentina_sousa-158621178/|title=Fiorentina, Sousa: "Saponara può giocare col Milan. E Baggio va ricordato sempre"|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author=Matteo Dovellini|date=18 February 2017|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref>|name="style4"|group="nb"}} Baggio possessed an excellent first touch,<ref name="flowering"/><ref name="100 Greatest Footballers EVER">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-100-greatest-footballers-ever-60-51?page=0%2C1|title=FourFourTwo's 100 Greatest Footballers Ever: 60 to 51|magazine=FourFourTwo|author1=Alex Hess|date=25 July 2017|access-date=18 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407150318/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-100-greatest-footballers-ever-60-51%3Fpage%3D0,1|archive-date=7 April 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="first touches"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://gianlucadimarzio.com/it/baggio-5x10-ricordo-i-quarti-di-francia-98-pochi-centimetri-e-roby-cambiava-la-storia-di-quel-mondiale-angelo-di-livio-racconta |title=Baggio 5x10: "Ricordo i quarti di Francia '98: pochi centimetri e Roby cambiava la storia di quel mondiale" Angelo Di Livio racconta Baggio |publisher=Gianluca Di Marzio |language=it |last1=Caruso |first1=Francesco |date=18 February 2017 |access-date=18 September 2021 }}</ref> and was renowned for his skilful dribbling, ball control and balance, as well as his spatial awareness, speed of thought and execution, reactions, close control at speed, and ability to beat opponents with flair, tricks, body [[Dummy (football)|feints]], or sudden changes of pace or direction, both in one-on-one situations, or during individual dribbling runs.{{#tag:ref|See <ref name="A History of the Gala"/><ref name="Roberto Baggio detto Roby">{{cite web |url=https://www.ultimouomo.com/roberto-baggio-detto-roby/ |title=Roberto Baggio detto Roby |publisher=Ultimo Uomo |language=it |last1=Piri |first1=Stefano |date=14 November 2016 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="The Score"/><ref name=irishtimes.com/><ref name="ricerca.gelocal.it">{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.gelocal.it/iltirreno/archivio/iltirreno/1997/07/15/LA303.html|title=Professione fantasista in un calcio sempre più muscolare Scatto, dribbling, fiuto del gol Ecco le armi del Divin Codino|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author=Renzo Marmugi|date=15 July 1997|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-date=7 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107141239/http://ricerca.gelocal.it/iltirreno/archivio/iltirreno/1997/07/15/LA303.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Italy's All-Time No 10s"/><ref name="Il calciatore italiano numero uno? Roberto Baggio"/><ref name="gentlemanultra-TomGD">{{cite web |url=https://gentlemanultra.com/2016/07/20/the-transfer-that-sparked-a-riot-baggio-to-juventus-1990/ |title=The transfer that sparked a riot: Baggio to Juventus (1990) |publisher=gentlemanultra.com |author1=Tom Guerriero-Davies |date=20 July 2016 |access-date=7 August 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballitaliano.co.uk/p6_66_92_lessons-in-calcio-roberto-baggio.html#.XYUzxyV7mL8 |title=Lessons in Calcio - Roberto Baggio |publisher=www.footballitaliano.co.uk |last1=Jackson |first1=Steve |date=13 January 2009 |access-date=20 September 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806202357/http://www.footballitaliano.co.uk/p6_66_92_lessons-in-calcio-roberto-baggio.html#.XYUzxyV7mL8 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/core/world-cup/story/_/page/worldcup101-05142010/ce/us/ruud-gull-all-time-no-10s |title=Perfect 10s |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Gullit |first1=Ruud |newspaper=Espn.com |date=14 May 2010 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2006/aprile/11/Zola_futuro_coi_giovani_cuore_ga_10_0604117520.shtml |title=Zola, futuro coi giovani e cuore rossoblù "Sono certo che il mio Cagliari ce la farà" |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Timossi |first1=Giampiero |last2=Gozzini |first2=Alessandra |date=11 April 2006 |access-date=16 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bresciaoggi.it/argomenti/sport/baggio-fantastico-una-fortuna-giocare-con-lui-1.6146449?refresh_ce |title="Baggio fantastico: una fortuna giocare con lui" |work=Brescia Oggi |language=Italian |date=5 December 2017 |access-date=22 May 2021 }}</ref>|name="style5"|group="nb"}} Zico once described Baggio as "technically flawless,"<ref name="distrusted"/> while [[Gianluigi Buffon]], in his 2008 autobiography ''Numero 1'', described Baggio as the "most technical player" with whom he had ever shared a pitch, adding that his touch and ball control were "unique".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Buffon |first1=Gianluigi |last2=Perrone |first2=Roberto |title=Numero 1 |date=2008 |publisher=Rizzoli |isbn=9788817024389 |page=170 |url=https://www.rizzolilibri.it/libri/numero-1/?isbn=9788817041522 |language=it |access-date=23 September 2023 }}</ref> In 2004, Sacchi stated: "Baggio is creativity, flair, unpredictability, intuition, harmony."<ref name="più grandi del loro talento"/> In 2016, Rob Smyth of ''[[The Guardian]]'' praised Baggio for his "instinctive intelligence", when commenting on his playing style, also describing him as a "conductor" on the pitch "who knew when and how to change the tempo of an attack".<ref name="Golden Goal: Roberto Baggio for Juventus against Internazionale (1992)">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jul/22/golden-goal-roberto-baggio-for-juventus-against-internazionale-1992 |title=Golden Goal: Roberto Baggio for Juventus against Internazionale (1992) |work=The Guardian |last1=Smyth |first1=Rob |date=22 July 2016 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref>

=== Reception ===
Considered by pundits to be a highly promising prospect in his youth,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,20/articleid,0983_01_1987_0232_0044_23698976/ |title=Battistini non perde l'azzurro |newspaper=La Stampa |page=20 |language=it |author1=Alessandro Rialti |date=3 October 1987 |access-date=28 May 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/18/sports/IHT-the-orbiting-of-roberto-baggio.html |title=The Orbiting of Roberto Baggio |work=The New York Times |last1=Hughes |first1=Rob |date=18 December 1991 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> Baggio later established himself as one of the best players of his generation,<ref name="delizia"/><ref name="Golazos galore">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2017/sep/20/golazos-25-best-goals-serie-a-seasons-football-italia|title=Golazos galore: the 25 best goals from the golden era of Serie A|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=Emmett Gates|date=20 September 2017|access-date=27 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="hardtackle">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/matthew-le-tissier-interview/|title=Matthew Le Tissier Interview: "Roberto Baggio was the Best Player I Ever Played Against"|publisher=The Hard Tackle.com|last=Majumdar|first=Amlan|date=21 June 2012|access-date=29 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ivan-zamorano-perfect-xi|title=Four Four Two - Ivan Zamorano: Perfect XI|magazine=FourFourTwo|access-date=9 October 2014}}</ref> and as one of Italy's greatest players ever;<ref name="Baggio to join Italy">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/baggio-to-join-italy-federation-staff-68721561-080310|title=Baggio to join Italy federation staff|work=Fox Sports|date=3 August 2010|access-date=12 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="turning point"/> Baggio is regarded by many in the sport, including his former Milan manager Fabio Capello, as the best Italian footballer of all time,{{#tag:ref|See <ref name="au.fourfourtwo.com"/><ref name="il più grande del calcio"/><ref name="acmilan.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.acmilan.com/en/roberto-baggio|title=AC Milan Hall of Fame: Roberto Baggio|publisher=AC Milan.com|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Il calciatore italiano numero uno? Roberto Baggio">{{cite web |url=http://www.pianetamilan.it/ultimissime/capello-il-calciatore-italiano-numero-uno-roberto-baggio/ |title=Capello: "Il calciatore italiano numero uno? Roberto Baggio" |publisher=www.pianetamilan.it |language=it |author1=Donato Bulfon |date=11 October 2018 |access-date=14 October 2018 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015002841/http://www.pianetamilan.it/ultimissime/capello-il-calciatore-italiano-numero-uno-roberto-baggio/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/esteri/2014/03/02/news/fifa_pel_miglior_dieci_della_storia-80027931/?refresh_ce|title=Fifa, Pelè il miglior dieci di sempre. Maradona secondo, Baggio nella top ten|trans-title=FIFA, Pelé the greatest number ten of all time. Maradona second, Baggio in the top ten|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=2 March 2014|access-date=9 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/13-10-2018/cassano-addio-calcio-il-ritorno-entella-stavolta-finita-davvero-300634841080.shtml |title=Cassano, addio al calcio dopo il ritorno all'Entella: "Stavolta è finita davvero" |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=13 October 2018 |access-date=14 October 2018 }}</ref><ref name="Buffon reveals greatest Italians">{{cite web|url=http://www.fantasista10.co.uk/buffon-reveals-greatest-italians/|title=Buffon reveals 'greatest Italians'|website=fantasista10.co.uk|access-date=29 September 2014|archive-date=16 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716065417/http://www.fantasista10.co.uk/buffon-reveals-greatest-italians/|url-status=dead}}</ref>|name="greatest-Italian"|group="nb"}} and by many in the sport, as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.<ref name="I wanted to die"/><ref name="Baggio: The Divine Ponytail"/> Italian journalist [[Gianni Brera]], who had observed both Giuseppe Meazza and [[Gianni Rivera]], stated that Baggio was the best Italian player he had ever seen.<ref name="au.fourfourtwo.com"/> During his time at Juventus, the club's former chairman, Gianni Agnelli, referred to Baggio as an "artist",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/05/20/baggio-dai-esempio.html |title='Baggio, dai l'esempio' |work=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Gamba |first1=Emanuele |date=20 May 1995 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> comparing his elegance to the painter ''[[Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino|Raffaello]]'', while he described the emerging talent Alessandro Del Piero as ''[[Pinturicchio]]''.<ref name="huffingtonpost"/><ref name="16 May 2012">{{cite news|url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/fc?cmd=anteprima&codid=22.0.750520433&artType=Articolo&DocType=Libero&chId=30|title=Gianni Agnelli e "roi Michel", una passione infinita|newspaper=Il Sole 24 Ore|language=it|author=Giulia Crivelli|access-date=16 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731014804/http://www.ilsole24ore.com/fc?cmd=anteprima&codid=22.0.750520433&artType=Articolo&DocType=Libero&chId=30|archive-date=31 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In a 2011 interview with ''La Gazzetta dello Sport'', Del Piero stated that Baggio, along with [[Zinedine Zidane]], was the best player with whom he had ever played,<ref name="delizia"/> a view shared by Baggio's fellow former Juventus teammate [[Angelo Peruzzi]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/15-02-2010/peruzzi-rilancia-nesta-603008031237.shtml |title=Peruzzi rilancia Nesta "Sei grande, torna azzurro" |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=Italian |last1=Nicita |first1=Maurizio |date=16 February 2010 |access-date=10 October 2021 }}</ref> and his former Brescia teammate [[Pep Guardiola]] in 2010,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/festival-sport-trento/01-10-2019/festival-sport-ci-sara-anche-inarrivabile-artista-calcio-roberto-baggio-3402953618671.shtml |title=Festival dello Sport, a Trento ci sarà anche Roberto Baggio! |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Schianchi |first1=Andrea |date=2 October 2019 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> as well as his former Inter teammate [[Javier Zanetti]] in 2020,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2020/04/18/cambiasso-javier-zanetti-instagram |title=Cambiasso a Zanetti in diretta Instagram: "Perché sull'aereo dormi sempre?". Video |publisher=sport.sky.it |language=it |date=18 April 2020 |access-date=18 April 2020 }}</ref> while [[Matthew Le Tissier]] named Baggio as his best ever opponent in 2012.<ref name="hardtackle"/> In 2017, Baggio's former teammate Ravanelli instead labelled Baggio as the greatest player of all time.<ref name="Ravanelli elogia Baggio"/> In 1993, Giampiero Boniperti stated that he believed that Baggio was "already one of the greatest number tens ever."<ref name="Piano con Baggio">{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1993/05/11/piano-con-baggio.html |title=Piano con Baggio |work=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Crosetti |first1=Maurizio |date=11 May 1993 |access-date=16 May 2020 }}</ref> In 2018, Cathal Kelly of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' described Baggio playing in the 1994 World Cup as "the best player in the world" at the time,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-england-kicks-its-nasty-habit-of-losing-on-penalties/ |title=England kicks its nasty habit of losing on penalties |work=The Globe and Mail |last1=Kelly |first1=Cathal |date=3 July 2018 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> while ''The Guardian'' described him as "[t]he definitive player of the decade", also adding that "the 1990s belonged to Il Divin Codino", and labelled him as "probably the finest player in the world between 1992 and 1995."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2018/aug/31/serie-a-team-of-the-1990s |title=The Serie A team of the 1990s |work=The Guardian |date=31 August 2018 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> In 2015, Les Carpenter of ''The Guardian'' described Baggio as "perhaps the greatest player of his time,"<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/10/usa-world-cup-italia-90-oral-history |title=An oral history of USA at Italia '90: the World Cup that changed US soccer |work=The Guardian |last1=Carpenter |first1=Les |date=10 June 2015 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> while his colleague Emmet Gates dubbed him "the best player of his generation."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/these-football-times/2015/jan/21/remembering-dino-roberto-baggio-italy-juventus-torino |title=Remembering Dino, the other Baggio |work=The Guardian |last1=Gates |first1=Emmet |date=21 January 2015 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> In 2010, Marco Gori of ''TuttoMercatoWeb'' labelled Baggio as "one of the best footballers in history."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/altre-notizie/baggio-day-vicini-faceva-sembrare-facili-le-cose-piu-difficili-194556 |title=Baggio Day – Vicini: "Faceva sembrare facili le cose più difficili" |publisher=www.tuttomercatoweb.com |language=it |last1=Gori |first1=Marco |date=18 February 2010 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> Throughout his career, pundit Gianni Brera compared his playing style to that of Italian former footballer Giuseppe Meazza,<ref name="Illuminati"/><ref name="COLPO DI GENIO">{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1992/04/28/un-colpo-di-genio-siro.html |title=Un Colpo di Genio a S. Siro |work=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Brera |first1=Gianni |date=28 April 1992 |access-date=18 September 2021 }}</ref> while manager Trapattoni instead compared Baggio's technical characteristics to other former number 10s such as Zico, Platini, and [[Juan Alberto Schiaffino]].<ref name="Baggio, il nome della Juve"/>

In 2017, Baggio received praise from numerous sporting figures and pundits ahead of his 50th birthday, with Stefano Edel of ''La [[Gazzetta di Mantova]]'' describing Baggio as "the Italian Maradona", and echoing Sacchi's words prior to the 1994 World Cup, when he compared Baggio's importance to Italy with that of Maradona to Argentina.<ref name="Le 50 sfumature di Baggio">{{cite news |url=https://gazzettadimantova.gelocal.it/sport/2017/02/17/news/le-50-sfumature-di-baggio-quel-genio-figlio-dell-italia-1.14896792?ref=search |title=Le 50 sfumature di Baggio Quel genio figlio dell'Italia |work=La Gazzetta di Mantova |language=it |last1=Edel |first1=Stefano |date=18 February 2017 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> Zico described him as "one of the best players in the history of Italian football",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2017/02/17/udinese-ritorno-zico-qui-ho-sognato-scudetto |title=Udinese, il ritorno di Zico: "Sognavo lo scudetto" |publisher=sport.sky.it |language=it |date=17 February 2017 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> while Tommaso Pellizzari of ''[[Il Corriere della Sera]]'' called him "the greatest pure talent of Italian football."<ref name="Pellizzari-2017" /> James McHie of ''Calciomercato.com'' instead named him as Italy's greatest player, calling him "the greatest player [...] to pull on the Azzurri shirt",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/baggio-at-50-a-tribute-69285 |title=Baggio at 50 - A tribute |publisher=Calciomercato.com |last1=McGhie |first1=James |date=22 February 2017 |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806163910/https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/baggio-at-50-a-tribute-69285 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a view shared by Stefano Discreti of ''[[Mediaset]]'', who called Baggio "the best Italian footballer of all time" in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/cuore-tifoso-juventus/cuore-tifoso-juve-cancellare-quelle-stelle-vuol-dire-cancellare-la-storia_9772451-201902a.shtml |title=Cuore Tifoso Juve: cancellare quelle stelle vuol dire cancellare la storia |publisher=www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it |language=it |last1=Discreti |first1=Stefano |date=14 October 2019 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> Also in 2017, [[Giuseppe Bergomi]] described Baggio as "extraordinary" and as a "pure talent", who was "devastating when he played because he was capable of deciding games on his own."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bresciaoggi.it/home/sport/brescia-calcio/mi-piace-chi-punta-sui-giovanie-brocchi-sta-lavorando-bene-1.5418250 |title=Mi piace chi punta sui giovani E Brocchi sta lavorando bene |work=Brescia Oggi |language=it |date=14 January 2017 |access-date=19 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728114002/https://www.bresciaoggi.it/home/sport/brescia-calcio/mi-piace-chi-punta-sui-giovanie-brocchi-sta-lavorando-bene-1.5418250 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2004, Gianni Rivera described him as "one of the greatest Italian footballers ever."<ref name="L'addio del grande incompreso" /> In 2019, Marco Gentile of ''[[Il Giornale]]'' described Baggio as "one of the best Italian [...] players in the history of football", and also as "one of the best players in the history of world football."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/sport/roberto-baggio-amaro-ripenso-sempre-rigore-sbagliato-usa-94-1767894.html |title=Roberto Baggio amaro: "Ripenso sempre al rigore sbagliato a Usa 94" |work=Il Giornale |language=it |last1=Gentile |first1=Marco |date=13 October 2019 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> In 2020, Luca Stamerra of ''[[Eurosport]]'' described him as one of the "best number 10s in the history of this sport."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://it.eurosport.com/calcio/serie-a/2019-2020/pasadena-e-solo-un-brutto-sogno.-roberto-baggio-colui-che-ci-ha-fatto-innamorare-del-calcio_sto7668319/story.shtml |title=Pasadena è solo un brutto sogno. Roberto Baggio, colui che ci ha fatto innamorare del calcio |publisher=Eurosport |language=it |last1=Stamerra |first1=Luca |date=13 April 2020 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> In 2019, his former Italy manager Dino Zoff listed Baggio as one of the best players he ever coached,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/sport/calcio/gascoigne_ex_lazio_torna_in_campo_ovazione_del_pubblico_video-4400975.html |title=Gascoigne torna in campo, l'ovazione dei 50 mila del nuovo Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium |work=Il Messaggero |language=it |date=1 April 2019 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> while his former Fiorentina manager Sven-Göran Eriksson named him as the most talented player he had ever coached alongside [[Wayne Rooney]] in 2021, commenting: "He had everything: incredible technique, vision, pace."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gentlemanultra.com/2021/02/16/tgu-interview-sven-goran-eriksson/ |title=TGU Interview: Sven-Goran Eriksson |publisher=The Gentleman Ultra |last1=Gates |first1=Emmet |date=16 February 2021 |access-date=12 May 2021 }}</ref> In 2019, author Paolo Condò ranked Baggio among the greatest players of all time,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esquire.com/it/cultura/libri/a29316066/50-calciatori-storia/ |title=I 50 che hanno fatto la storia del calcio |publisher=Esquire |language=it |last1=Conca |first1=Liborio |date=13 October 2019 |access-date=18 April 2020 }}</ref> a view shared by [[Emmanuel Amunike]] in 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/tmw-amunike-ricordero-sempre-il-gol-all-italia-a-usa-94-baggio-tra-i-piu-forti-mai-affrontati-1410488 |title=TMW - Amunike: "Ricorderò sempre il gol all'Italia a USA '94. Baggio tra i più forti mai affrontati" |publisher=www.tuttomercatoweb.com |language=it |last1=Iacobellis |first1=Giacomo |date=22 July 2020 |access-date=22 July 2020 }}</ref> as well as [[Roberto Mancini]] and John Keilman of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', who both described Baggio as one of the "all-time greats" in 2018 and 2019, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-world-cup-penalty-kicks-soccer-20190627-p3fs4ulinbezhehocy7puhbjny-story.html |title=From high school to the World Cup, penalty kicks can unnerve the steeliest soccer player |work=The Chicago Tribune |last1=Keilman |first1=John |date=27 June 2019 |access-date=18 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/club/italy/162/blog/post/3625380/italys-got-talent-roberto-mancini-needs-to-trust-in-youth-to-progress |title=Italy's got talent: Roberto Mancini needs to trust in youth to progress |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Horncastle |first1=James |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=18 April 2020 }}</ref> Former [[RAI]] commentator [[Bruno Pizzul]], who served as a pundit for the Italy national team's World Cup matches between 1986 and 2002, named Baggio as his favourite player,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://iltirreno.gelocal.it/italia-mondo/2017/08/17/news/mi-manca-un-campione-come-baggio-1.15742682 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818015949/http://iltirreno.gelocal.it/italia-mondo/2017/08/17/news/mi-manca-un-campione-come-baggio-1.15742682 |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 August 2017 |title=Bruno Pizzul: "Le telecronache? Mi manca un campione come Baggio" |work=Il Tirreno |language=it |last1=Simeoli |first1=Antonio |date=17 August 2017 |access-date=20 April 2020 }}</ref> and as one of the best footballers he ever saw, among both Italian and non-Italian players.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/2015/09/23-4272093/pizzul_la_mia_top_11_di_sempre_della_nazionale/ |title=Pizzul: "La mia top 11 di sempre della Nazionale" |work=Il Corriere dello Sport |language=it |last1=Maggi |first1=Tommaso |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=20 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/05-03-2018/pizzul-80-anni-torino-baggio-italia-rai-250720048671.shtml |title=Pizzul: "Tifo Torino e amavo Baggio. Ma avrei voluto raccontare l'Italia vincere" |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Cecere |first1=Nicola |date=6 March 2018 |access-date=20 April 2020 }}</ref> In 2020, Matteo Marani of ''[[La Stampa]]'' dubbed Baggio as "one of the purest expressions of talent that world football has produced".<ref name="Il caso Baggio">{{cite news |url=https://www.lastampa.it/sport/calcio/2020/02/20/news/il-caso-baggio-cosi-il-talento-piu-puro-del-calcio-italiano-infiammo-l-estate-del-1990-1.38492400 |title="Il caso Baggio", così il talento più puro del calcio italiano infiammò l'estate del 1990 |work=La Stampa |language=it |last1=Marani |first1=Matteo |date=20 February 2020 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref>

Known for his dislike of the defensive, physical and tactical nature of Italian football in the 1990s, Baggio drew criticism from certain pundits and some of his managers for his limited defensive work-rate when possession was lost,<ref name="corriere2" /><ref name="The Trequartista" /><ref name="Baggio, disoccupato speciale che sogna la Nazionale" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/cracks-begin-to-show-in-milan-1.86942 |title=Cracks begin to show in Milan |newspaper=The Irish Times |last1=Agnew |first1=Paddy |date=17 September 1996 |access-date=20 April 2020 }}</ref> as well as the fact that the athletic part of his game was not his main focus during training sessions in his youth,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sconcerti |first1=Mario |title=Storia delle idee del calcio |date=2009 |publisher=Baldini & Castoldi |location=Milan |language=it |isbn=978-88-6865-114-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b5aKBgAAQBAJ&q=roberto+baggio+allenamenti+senza+sudare&pg=PT219 |access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref> while in his later career, his physical ailments often forced him to train independently with a personal fitness coach and physiotherapist, rather than with his team; as such, Baggio's Milan manager Capello believed that he was not capable of playing for 90 minutes, due to the precarious physical condition of his knees.<ref name="campione vero o mito sopravvalutato" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/28-04-2017/gol-dario-hubner-tatanka-pirlo-baggio-sigarette-dilettanti-1901026970896.shtml |title=Dario Hubner, 50 anni da bomber: Pirlo, Baggio, sigarette e campi di provincia |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Panizza |first1=Raffaele |date=28 April 2017 |access-date=16 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Filippini a Cosmi">{{cite news |url=https://www.bresciaoggi.it/home/sport/filippini-a-cosmi-su-sodinha-sbagli-serve-costanza-1.4560795 |title=Filippini a Cosmi "Su Sodinha sbagli Serve costanza" |work=Brescia Oggi |language=it |last1=Laffranchi |first1=Gian Paolo |date=10 January 2016 |access-date=19 April 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806221748/https://www.bresciaoggi.it/home/sport/filippini-a-cosmi-su-sodinha-sbagli-serve-costanza-1.4560795 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="veva una voglia matta con quelle ginocchia">{{cite web |url=https://www.calciomercato.com/news/capello-baggio-e-rivera-i-veri-fuoriclasse-assoluti-aveva-una-vo-62717 |title=Capello: 'Baggio e Rivera i veri fuoriclasse assoluti. Aveva una voglia matta con quelle ginocchia' |publisher=www.calciomercato.com |language=it |last1=Masini |first1=Claudio |date=18 February 2017 |access-date=16 May 2020 }}</ref> Luigi Simoni, one of his Inter managers, lauded Baggio for his work-rate in training, stating in 2009 that he would do up to six or seven hours of gym work a day under his tenure,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.firenzeviola.it/curiosita/rbaggio-gli-auguri-del-mondo-del-calcio-39145 |title=R. Baggio, Gli auguri del mondo del calcio |publisher=Firenze Viola |language=it |date=18 February 2009 |access-date=20 April 2020 }}</ref> a view which was also shared by Baggio's former Bologna teammate [[Daniele Carnasciali]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/altre-notizie/carnasciali-racconta-la-sua-carriera-batistuta-un-campione-baggio-il-piu-grande-469468 |title=Carnasciali racconta la sua carriera: "Batistuta un campione. Baggio? Il più grande" |publisher=TuttoMercatoWeb |language=it |last1=Biondini |first1=Chiara |date=27 July 2013 |access-date=16 May 2020 }}</ref> Carlo Mazzone and Gianni De Biasi, his managers at Brescia, as well as his former teammates [[Luca Toni]] and [[Emanuele Filippini]], also praised Baggio for his discipline, professionalism, and dedication in training during his time with the club, with De Biasi calling him "an example."<ref name="Filippini a Cosmi" /><ref name="magico">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/04-03-2010/mazzone-baggio-rotto-603192531716.shtml|title=Mazzone: "Baggio rotto? Macché, era magico"|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Stefano Boldrini|date=4 March 2010|access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tuttobrescia.it/l-angolo-degli-ex/toni-con-baggio-e-guardiola-ho-imparato-l-umilta-7254 |title=TONI: "Con Baggio e Guardiola ho imparato l'umiltà". |publisher=Tutto Brescia |language=it |date=26 May 2017 |access-date=16 April 2020 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225131955/https://www.tuttobrescia.it/l-angolo-degli-ex/toni-con-baggio-e-guardiola-ho-imparato-l-umilta-7254 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2004/maggio/16/Ultimo_giorno_con_amico_ga_10_0405168867.shtml |title=Ultimo giorno con un amico |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Luigi |first1=Garlando |date=16 May 2004 |access-date=20 April 2020 }}</ref> Known to be an introvert in the media, due to his quiet private life and reluctance to give interviews, some in the sport,&nbsp;including Gianni Rivera, argued that Baggio lacked leadership qualities on the pitch. His personality is thought to have limited him from being more successful, in particular with larger clubs, with some pundits instead arguing that he excelled more with smaller teams; others instead believed that he had a difficult character due to his disagreements with several of his managers throughout his career,{{#tag:ref|See <ref name="Roberto Baggio detto Roby"/><ref name="campione vero o mito sopravvalutato"/><ref name=eroi/><ref name="Has so much ever hung on a hamstring?"/><ref name="L'addio del grande incompreso">{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2003/l/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/baggiovia/baggiovia/baggiovia.html|title=Baggio a sorpresa: "Smetto" L'addio del grande incompreso|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Benedetto Ferrara|date=31 December 2003|access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Piano con Baggio"/><ref name="Caro Balotelli"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Sport/2003/12_Dicembre/29/baggio.shtml |title=Roberto Baggio lascerà il calcio nel 2004 |work=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it 
|date=29 December 2003 |access-date=16 May 2020 }}</ref>|name="negative-reception"|group="nb"}} although he was generally regarded as a "correct" and co-operative player by officials,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vivoazzurro.it/news/rizzoli-mi-piace-il-dialogo-ma-solo-con-chi-lo-accetta-baggio-maldini-e-zanetti-piu-collaborativi/|title=Rizzoli: Mi piace il dialogo, ma solo con chi lo accetta. Baggio, Maldini e Zanetti i più collaborativ|publisher=Vivo Azzurro.it|language=it|author1=Guglielmo Buccheri|date=28 August 2014|access-date=27 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ilposticipo.it/calcio/baggio-e-gli-altri-giocatori-e-allenatori-sotto-le-due-torrri-si-vive-da-signori/ |title=Baggio e gli altri: giocatori e allenatori. A Bologna si vive da… Signori |publisher=Il Posticipo |language=it |date=24 April 2020 |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728114019/https://www.ilposticipo.it/calcio/baggio-e-gli-altri-giocatori-e-allenatori-sotto-le-due-torrri-si-vive-da-signori/?refresh_ce-cp |url-status=dead }}</ref> and as a classy and well-behaved footballer in the media.<ref name="quaranta">{{cite news |url=https://www.repubblica.it/2007/02/sezioni/persone/baggio-quaranta/baggio-quaranta/baggio-quaranta.html |title=I quarant'anni di Roberto Baggio un campione che manca al calcio |work=La Repubblica |language=it |date=16 February 2007 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref> Mazzone also said of him: "Baggio was one of the greatest Italian football players of all time. But I can tell you this, he was an even greater man. He was quiet, polite, respectful, humble. He never let his great talent weigh on anyone else. He was a friend who helped me win games on a Sunday."<ref name="turning point">{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/151697/divine-turning-point |title=A divine turning point |publisher=Football Italia |last1=Mork |first1=Martin |date=1 April 2001 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref> In 1995, Fabio Capello described Baggio as a player who was "decisive."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/06/01/mi-avete-venduto-all-inter.html |title=' Mi Avete Venduto All' Inter' |work=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Crosetti |first1=Maurizio |date=1 June 1995 |access-date=19 April 2020 }}</ref> His former teammate Andrea Pirlo instead commented that "[Baggio] was a silent leader, and above all, he was a leader on the pitch. When he played for the team, he made you win the games",<ref name="turning point" /> also later describing him as a player who "carried his teammates."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bresciaoggi.it/home/altri/interviste/baggio-mazzone-e-brescia-decisivi-per-la-mia-carriera-1.6486387 |title=Baggio, Mazzone e Brescia decisivi per la mia carriera |work=Brescia Oggi |language=it |date=5 May 2018 |access-date=19 April 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806221813/https://www.bresciaoggi.it/home/altri/interviste/baggio-mazzone-e-brescia-decisivi-per-la-mia-carriera-1.6486387 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Despite his talent, success, popularity with the fans, and reputation as one of the greatest players of all time, critical reception of Baggio was occasionally divided throughout his career; this was in part due to his recurring injury struggles, as well as the fact that tactically certain managers struggled to find a suitable playing position for him. His role as a playmaker between the midfield and forward lines, as well as his skilful and creative playing style, were often regarded as being obsolete in modern football, in which managers often favoured the use of the 4–4–2 formation and a more athletic approach to the game; moreover, while Baggio was not an outright forward, he was also thought to lack the stamina to play in [[Midfielder|midfield]], which made him less suited to this particular system, and occasionally led him to be excluded by his managers, although he was ultimately able to adapt to playing as a forward effectively. Baggio's unique playing position, style, and approach to the game, combined with his talent, limited work-rate, and injury struggles, led him to have both many admirers and several detractors.{{#tag:ref|See <ref name="I wanted to die"/><ref name="Baggio: The Divine Ponytail"/><ref name="Roberto Baggio detto Roby"/><ref name="distrusted"/><ref name=irishtimes.com/><ref name="Piano con Baggio"/><ref name="Pellizzari-2017">{{cite news |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/17_luglio_24/baggio-quel-rigore-fa-sempre-bf49ce72-6fd0-11e7-af64-bee1b3eecfa7.shtml |title=Roberto Baggio: 'Ripenso ancora al rigore di Pasadena. E fa ancora male come il primo giorno...' |work=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |last1=Pellizzari |first1=Tommaso |date=23 July 2017 |access-date=16 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Baggio, disoccupato speciale che sogna la Nazionale">{{cite news |url=https://www.repubblica.it/online/sport/zida/baggio/baggio.html |title=Baggio, disoccupato speciale che sogna la Nazionale |work=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Vincenzi |first1=Massimo |date=6 August 2000 |access-date=16 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="quaranta"/><ref name="the top 20">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2374617/The-Top-20.html |title=The Top 20 |work=The Telegraph |date=10 March 2004 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="leggendaria carriera"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it//1999/aprile/23/Baggio_fantasia_optional_ga_0_990423800.shtml |title=Baggio, la fantasia e' un optional |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Nicola |first1=Cecere |date=23 April 1999 |access-date=16 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="favola">{{cite web |url=https://www.calciomercato.com/news/la-favola-di-baggio-ai-tempi-del-brescia-79153 |title=La favola di Baggio ai tempi di Brescia: una storia di mercato leggendaria |publisher=Calciomercato |language=it |last1=Metelli |first1=Marco |date=20 June 2018 |access-date=16 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="world at his feet"/>|name="style6"|group="nb"}} Maradona once described Baggio as "a genius" but also as "a great player who was never able to fulfil his entire potential", something with which Michel Platini concurred, while Pelé instead called him a "legend."<ref name="San Zico">{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1997/settembre/14/Baggio_Ronaldo_devoti_San_Zico_ga_0_9709144629.shtml |title=Baggio e Ronaldo devoti a San Zico |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Germano |first1=Bovolenta |date=14 September 1997 |access-date=16 May 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Baggio compie 50 anni" /><ref name="uomo libero" /> A 1994 article on Baggio by ''[[The Independent]]'' stated: "Among professionals, [Baggio] is regarded as the best", quoting [[Ryan Giggs]], who said: "You look to Roberto Baggio, and you realise what a good player looks like." However, the newspaper also went on to say that "Baggio's is a brittle influence. There are no half measures in his play. He is either brilliant, or he disappears, looking confused and unhappy. Since Juventus's whole pattern of play depends on him, his disappearances can be tricky. The press has interpreted his inconsistency as a lack of commitment."<ref name="Has so much ever hung on a hamstring?" />

In 2015, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' accused him of going "missing in big games."<ref name="top 20 overrated football players of all time">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/01/29/the-top-20-overrated-football-players-of-all-time---in-pictures/roberto-baggio-celebrates-scoring-for-ac-milan/ |title=The top 20 overrated football players of all time - in pictures |work=The Telegraph |date=3 April 2015 |access-date=16 May 2020 }}</ref> In 2020, Daniel Story of ''Planet Football'' stated he believed that Baggio was one of the most underrated players of the past 30 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.planetfootball.com/nostalgia/zizou-laudrup-baggio-bergkamp-best-playmakers-90s/ |title=10 of the best playmakers of the 90s: Zizou, Laudrup, Baggio, Bergkamp... |publisher=Planet Football |last1=Storey |first1=Daniel |date=5 February 2020 |access-date=29 June 2020 }}</ref> In 2016, Luke Chandley of ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' described Baggio as "Italian football's great oxymoron", noting: "For all the skill he possessed going forward, he was the opposite of the reputation given to Italian football spanning across his whole career. Italian football was defensive know-how and structured play."<ref name="huffingtonpost" /> His former manager Arrigo Sacchi believed that Baggio was often misused by his coaches, and that he would have been an even greater player had he been born abroad,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pianetamilan.it/news-milan/sacchi-van-basten-un-grandissimo-su-baggio-e-cruijff/ |title=Sacchi: "Van Basten un grandissimo. Su Baggio e Cruijff…" |publisher=Pianeta Milan |language=it |last1=Bulfon |first1=Donato |date=17 April 2017 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> a view which was also held by journalist Mattia Losi, who felt that Baggio would have been more appreciated had he been born in Brazil or Argentina, rather than in a country with a football legacy like Italy's, which often failed to recognise young local talent,<ref name="uomo libero">{{cite news |url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/roberto-baggio-cinquant-anni-uomo-libero-AEb53NW |title=Roberto Baggio, cinquant'anni da uomo libero |work=Il Sole 24 Ore |language=it |last1=Losi |first1=Mattia |date=17 February 2017 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> and Emmet Gates, who said in 2013 that "Baggio unfortunately was born in the wrong country, or rather, he was born in Italy at the wrong time."<ref name="oppression" /> Regarding this contrast and Baggio's overall career, Tim Collings of ''The Guardian'' described him as "Italy's greatest player of fantasia" in 2004 but also wrote: <blockquote>Baggio's record, as a player for club and country, fails to match his reputation. He is less known for his acts of great success than for his injuries, his misfortunes and his courage; he is an artist in sport whose work is appreciated but no longer used in modern currency. Baggio's career is filled by cameos of sublime skill, particular games when his imagination and ability enabled his team to transcend all normal expectations. Yet the lasting memory will be of his missed penalty in the shootout at the end of the 1994 World Cup final in Pasadena.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/apr/25/sport.comment5 |title=Final cut for Divine Ponytail |work=The Guardian |last1=Collings |first1=Tim |date=25 April 2004 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref></blockquote>

In 2017, Antonio Martelli of ''[[La Presse (Canadian newspaper)|La Presse]]'' described Baggio as "one of the greatest Italian players of all time maybe the best of the last thirty years", and as "an "authentic champion who could have been even greater without a series of extremely severe knee injuries that undermined his career since its dawning",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lapresse.it/calcio/i_50_anni_del_divin_codino_baggio_campione_unico_che_ha_unito_il_mondo_del_calcio-176866/news/2017-02-17/ |title=I 50 anni del 'Divin Codino' Baggio: campione unico che ha unito il mondo del calcio |work=La Presse |language=it |last1=Martelli |first1=Antonio |date=17 February 2020 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> a view shared by [[Raffaele Di Fusco]], who said "who knows what he could have become without all of those injuries",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gianlucadimarzio.com/it/baggio-5x10-linizio-del-campione-da-vicenza-a-firenze-una-questione-damore-amato-da-tutti-era-questa-la-sua-grandezza |title=Baggio 5x10 - L'inizio del campione, da Vicenza a Firenze. Una questione d'amore, Volpecina: "Amato da tutti: era questa la sua grandezza" |publisher=gianlucadimarzio.com/ |language=it |last1=Malfitano |first1=Salvatore |date=18 February 2017 |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728114015/https://gianlucadimarzio.com/it/baggio-5x10-linizio-del-campione-da-vicenza-a-firenze-una-questione-damore-amato-da-tutti-era-questa-la-sua-grandezza |url-status=dead }}</ref> and also Renzo Ulivieri, who stated that "if he had had fewer injuries, he would have won more."<ref name="Estro e fantasia">{{cite news |url=https://www.lastampa.it/sport/calcio/2017/02/26/news/estro-e-fantasia-al-servizio-del-collettivo-una-persona-per-bene-1.34655949 |title=Estro e fantasia al servizio del collettivo. Una persona per bene |work=La Stampa |language=it |last1=Nerozzi |first1=Massimiliano |date=26 February 2017 |access-date=17 April 2020 }}</ref> In 2018, Greg Murray of ''[[Football Italia]]'' described Baggio as "one of the greatest football players of all time" but also lamented that "we never saw him at full fitness and are fortunate we got to enjoy him at all." He summarised Baggio's career with the following: "It is perhaps one of football's great injustices that Il Divin Codino is best known globally for his penalty miss in the Final of the 1994 World Cup against Brazil. For fans of Serie A, Baggio is recognised as the best of his generation, despite a career that was blighted by injury and clashes with his Coaches." He also added: <blockquote>Retiring in 2004, it has been suggested that Baggio was a victim of the era in which he lived. As player with transcendent creativity, but physically fragile, he struggled to fit into his Coaches’ plans during a time when tactics and hard work were everything. Had he been born in the current era, where players are far more protected, he would perhaps have achieved even more. It's heart-breaking to think what we missed out on, but we’re also grateful to have experienced the Divine Ponytail at all.<ref name="Baggio: The Divine Ponytail"/></blockquote>

Baggio's career was affected by many serious injuries, which led to a gradual loss of pace and mobility as his career progressed, as well as increasing weight-gain in the final years of his career, which eventually forced him to undergo a training regime in order to build muscle mass in his legs and prolong his career during his time at Brescia; his continual physical struggles ultimately led him to retire in 2004, which he later described as a "liberation." Since suffering his first series of career-threatening injuries with Vicenza and Fiorentina in 1985 and 1986, respectively, he was prone to persistent knee problems in particular, which often limited his playing time;{{#tag:ref|See <ref name="I wanted to die"/><ref name="Roberto Baggio detto Roby"/><ref name="flowering"/><ref name="L'addio del grande incompreso"/><ref name="veva una voglia matta con quelle ginocchia"/><ref name="lastampa.it">{{cite news|url=http://www.lastampa.it/_web/cmstp/tmplRubriche/editoriali/gEditoriali.asp?ID_blog=25&ID_articolo=7671&ID_sezione=29&sezione=|title=Baggio e Rivera, il ritorno dei numeri 10|trans-title=Baggio and Rivera, the return of the number 10s|newspaper=La Stampa|language=it|access-date=16 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804094530/http://www.lastampa.it/_web/cmstp/tmplRubriche/editoriali/gEditoriali.asp?ID_blog=25&ID_articolo=7671&ID_sezione=29&sezione=|archive-date=4 August 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultimouomo.com/roberto-baggio-avevo-solo-un-pensiero/ |title=Roberto Baggio. Avevo solo un pensiero |publisher=Ultimo Uomo |language=it |last1=Piri |first1=Stefano |date=10 March 2020 |access-date=16 May 2020 }}</ref>|name="injuries"|group="nb"}} injuries led certain pundits, such as Benedetto Ferrara of ''[[La Repubblica]]'' in 2010, to label Baggio as a "superfine talent" but who was also "inconsistent." In 1995, Maurizio Crosetti, Ferrara's colleague, had previously described Baggio as "fragile."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2010/07/11/baggio-fine-dell-esilio-insegnera-calcio-all.html?ref=search |title=Baggio, fine dell' esilio insegnerà calcio all' Italia |work=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Ferrara |first1=Benedetto |date=11 July 2010 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/07/07/baggio-di-cristallo.html |title=Baggio di Cristallo |work=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Crosetti |first1=Maurizio |date=7 July 1995 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref> Regarding the injuries that threatened his career as a youngster, and which haggled him until he retired, Baggio wrote in his 2001 autobiography that "all of my professional career, I played it with a leg and a half. Thousands of hours of work to keep alive a leg which, if it were up to her, would diminish each day. I played it without being fully all right, ever, because if I were to play matches only when I felt one-hundred percent I would play three matches a year."<ref name="uomo libero" /> Despite the numerous physical impairments he faced throughout his career, Baggio also stood out for his longevity, and was able to maintain a consistently high level of performance even in the final years of his career with Brescia into his late 30s.<ref name="leggendaria carriera">{{cite web |url=https://www.esquire.com/it/sport/calcio/a27751752/roberto-baggio-vita-carriera/ |title=Roberto Baggio, la leggendaria carriera del Divin Codino |publisher=Esquire |language=it |last1=Lippi |first1=Gabriele |date=7 June 2019 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="favola" /><ref name="Il caso Roberto Baggio">{{cite news |url=https://www.corriere.it/solferino/severgnini/04-03-19/09.spm |title=Italians: Il caso Roberto Baggio |work=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |last1=Antonini |first1=Damiano |last2=Severgnini |first2=Beppe |date=4 March 2019 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/football/04/27/internationals.baggio/ |title=Baggio set for Italian renaissance |publisher=CNN |date=27 April 2004 |access-date=19 April 2020 }}</ref> In 2004, Sacchi praised Baggio for his strength of character, which he believed even surpassed his talent, as it allowed him to overcome his injuries and physical struggles, and ultimately "win [his] personal battles against bad luck."<ref name="più grandi del loro talento">{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.gelocal.it/lanuovaferrara/archivio/lanuovaferrara/2004/05/11/US8PO_NS806.html |title=L'omaggio di Sacchi: lui e Signori ancora più grandi del loro talento |work=La Nuova Ferrara |language=it |date=11 May 2004 |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728114011/https://ricerca.gelocal.it/lanuovaferrara/archivio/lanuovaferrara/2004/05/11/US8PO_NS806.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2017, Capello noted that Baggio had the extraordinary willpower to carry on playing despite his physical struggles.<ref name="veva una voglia matta con quelle ginocchia" /> Baggio attributes his inner strength to Buddhism.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1996/05/15/baggio-apre-un-centro-buddista.html |title=Baggio Apre Un Centro Buddista |work=La Repubblica |language=it |date=15 May 1996 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref>

=== Legacy ===
[[File:Maglia di roberto baggio indossata in USA 1994, 01.JPG|thumb|upright|Baggio's Italy jersey is preserved in the Football Museum in Florence.]]
Widely considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time,<ref name="I wanted to die"/><ref name="Baggio: The Divine Ponytail"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport.sky.it/calcio-estero/fotogallery/2010/10/10/i_grandi_numeri_dieci_del_calcio.html#7|title=Dalla A alla Zico, i grandi numeri 10 del calcio internazionale|publisher=Sport.Sky.it|language=it|date=10 October 2010|access-date=23 July 2017|archive-date=2 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802093619/https://sport.sky.it/calcio-estero/fotogallery/2010/10/10/i_grandi_numeri_dieci_del_calcio.html#7|url-status=dead}}</ref> Baggio came fourth in the 1999 [[FIFA Player of the Century#FIFA Internet vote|FIFA Player of the Century]] internet poll,<ref name="FIFA Player of the Century"/> and was ranked 16th in [[World Soccer (magazine)|''World Soccer'']]'s list of the 100 greatest footballers of the 20th century, the highest ranked Italian player;<ref name="World Soccer Players of the Century">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsWldSocPlyrsCent.html|title=World Soccer Players of the Century|publisher=World Soccer|access-date=29 August 2014}}</ref> in [[IFFHS]]'s election for the best player of the 20th century in the same year, he was elected the ninth-best Italian player and the 53rd-best European player of the Century.<ref name="IFFHS' Century Elections"/> He was voted Italy's player of the century in 2000.<ref name="Baggio, una hola privata"/> In 2002, Baggio was elected to the [[FIFA World Cup Dream Team]],<ref name="World All-Time Teams"/> and in 2003, he was the inaugural winner of the [[Golden Foot]] award, awarded for ability and personality.<ref name=goldenfoot.com>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/winner-details.php?l=en&WinnerID=8&Title=roberto-baggio|title=Golden Foot: Roberto Baggio|publisher=Golden Foot|access-date=12 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121213630/http://www.goldenfoot.com/winner-details.php?l=en&WinnerID=8&Title=roberto-baggio|archive-date=21 November 2015}}</ref> In 2004, he was named by [[Pelé]] in the [[FIFA 100]] list of the world's greatest living players,<ref name="Pele"/> and was voted 24th in the online [[UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll]], celebrating the best European footballers of the past 50 years.<ref name="Golden Jubilee">{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/171606.pdf|title=Zinedine Zidane voted top player by fans|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=24 July 2014}}</ref> In 2010, Baggio was named one of the 50 greatest Juventus legends.<ref name="Juve, 50 stelle da onorare"/> In 2011, he was the first footballer to be inducted into the [[Italian Football Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ansa.it/web/notizie/photostory/sport/2011/12/05/visualizza_new.html_9418339.html|title=Serie A Hall of Fame 2011|publisher=Ansa.it|language=it|date=5 December 2011|access-date=10 June 2012}}</ref> In a 2014 FIFA poll, Baggio was voted the ninth-greatest number 10 of all time,<ref name="Three ex-Bianconeri number 10s in FIFA's all-time list"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Estero/02-03-2014/pele-piu-forte-maradona-zidane-3-baggio-9-migliori-10-secondo-fifa-80158538791.shtml|title=Pelè è più forte di Maradona, Zidane 3°, Baggio 9°: i migliori 10 secondo la Fifa|trans-title=Pelè better than Maradona, Zidane 3rd, Baggio 9th: the best 10s according to FIFA|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=2 March 2014|access-date=24 September 2014}}</ref> and later that year he was ranked 24th in ''The Guardian'''s list of the 100 greatest World Cup players of all time, ahead of the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 World Cup]] in Brazil.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/may/29/the-world-cups-top-100-footballers-by-nationality-goals-scored-and-votes|title=The World Cup's top 100 footballers: by nationality, goals scored and votes|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=George Arnett|author2=Ami Sedghi|date=29 May 2014|access-date=3 December 2016}}</ref>

In 2015, journalists of ''La Gazzetta dello Sport'' elected the greatest Italian player of all time, with Baggio finishing in second place behind only Gianni Rivera;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/14-08-2015/gazzetta-sport-vota-rivera-miglior-calciatore-italiano-tutti-tempi-120947599361.shtml |title=La Gazzetta dello Sport vota Rivera: è il miglior calciatore italiano di tutti i tempi |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Gasparotto |first1=Manlio |date=15 August 2015 |access-date=18 April 2020 }}</ref> in a fan poll that was subsequently organised by the newspaper, Baggio was instead voted as the greatest Italian footballer of all time,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/17-08-2015/baggio-sorpassa-rivera-classifica-miglior-italiano-sempre-120975118712.shtml |title=Baggio sorpassa Rivera nella classifica del miglior italiano di sempre |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=17 August 2015 |access-date=18 April 2020 }}</ref> while Majid Mohamed of ''UEFA'' ranked him as the twentieth-best player ever not to have won the UEFA Champions League.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0221-0e90c7564eb5-3b70d5ac744b-1000--the-best-not-to-have-won-the-champions-league/ |title=The best not to have won the Champions League |publisher=[[UEFA]] |last=Mohamed |first=Majid |date=19 May 2015 |access-date=11 August 2020 }}</ref> That same year, ''The Daily Telegraph'' also included Baggio at number 12 in their list of "The top 20 overrated football players of all time."<ref name="top 20 overrated football players of all time" /> ''[[FourFourTwo]]'' placed Baggio at number 52 in their 2017 list of the "100 Greatest Footballers Ever"<ref name="100 Greatest Footballers EVER" /> and also named him in 2019 as the sixth best player never to win the [[UEFA Champions League]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/gallery/20-best-players-never-win-champions-league |title=The 25 best players never to win the Champions League. #6 Baggio |work=FourFourTwo |last1=Lea |first1=Greg |date=28 May 2019 |access-date=28 August 2019 }}</ref> In July 2019, the same magazine ranked Baggio at number ten in their list of the "101 greatest football players of the last 25 years" since their first edition in the summer of 1994,<ref name="101-greatest">{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/101-greatest-football-players-last-25-years-full-list?page=0%2C4 |title=Ranked! The 101 greatest football players of the last 25 years: full list |publisher=FourFourTwo |date=26 July 2019 |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406175712/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/101-greatest-football-players-last-25-years-full-list%3Fpage%3D0,4 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> while in September 2023, he was ranked 27th in their list of the "100 best football players of all time."<ref name="fourfourtwo2023">{{cite news|last=White|first=Mark|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-100-best-football-players-of-all-time/4|title=Ranked! The 100 best football players of all time: full list|edition=356|work=[[FourFourTwo]]|date=5 September 2023|accessdate=17 November 2023}}</ref> In December 2023, Tom Hancock, of the same magazine, placed Baggio at number three, behind only Zidane and Ronaldo, in his list of the greatest footballers of the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/the-best-footballers-of-the-90s |title=The best footballers of the 90s |work=FourFourTwo |last1=Hancock |first1=Tom |date=14 December 2023 |access-date=10 April 2024 }}</ref> In 2020, Jack Gallagher of [[90min.com]] placed Baggio at number nine in his list of "The 50 Greatest Footballers of All Time",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/6578058-roberto-baggio-the-reverse-jimmy-glass-remembering-the-real-il-divin-codino |title=Roberto Baggio: The Reverse Jimmy Glass & Remembering the Real Il Divin Codino |publisher=90min.com |last1=Gallagher |first1=Jack |date=17 March 2020 |access-date=7 April 2020 |archive-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125192316/https://www.90min.com/posts/6578058-roberto-baggio-the-reverse-jimmy-glass-remembering-the-real-il-divin-codino |url-status=dead }}</ref> while [[Sky Sports]] ranked him as the fifth-best player ever never to have won the Champions League or European Cup.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11096/11996951/25-1-best-players-never-to-win-champions-league |title=Ronaldo, Eric Cantona, Zlatan Ibrahimovic: The best players never to win Champions League 25-1 |publisher=Sky Sports |last1=Solhekol |first1=Kaveh |last2=Sheth |first2=Dharmesh |date=30 May 2020 |access-date=1 June 2020 }}</ref>

== Records and selected statistics ==
Baggio played in 16 World Cup matches for Italy; the Republic of Ireland is the only nation against which he played more than once. He is the joint-highest Italian goalscorer of all time in the World Cup, with nine goals, alongside Paolo Rossi and Christian Vieri.<ref name="soccerlens.com">{{cite web|url=http://soccerlens.com/world-cup-all-time-top-goal-scorers/43909/|title=World Cup All-Time Top Goal Scorers|website=soccerlens.com|date=20 April 2010|access-date=10 August 2012}}</ref> Baggio is the only Italian to have scored in three World Cups (two goals in 1990, five in 1994 and two in 1998). Three of his World Cup goals were scored in the group stage and six were scored during knockout matches.<ref name="soccerlens.com"/> Baggio is the joint fourth-highest scorer for Italy with 27 goals in 56 appearances, with a 0.48 goal per match average.<ref name="rsssf.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ital-recintlp.html|title=Italy - Record International Players|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=10 August 2012}}</ref> With Baggio, Italy was always eliminated from the World Cup in penalty shootouts: in 1990, in the semi-finals against Argentina; in 1994, in the final against Brazil; and in 1998, in the quarter-finals against France.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archivio.agi.it/articolo/e3d84a2c39ec2bff23a7adb02a1d7fe4_19980703_francia-98-r-baggio-finisce-tutto-coi-rigori/|title=Francia '98: r.baggio, "finisce tutto coi rigori"|publisher=agi.it|language=it|date=3 July 1998|access-date=8 June 2016}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Despite his decisive penalty miss in the 1994 World Cup final shoot-out, Baggio is statistically one of the greatest penalty kick specialists in Italian football history, as he scored 85% of his career penalties with only 19 misses, scoring 108 out of 127 penalties in official matches, the most in Italian football history.<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/> Baggio scored 10 with Vicenza, 25 with Fiorentina, 38 with Juventus, 5 with Milan, 11 with Bologna, 1 with Inter Milan, 11 with Brescia and 7 with Italy (from 7 attempts, [[Italy national football team records#Goalscorers|the most goals scored from the spot]] by a member of the national team).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italia1910.com/statistiche-tabelle-giocatori.asp?cmp=Totale&ogg=RigoriSegnati|title=Totale: Rigori realizzati|trans-title=Totals: Penalties scored|publisher=Italia1910|language=it|access-date=3 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italia1910.com/statistiche-tabelle-giocatori.asp?cmp=Totale&ogg=RigoriSegnati|title=Totale: Rigori realizzati|publisher=Italia1910|language=it|access-date=3 May 2016}}</ref> 68 of his penalties were scored in Serie A, from 83 attempts, with an 82% conversion rate, one of the best records in Serie A history.<ref name="ftbpro.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.ftbpro.com/it/messaggi/davide.martini/369377/i-10-migliori-rigoristi-della-storia-della-serie-a|title=I 10 migliori rigoristi della storia della Serie A|language=it|access-date=29 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903060908/http://www.ftbpro.com/it/messaggi/davide.martini/369377/i-10-migliori-rigoristi-della-storia-della-serie-a|archive-date=3 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Milan/28-03-2013/undici-metri-dibalogloria-mario-rigori-dentro-segreti-un-infallibilita-92702757563.shtml|title=Balotelli infallibile dal dischetto: per lui 15 rigori su 15|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Alessandra Bocci|date=28 March 2013|access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref> In Serie A, Baggio scored 17 penalties for Fiorentina (from 19 attempts), 25 for Juventus (from 28 attempts), 3 for Milan (from 5 attempts), 11 for Bologna (from 11 attempts), 1 for Inter Milan (from 2 attempts), and 11 for Brescia (from 18 attempts).<ref name="Record di Serie A: I Rigori">{{cite web|url=https://francovaldevies.wordpress.com/tag/baggio-piu-rigori-segnati-e-calciati/|title=Record di Serie A: I Rigori|language=it|access-date=29 August 2014}}</ref> Baggio has scored penalties for six different Serie A clubs.<ref name="ftbpro.com"/> Four of his fifteen misses in Serie A were then scored on rebounds. Behind Totti, Baggio has scored the most [[Football records in Italy#Most goals from a penalty kick|penalties in Serie A history]].<ref name="Record di Serie A: I Rigori"/><ref name="ilsole24ore.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2011-05-03/adesso-totti-sogna-superare-084816_PRN.shtml|title=Adesso Totti sogna di superare Nordhal|newspaper=Il Sole 24 Ore|language=it|date=3 May 2011|access-date=29 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2016/04/22/22675912/totti-riscrive-la-storia-baggio-superato-sui-calci-di-rigore|title=Totti riscrive la storia: Baggio superato sui calci di rigore, Higuain per media-goal|trans-title=Totti rewrites history: Baggio overtaken on penalties, Higuain in terms of goalscoring average|publisher=Goal.com|language=it|date=22 April 2016|access-date=25 April 2016}}</ref> Of his other penalties, 8 were scored in Serie C (from 8 attempts), 8 in European competitions (from 9 attempts), and 17 in the Coppa Italia (from 20 attempts). In shoot-outs, Baggio converted three of four career penalties: one in the UEFA Cup with Fiorentina, and the other two with Italy at the World Cup;<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/> in World Cup shootouts, Baggio scored twice (1990 and 1998), with his only miss in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stpauls.it/gio/1147gi/tommiGi.html|title=Se la mira è di rigore Fare gol dal dischetto: sembra facile, ma anche i migliori sbagliano|language=it|access-date=10 August 2012|archive-date=6 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306024406/http://www.stpauls.it/gio/1147gi/tommiGi.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Although he never won the Serie A top goalscorer title, Baggio is currently the [[Football records in Italy#Goalscoring|seventh all-time highest scorer in Serie A, with 205 goals]] in 452 appearances.<ref name="Baggio - Goals in Serie A">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/baggiodata.html|title=Roberto Baggio - Goals in Serie A|publisher=RSSF|author1=Adriano Stabile|date=2 January 2005|access-date=9 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2011/05/01/2467215/romas-francesco-totti-thrilled-after-breaking-roberto|title=Roma's Francesco Totti thrilled after breaking Roberto Baggio's Serie A goal record|publisher=Goal.com|date=1 May 2011|access-date=10 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/foto/calcio/2017/02/14-21569388/i_50_anni_di_roberto_baggio_le_10_frasi_pi_belle/?cookieAccept|title=I 50 anni di Roberto Baggio: le 10 frasi più belle|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|date=14 February 2017|access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref> Of these goals, 96 were decisive (either equalisers or match winners).<ref name="Fantasista Legends: Roberto Baggio"/> Alongside Totti, Baggio has also scored the [[Football records in Italy#Most goals from a free kick|fourth-highest number of free-kicks in Serie A]] with 21 goals; ahead of him are only Alessando Del Piero, Andrea Pirlo, and [[Siniša Mihajlović]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/83762/serie-week-36-did-you-know|title=Serie A Week 36: Did You Know?|publisher=Football Italia|author1=Susy Campanale|date=3 May 2016|access-date=3 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2014/03/18/4692299/sentenza-pirlo-su-punizione-solo-mihajlovic-ha-fatto-meglio|title='Sentenza' Pirlo su punizione, solo Mihajlovic ha fatto meglio in Serie A|publisher=Goal.com|language=it|date=18 March 2014|access-date=27 July 2014}}</ref> Of his open play goals in Serie A, 84 were with his right foot, 26 with his left, and 6 were headers.<ref name="ilsole24ore.com"/> He also assisted 123 goals in Serie A,<ref name="beaute"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccer-europe.com/Biographies/Roberto_Baggio.html|title=Roberto Baggio - Career Statistics|publisher=Soccer Europe|access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref> making him the [[Football records and statistics in Italy#Most assists in Serie A|second–highest assist provider of all time in Serie A]], behind only Totti.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/2023/10/30-115838922/campionato_di_calcio_serie_a_record_primati_numeri_e_statistiche |title=Campionato di Calcio Serie A: record, primati, numeri e statistiche |work=Il Corriere dello Sport |language=it |date=30 October 2023 |access-date=12 February 2024 }}</ref> He is the fourth-highest scoring Italian in all competitions, behind Del Piero, Giueseppe Meazza and Silvio Piola, with 318 professional career goals in 699 appearances.<ref name="rsssf.com"/>{{#tag:ref|321 goals in 703 appearances if his three goals and four caps for the Italy U-16 team are also included.|name="baggio-record"|group="nb"}} Alongside Totti and [[Alberto Gilardino]], he has scored against the most different clubs (38) in Serie A.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/sport/gilardino-come-totti-e-baggio-gol-da-record-al-carpi_2157706-201602a.shtml|title=Gilardino come Totti e Baggio: gol da record al Carpi|publisher=Mediaset|language=it|date=30 January 2016|access-date=6 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131210710/http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/sport/gilardino-come-totti-e-baggio-gol-da-record-al-carpi_2157706-201602a.shtml|archive-date=31 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> With eight hat-tricks in Serie A, he has also scored the [[Football records in Italy#Most hat-tricks in Serie A|joint-tenth most hat-tricks in the history of the Italian league]], alongside [[Amedeo Amadei]], Giampiero Boniperti, [[Hernán Crespo]], and Marco van Basten.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.90min.com/it/posts/4158930-top-10-i-dieci-giocatori-autori-di-piu-triplette-nella-storia-della-serie-a|title=TOP 10 - I dieci giocatori autori di più triplette nella storia della Serie A|publisher=www.90min.com|language=it|author1=Niccolò Mariotto|date=23 November 2016|access-date=21 May 2017|archive-date=27 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727221917/https://www.90min.com/it/posts/4158930-top-10-i-dieci-giocatori-autori-di-piu-triplette-nella-storia-della-serie-a|url-status=dead}}</ref> Throughout his career, including friendlies, Baggio scored 425 goals.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://docs.ufpr.br/~mmsabino/sstatistics/baggio.html | title=Roberto Baggio | access-date=27 November 2021 | archive-date=27 November 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127194456/https://docs.ufpr.br/~mmsabino/sstatistics/baggio.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

== After retirement ==

[[File:Roberto Baggio cropped.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Baggio in 2013]]

Following Italy’s failure to move on from the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]] group stage, in August 2010 Baggio was appointed president of the technical sector of the [[Italian Football Federation]], replacing his former Italy national team manager [[Azeglio Vicini]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/69.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_25543_StrilloAreaStampa_upfDownload.pdf|title=FIGC: Contenuto Generico|publisher=FIGC|language=it|access-date=8 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115115606/http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/69.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_25543_StrilloAreaStampa_upfDownload.pdf|archive-date=15 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2011, he presented a 900-page report titled “Renewing the future”, which proposed an overhaul of the federation’s talent development paths.<ref name=report>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/01/italy-world-cup-qualification-failure-football-gennaro-gattuso|title=Italy’s latest World Cup failure no longer feels like ‘The End’ but the same sad song on repeat|publisher=theguardian.com|date=1 April 2026}}</ref> On 23 January 2013, Baggio stepped down from the position, stating the federation had ignored his ideas about improving the system and focusing on youth talent, which prompted him to resign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/sport/13_gennaio_23/baggio-lascia-fgci_66a5862c-659d-11e2-a9ef-b9089581fbcf.shtml|title=Baggio lascia la Federcalcio|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=23 January 2013|access-date=25 January 2013}}</ref> In 2026, following Italy’s third consecutive failure to reach the World Cup from the play-off round, Baggio’s report and his attempts to reform the Italian football system were recirculated in the media.<ref name=report/>

In July 2011, Baggio obtained his [[UEFA A License]], which made him eligible to coach [[Lega Pro]] teams, or work as vice-coach in Serie A and Serie B.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.settoretecnico.figc.it/Allegati/1572011145826.pdf|title=Comunicato Ufficiale n° 006 (2011–12)|work=Settore Tecnico della F.I.G.C.|language=it|date=15 July 2011|access-date=20 September 2011|archive-date=7 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007155835/http://www.settoretecnico.figc.it/Allegati/1572011145826.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 5 July 2012, Baggio obtained his Category 1 [[UEFA Pro Licence|UEFA Pro]] Coaching Licence at [[Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano|Coverciano]], which officially allows him to coach a professional Serie A club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lanazione.it/firenze/sport/calcio/2012/07/05/739782-roberto-baggio-allenatore-coverciano.shtml|title=Baggio: Allenatore a Coverciano|publisher=La Nazione|language=it|date=5 July 2012|access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2012/07/07/3226664/italy-legend-roberto-baggio-in-contention-for-modena-job?source=breakingnews|title=Roberto Baggio in Contention for Modena Job?|publisher=Goal.com|date=7 July 2012|access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref>

== Outside of professional football ==
=== Personal life ===
After his career threatening injury in 1985, Baggio, formerly a [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]], converted to Buddhism, practicing [[Nichiren Buddhism]], and is a member of the [[Soka Gakkai International]] Buddhist organisation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/205886|title=Buddisti Soka Gakkai. Una Sabina vi convertirà|publisher=L'Espresso|language=it|author=Sandro Magister|date=4 September 1997|access-date=25 January 2016}}</ref> The captain's armband that he wore throughout his career bore the colours of this religious school (blue, yellow, and red) and the Japanese motto "We win. We must win" in ideograms of the language.<ref name="Has so much ever hung on a hamstring?"/><ref name="world at his feet">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-free-spirit-with-the-world-at-his-feet-1394514.html |title=Football: Free spirit with the world at his feet |work=The Independent |last1=Allsop |first1=Derick |date=16 February 1994 |access-date=19 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2017/03/05/fasce_da_capitanospeciali#09 |title=Da Belotti a Baggio: quando la fascia è speciale |publisher=sport.sky.it |language=it |date=5 March 2017 |access-date=19 April 2020 }}</ref> Despite his conversion, he married his long-time girlfriend Andreina Fabbi in 1989 in a traditional Roman Catholic ceremony. They have a daughter, Valentina (1990), and two sons, Mattia (1994) and Leonardo (2005).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pro-paul.net/baggio/english/biography.html|title=Roberto Baggio - Biography|access-date=29 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731001257/http://www.pro-paul.net/baggio/english/biography.html|archive-date=31 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://journeys-journal.blogspot.ca/2007/09/blog-post.html|title=R. Baggio|access-date=29 June 2012}}</ref>

Between 1991 and 2012, Baggio was the owner of a sporting goods store in Thiene, Vicenza, called ''Baggio Sport'', which he was eventually forced to close due to losses from the [[Great Recession]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corrieredelveneto.corriere.it/veneto/notizie/cronaca/2012/7-settembre-2012/chiude-negozio-roberto-baggio-sport--2111734175188.shtml?refresh_ce-cp|title=Chiude il negozio Roberto Baggio Sport|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|author1=Giulio Todescan|date=7 September 2012|access-date=19 July 2015}}</ref>

In 2001, Baggio wrote an autobiography entitled ''{{lang|it|Una porta nel cielo}}'' (literally "A Door in the Sky", also known as "A Goal in the Sky"), including details about his career, childhood, religion, personal life and rifts with managers.<ref name="R.BaggioAutoBiography">{{harvnb|Baggio|2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goaldentimes.org/roberto-baggio-and-the-essence-of-buddhism/|title=Roberto Baggio and the Essence of Buddhism: "Baggio took all that in his stride silently and he later said that his Buddhist values had made him handle his toughest days with serenity"|publisher=Goaldentimes.org|access-date=2 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007071408/http://www.goaldentimes.org/roberto-baggio-and-the-essence-of-buddhism/|archive-date=7 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/libri/200111/28/3bf54ee905581/|title=Baggio: Una Porta Nel Cielo|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|date=28 November 2001|access-date=8 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812012510/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/libri/200111/28/3bf54ee905581/|archive-date=12 August 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> It won the award for best football book at the 2002 Serie A Awards.<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/>

Baggio has close ties with Argentina; he speaks [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and owns a ranch property in [[Rivera, Buenos Aires Province|Rivera]], where he enjoys hunting wild game.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> In March 2008, he gave a lengthy interview with ''La Gazzetta Dello Sport'', in which he revealed that he came to support Argentine club [[Boca Juniors]] due to their passionate fanbase.<ref name="Messi mi entusiasma"/>

In June 2024, Baggio sustained minor injuries during a robbery at his villa near [[Vicenza]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/soccer-baggio-azzuri-robbed-3c3942887efd86af78b46c0bfb53d484 |title=Retired Azzurri star Roberto Baggio robbed at home during Italy's loss to Spain |publisher=Associated Press |language=en |date=21 June 2024 |access-date=21 June 2024}}</ref>

=== Philanthropy ===
On 16 October 2002, Baggio was named a [[FAO Goodwill Ambassador|Goodwill Ambassador]] of the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] of the [[United Nations]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/ambassadors/ambassadors/ambassadors-robertobaggio/en/ |title=FAO Ambassadors - Get Involved: Roberto Baggio |publisher=FAO.org |access-date=15 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516014018/http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/ambassadors/ambassadors/ambassadors-robertobaggio/en/ |archive-date=16 May 2012 }}</ref> Through the organisation, Baggio helped to fund hospitals, raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake, contribute to tackling bird flu, and was involved in the Burmese pro-democracy movement, which supported the opposition leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] and her release from prison.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/sports/soccer/10iht-SOCCER.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|title=Roberto Baggio, Former Soccer Star, Shines Through His Charity|newspaper=The New York Times|date=10 November 2010|access-date=1 September 2014}}</ref> Baggio was awarded the 2010 [[Man of Peace]] title in [[Hiroshima]], presented by the [[World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates]] in recognition of his charitable work and contribution to social justice and peace.<ref name=Man-of-peace>{{cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/a-very-sporting-gesture-110111400040_1.html |title=A very sporting gesture |work=Business Standard |location=New Delhi |date=14 November 2010 |access-date=29 August 2014}}</ref>

On 8 October 2008, Baggio appeared in a charity match between Milan and Fiorentina, which had been organised in honour of his former Fiorentina teammate Stefano Borgonovo to raise money for his foundation, his treatment and for [[Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis|ALS]] research.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2008/10/08/Borgonovo08.shtml|title=Borgonovo, notte da brividi|trans-title=Borgonovo, night of shivers|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=8 October 2008|access-date=13 October 2008}}</ref> In 2014, Baggio was one of the many celebrities to take part in the "ALS [[Ice Bucket Challenge]]" to raise awareness about the disease and funds for ALS research.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/54791/video-baggio-calls-als-research|title=Video: Baggio calls for ALS research|publisher=Football Italia|date=23 August 2014|access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref>

On 1 September 2014, Baggio took part in the "Match for Peace", which was played at the [[Stadio Olimpico]] in Rome, with the proceeds being donated to charity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.matchforpeace.org/?lang=en |title=Interreligious Match for Peace: 1/9/2014 |website=matchforpeace.org |access-date=1 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903092935/http://www.matchforpeace.org/?lang=en |archive-date=3 September 2014 }}</ref> Baggio set up [[Juan Iturbe]]'s goal and scored from a Diego Maradona assist.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/01-09-2014/calcio-partita-pace-baggio-dinho-eto-o-campo-il-papa-90323482706.shtml?rlabs=1|title=Il Papa a Maradona: "Ti aspettavo". Diego show con Baggio, poi si infuria: "Icardi non doveva giocare"|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=1 September 2014|access-date=1 September 2014}}</ref> On 25 October 2014, Baggio participated in the opening  of the SGI Ikeda Cultural Center in Corsico, on the outskirts of Milan. It is the largest Buddhist center in Europe.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/27-10-2014/milano-baggio-inaugura-centro-buddista-piu-grande-d-europa-90869614731.shtml|title=Milano, Baggio inaugura il centro buddista più grande d'Europa|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=27 October 2014|access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref>

=== Media and popular culture ===
In 1994, Italian satirist [[Corrado Guzzanti]] parodied Baggio's advertisement for Italian Petrol Company IP prior to the 1994 World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.windoweb.it/guida/spettacolo/filmografia_corrado_guzzanti.htm|title=Corrado Guzzanti|language=it|access-date=8 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315121549/http://www.windoweb.it/guida/spettacolo/filmografia_corrado_guzzanti.htm|archive-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> Italian poet [[Giovanni Raboni]] composed the sonnet "Lode a Baggio" in a tribute to him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2007/01_Gennaio/18/baggio.shtml|title=Baggio verso i 40 senza codino|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=18 January 2007|access-date=10 June 2012}}</ref> He has been referenced in several songs, such as "Baggio, Baggio" by [[Lucio Dalla]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockol.it/recensione-1891/Lucio-Dalla-LUNA-MATANA|title=Lucio Dalla: Album - Luna Matana (Baggio, Baggio)|language=it|access-date=10 June 2012}}</ref> "[[Marmellata n. 25]]" by [[Cesare Cremonini (singer-songwriter)|Cesare Cremonini]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/spettacoli/cesare_cremonini_pop_maturo_conquisto_lestate/06-08-2005/articolo-id=20259-page=0-comments=1|title=Cesare Cremonini and "Baggio" by Miles Kane: Un pop Maturo Conquista l'Estate|publisher=Il Giornale|language=it|date=6 August 2005|access-date=10 June 2012|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728114131/https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/cesare-cremonini-pop-maturo-conquisto-l-estate.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and "[[Baggio (song)|Baggio]]"<ref>{{Citation |title=Baggio |date=17 May 2023 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/039GsP3Uy8n0l7JlZcADEg |access-date=23 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref> by [[Miles Kane]].

Baggio has featured in two Italian commercials which reference his infamous penalty miss in the 1994 World Cup final. The first was made for [[Wind Telecomunicazioni|Wind]] in 2000, and shows Baggio scoring the final penalty to win the tournament.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/societa/baggio/baggio/baggio.html|title=Baggio e lo spot del rigore "E' la fine di un incubo"|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref> The second, made for [[Johnnie Walker]] in 2001, showed how he managed to conquer his grief from the miss by believing in himself and scoring the equalising penalty against Chile in the 1998 World Cup.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/comment/4479088/Ad-of-the-week-Style-over-substance-at-Johnnie-Walker.html|title=Johnnie Walker ads - Baggio: Keep On Walking|location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=23 January 2001|access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref> He has featured in several [[Diadora]] commercials, as he endorsed their products.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketpress.info/notiziario_det.php?art=111430|title=Pubblicità: La Passione di Baggio, Cassano e Kuerten Per Diadora|website=marketpress.info|language=it|access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref> In July 2017, Diadora teamed up with Baggio once again to launch the new Signature Match Winner RB Capsule Collection.<ref name="Baggio on USA 94"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diadora.com/en/us/stories/matchwinnerrb/|title=Respect the past, own the future|publisher=www.diadora.com|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-date=19 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719091811/http://www.diadora.com/en/us/stories/matchwinnerrb/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Baggio is popular in Japan, and has held close ties with the country since his conversion to Buddhism. He has endorsed several Japanese football video games, such as [[Human Entertainment]]'s ''[[Super Formation Soccer 95: della Serie A]]'',<ref>[[Super Formation Soccer 95: della Serie A]]</ref> and [[Sega]]'s ''[[Virtua Pro Football]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHK-NTZnfyk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211115/mHK-NTZnfyk| archive-date=15 November 2021 | url-status=live|title=World Football Climax pub Roberto Baggio| website=[[YouTube]]| date=18 April 2008|access-date=1 July 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and ''[[Let's Make a Soccer Team!]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMXnwsBp0Hc| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227211459/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMXnwsBp0Hc| archive-date=27 February 2013 | url-status=dead|title=Pro Soccer Club o Tsukurou! Europe Championship pub#1 Roberto Baggio|website = [[YouTube]]|access-date=1 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz7iQ2YC5I4| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211115/Fz7iQ2YC5I4| archive-date=15 November 2021 | url-status=live|title=Pro Soccer Club o Tsukurou! Europe Championship pub#2 Roberto Baggio| website=[[YouTube]]| date=23 March 2008|access-date=1 July 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> An animated version of himself appeared in the Japanese football cartoon ''[[Captain Tsubasa]]'', best known in Italy as ''Che Campioni: Holly & Benji''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robertobaggio.it/curiosita/|title=Robertobaggio.it: Curiosità|website=robertobaggio.it|language=it|access-date=8 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423120724/http://www.robertobaggio.it/curiosita/|archive-date=23 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the [[Channel 4]] sitcom ''[[Father Ted]]'', Baggio (and [[Alessandro Costacurta]]) is mentioned during the 1995 episode "[[Grant Unto Him Eternal Rest]]" by Father Dougal McGuire (portrayed by [[Ardal O'Hanlon]]), who, when prompted to say the [[last rites]] in [[Latin]], ends up saying the footballers' names. (This stems from [[Graham Linehan]] and O'Hanlon being fans of ''[[Football Italia]]'').<ref>{{cite AV media|last1=Linehan |first1=Graham |author-link1=Graham Linehan |last2=Mathews |first2=Arthur |author-link2=Arthur Mathews (writer) |title=Father Ted DVD Commentaries |type=Podcast |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/father-ted-dvd-commentaries/id582800079 |access-date=6 April 2014 |location=United Kingdom |publisher=[[Channel 4]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517221107/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/father-ted-dvd-commentaries/id582800079 |archive-date=17 May 2014 }}</ref> In the music video for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]] song "[[Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)]]" by [[Shakira]],<ref name="World Cup video"/> footage of Baggio's goal against Spain and his penalty miss from the 1994 World Cup are shown.<ref name="World Cup video">{{cite news|url=http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/copa/2010/noticias/0,,OI4480146-EI14416,00-Shakira+lanca+clipe+de+Waka+Waka+musica+oficial+da+Copa.html|title=Shakira launches clip 'Waka Waka' Cup official music|publisher=Reforma|language=pt|date=8 June 2010|access-date=9 June 2010|archive-date=31 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331070734/http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/copa/2010/noticias/0,,OI4480146-EI14416,00-Shakira+lanca+clipe+de+Waka+Waka+musica+oficial+da+Copa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Throughout his career, Baggio has been nicknamed the ''Divin' Codino'' ("Divine Ponytail" in Italian, a reference to the iconic hairstyle he wore for a large part of his career as well as his playing ability and Buddhist beliefs) and Robi, or Roby, by his fans.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Mondiali/28-05-2014/mondiale-1994-roberto-baggio-codino-brasile-finale-80777179611.shtml|title=È il Mondiale del Codino. I miracoli e le lacrime|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=28 May 2014|access-date=2 September 2014}}</ref> An alter-ego of his is referenced in the Italian children's comics of "[[Mickey Mouse]]" and "[[DuckTales (1987 TV series)#DuckTales|Duck Tales]]" (Topolino) in the volume ''Topolino e il Giallo alla World Cup'' in which he is known as Roberto Paggio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=I+MG++451-A|title=Topolino e il Giallo alla World Cup|language=it|access-date=8 July 2012|archive-date=9 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109224954/http://coa.inducks.org/story.php?c=I+MG++451-A|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, Italian sports newspaper ''La Gazzetta dello Sport'' issued a collection of DVDs entitled ''Io Che Sarò Roberto Baggio'' recounting his career.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://store.gazzetta.it/calcio/io-che-saro-roberto-baggio/KpSsEWcVRz4AAAEobWY3aqbV/ct|title=Io che sarò Roberto Baggio|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|access-date=10 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218120457/http://store.gazzetta.it/calcio/io-che-saro-roberto-baggio/KpSsEWcVRz4AAAEobWY3aqbV/ct|archive-date=18 February 2013}}</ref> Baggio's impact on football has been celebrated with the release of an online game called ''Baggio's Magical Kicks'', in which players try to replicate his accuracy on free-kicks and penalties.<ref name="footballgames.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.footballgames.org/baggio-magical-kicks/|title=Baggio's Magical Kicks - Football Games|publisher=footballgames.org|access-date=2 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/sports/soccer/djorkaeffs-dream-comes-true.html |title=Djorkaeff's Dream Comes True |work=The New York Times |date=22 February 2005 |access-date=26 October 2019 }}</ref> In 2015, the arcade game company [[Konami]] announced Baggio would feature in their football video game ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer 2016]]'' as one of the new myClub Legends.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/technology/tech-gaming/pes-2016s-myclub-legends-to-be-announced-on-december-8-34256163.html|title=PES 2016's myClub Legends to be announced on December 8|newspaper=The Irish Independent|author1=Emma Clark|date=3 December 2015|access-date=4 December 2015}}</ref> On 3 August 2018, [[EA Sports]] announced on their official [[Twitter]] account that Baggio would feature in [[EA Sports]]' football video game ''[[FIFA 19]]'' as one of the new Ultimate Team Icons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/easportsfifa/status/1025350598009356288?lang=en |title=Roberto Baggio ICON confirmed for #FUT19. Tune in on Saturday to find out who will join him |publisher=Twitter.com |author1=EA Sports FIFA |date=3 August 2018 |access-date=11 September 2018 }}</ref>

In 2019, [[Netflix]] announced the development of a documentary on Roberto Baggio in partnership with [[Mediaset]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloeberesford/2019/10/10/netflix-announce-roberto-baggio-documentary-with-mediaset-partnership/?sh=310a92ae698d |title=Netflix Announce Roberto Baggio Documentary With Mediaset Partnership |work=Forbes |last1=Beresford |first1=Chloe |date=10 October 2019 |access-date=27 February 2021 }}</ref> In March 2021, Netflix released the trailer of a docudrama film on Baggio's career, entitled ''[[Baggio: The Divine Ponytail]]'', which was released on 26 May 2021; [[Andrea Arcangeli]] portrayed Baggio.<ref>{{cite web|last=Campanale|first=Susy|date=3 March 2021|url=https://www.football-italia.net/167172/netflix-release-baggio-drama-trailer|title=Netflix release Baggio drama trailer|publisher=Football Italia|access-date=4 June 2021}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==
=== Club ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition:<ref name="Baggio - Goals in Serie A"/><ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/><ref>{{NFT player|14074|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccer-europe.com/Biographies/Roberto_Baggio.html|title=Roberto Baggio: History|website=soccer-europe.com|access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccer-europe.com/Archives/Seriea/Seriea9899/Performers.html|title=Serie A Archives: Statistics 1998/99 Season|website=soccer-europe.com|access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[Coppa Italia]]
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Vicenza Calcio|Vicenza]]
|[[1982–83 Serie C1|1982–83]]
|[[Serie C1]]
|1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
|[[1983–84 Serie C1|1983–84]]
|Serie C1
|6||1||4||0||colspan="2"|–||2{{efn|Two appearances in the 1983–84 [[Coppa Italia Lega Pro|Coppa Italia Serie C]]}}||1||12||2
|-
|[[1984–85 Lanerossi Vicenza season|1984–85]]
|Serie C1
|29||12||5||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||34||14
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!36!!13!!9!!2!!colspan="2"|–!!2!!1!!47!!16
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[AC Fiorentina|Fiorentina]]
|[[1985–86 AC Fiorentina season|1985–86]]
|[[Serie A]]
|0||0||5||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||5||0
|-
|[[1986–87 AC Fiorentina season|1986–87]]
|Serie A
|5||1||4||2||1{{efn|name=UC|Appearances in the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|–||10||3
|-
|[[1987–88 AC Fiorentina season|1987–88]]
|Serie A
|27||6||7||3||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||34||9
|-
|[[1988–89 AC Fiorentina season|1988–89]]
|Serie A
|30||15||10||9||colspan="2"|–||1{{efn|Appearance in the [[1988–89 Serie A]] seventh-place tiebreaker match against [[AS Roma|Roma]] to qualify for the [[1989–90 UEFA Cup]]}}||0||41||24
|-
|[[1989–90 AC Fiorentina season|1989–90]]
|Serie A
|32||17||2||1||12{{efn|name=UC}}||1||colspan="2"|–||46||19
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!94!!39!!28!!15!!13!!1!!1!!0!!136!!55
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
|[[1990–91 Juventus FC season|1990–91]]
|Serie A
||33||14||5||3||8{{efn|name=UCWC|Appearances in the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]}}||9||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Supercoppa Italiana]]}}||1||47||27
|-
|[[1991–92 Juventus FC season|1991–92]]
|Serie A
|32||18||8||4||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||40||22
|-
|[[1992–93 Juventus FC season|1992–93]]
|Serie A
|27||21||7||3||9{{efn|name=UC}}||6||colspan="2"|–||43||30
|-
|[[1993–94 Juventus FC season|1993–94]]
|Serie A
|32||17||2||2||7{{efn|name=UC}}||3||colspan="2"|–||41||22
|-
|[[1994–95 Juventus FC season|1994–95]]
|Serie A
|17||8||4||2||8{{efn|name=UC}}||4||colspan="2"|–||29||14
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!141!!78!!26!!14!!32!!22!!1!!1!!200!!115
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[AC Milan]]
|[[1995–96 AC Milan season|1995–96]]
|Serie A
||28||7||1||0||5{{efn|name=UC}}||3||colspan="2"|–||34||10
|-
|[[1996–97 AC Milan season|1996–97]]
|Serie A
|23||5||5||3||5{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in the [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||1||0||0||33||9
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!51!!12!!6!!3!!10!!4!!0!!0!!67!!19
|-
|[[Bologna FC 1909|Bologna]]
|[[1997–98 Bologna FC 1909 season|1997–98]]
|Serie A
||30||22||3||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||33||23
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Inter Milan]]
|[[1998–99 Inter Milan season|1998–99]]
|Serie A
||23||5||4||0||6{{efn|name=UCL2|Appearances in the [[UEFA Champions League]]; includes two appearances, one goal in the [[1998–99 UEFA Champions League#Second qualifying round|second qualifying round]]}}||4{{efn|name=UCL2}}||2{{efn|Two appearances in the two-legged [[1998–99 Coppa Italia]] third-place tiebreaker round against [[Bologna FC 1909|Bologna]] to qualify for the [[1999–2000 UEFA Cup]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italcup99.html|title=Italy Cup 1998/99|last1=Rota|first1=Davide|last2=Miladinovich|first2=Misha|publisher=Rec. Sport. Soccer Statistics Foundation|date=17 August 1999|access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref>}}||1||35||10
|-
|[[1999–2000 Inter Milan season|1999–00]]
|Serie A
|18||4||5||1||colspan="2"|–||1{{efn|Appearance in the [[1999–2000 Serie A]] fourth-place tiebreaker match against [[Parma AC|Parma]] to qualify for the [[2000–01 UEFA Champions League]]}}||2||24||7
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!41!!9!!9!!1!!6!!4!!3!!3!!59!!17
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]]
|[[2000–01 Brescia Calcio season|2000–01]]
|Serie A
||25||10||3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||28||10
|-
|[[2001–02 Brescia Calcio season|2001–02]]
|Serie A
|12||11||1||0||2{{efn|name=UIC|Appearances in the [[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]}}||1||colspan="2"|–||15||12
|-
|[[2002–03 Brescia Calcio season|2002–03]]
|Serie A
|32||12||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||32||12
|-
|[[2003–04 Brescia Calcio season|2003–04]]
|Serie A
|26||12||0||0||0{{efn|name=UIC}}||0||colspan="2"|–||26||12
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!95!!45!!4!!0!!2!!1!!colspan="2"|–!!101!!46
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!488!!218!!85!!36!!63!!32!!7!!5!!643!!291
|}

{{notelist}}

=== International ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="Nazionale in cifre - FIGC: Baggio, Roberto">{{FIGC Italy player|43346|Roberto Baggio|access-date=25 April 2014|citation=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/rbaggio-intlg.html|title=Roberto Baggio - Goals in International Matches|last=Di Maggio|first=Roberto|publisher=Rec. Sport. Soccer Statistics Foundation|date=11 May 2005|access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="17"|[[Italy national football team|Italy]]
|1988||1||0
|-
|1989||6||3
|-
|1990||9||4
|-
|1991||2||1
|-
|1992||7||6
|-
|1993||7||5
|-
|1994||12||5
|-
|1995||1||0
|-
|1996||0||0
|-
|1997||2||1
|-
|1998||6||2
|-
|1999||2||0
|-
|2000||0||0
|-
|2001||0||0
|-
|2002||0||0
|-
|2003||0||0
|-
|2004||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!56!!27
|}

:''Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Baggio goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Roberto Baggio<ref name="Nazionale in cifre - FIGC: Baggio, Roberto"/>
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || {{dts|format=dmy|1989|04|22}} || [[Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi]], [[Verona]], Italy || {{fb|URU}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–1 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || rowspan="2"|{{dts|format=dmy|1989|09|20}} || rowspan="2"|[[Stadio Dino Manuzzi]], [[Cesena]], Italy || rowspan="2"|{{fb|BUL|1971}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4–0 || rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
| align="center"|3|| align="center"|2–0
|-
| align="center"|4 || {{dts|format=dmy|1990|06|19}} || [[Stadio Olimpico]], [[Rome]], Italy || {{fb|TCH}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || [[1990 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|5 || {{dts|format=dmy|1990|07|07}} || [[Stadio San Nicola]], [[Bari]], Italy || {{fb|ENG}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–1 || 1990 FIFA World Cup
|-
| align="center"|6 || {{dts|format=dmy|1990|09|26}} || [[Stadio La Favorita]], [[Palermo]], Italy || {{fb|NED}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|7 || {{dts|format=dmy|1990|10|17}} || [[Népstadion]], [[Budapest]], Hungary || {{fb|HUN}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–1 || [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|8 || {{dts|format=dmy|1991|12|21}} || [[Stadio Pino Zaccheria]], [[Foggia]], Italy || {{fb|CYP|1960}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|9 || rowspan="2"|{{dts|format=dmy|1992|02|19}} || rowspan="2"|[[Stadio Dino Manuzzi]], [[Cesena]], Italy || rowspan="2"|{{fb|SMR|1862}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4–0 || rowspan="2" |Friendly
|-
| align="center"|10|| align="center"|2–0
|-
| align="center"|11 || {{dts|format=dmy|1992|03|25}} || [[Stadio delle Alpi]], [[Turin]], Italy || {{fb|GER}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|12 || {{dts|format=dmy|1992|06|06}} || [[Soldier Field]], [[Chicago]], United States || {{fb|USA}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–1 || |[[1992 U.S. Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|13 || {{dts|format=dmy|1992|09|09}} || [[Philips Stadion]], [[Eindhoven]], Netherlands || {{fb|NED}} || align="center"|2–2 || align="center"|3–2 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|14 || {{dts|format=dmy|1992|10|14}} || [[Stadio Sant'Elia]], [[Cagliari]], Italy || {{fb|SUI}} || align="center"|1–2 || align="center"|2–2 || [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|15 || {{dts|format=dmy|1993|01|20}} || [[Stadio Artemio Franchi]], [[Florence]], Italy || {{fb|MEX}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|16 || {{dts|format=dmy|1993|02|24}} || [[Estádio das Antas]], [[Porto]], Portugal || {{fb|POR}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–1 || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align="center"|17 || {{dts|format=dmy|1993|04|14}} || [[Stadio Nereo Rocco]], [[Trieste]], Italy || {{fb|EST}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–1 || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align="center"|18 || rowspan="2"|{{dts|format=dmy|1993|09|22}} || rowspan="2"|[[Kadriorg Stadium]], [[Tallinn]], Estonia || rowspan="2"|{{fb|EST}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–0 || rowspan="2" |1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align="center"|19 || align="center"|3–0
|-
| align="center"|20 || rowspan="2"|{{dts|format=dmy|1994|07|05}} || rowspan="2"|[[Foxboro Stadium]], [[Foxborough, Massachusetts|Foxborough]], United States || rowspan="2"|{{fb|NGA}} || align="center"|1–1 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–1 || rowspan="2" |[[1994 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|21 || align="center"|2–1
|-
| align="center"|22 || {{dts|format=dmy|1994|07|09}} || Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, United States || {{fb|ESP}} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–1 || 1994 FIFA World Cup
|-
| align="center"|23 || rowspan="2"|{{dts|format=dmy|1994|07|13}} || rowspan="2"|[[Giants Stadium]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey|East Rutherford]], United States || rowspan="2"|{{fb|BUL}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–1 || rowspan="2"|1994 FIFA World Cup
|-
| align="center"|24 || align="center"|2–0
|-
| align="center"|25 || {{dts|format=dmy|1997|04|30}} || [[Stadio San Paolo]], [[Naples]], Italy || {{fb|POL}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|3–0 || [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|26 || {{dts|format=dmy|1998|06|11}} || [[Stade Chaban-Delmas|Stade du Parc Lescure]], [[Bordeaux]], France || {{fb|CHI}} || align="center"|2–2 || align="center"|2–2 || [[1998 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|27 || {{dts|format=dmy|1998|06|23}} || [[Stade de France]], [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]], France || {{fb|AUT}}|| align="center"|2–0|| align="center"|2–1 || 1998 FIFA World Cup
|}

== Honours ==
'''Juventus'''<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/>
*[[Serie A]]: [[1994–95 Serie A|1994–95]]
*[[Coppa Italia]]: [[1994–95 Coppa Italia|1994–95]]
*[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]: [[1992–93 UEFA Cup|1992–93]]

'''AC Milan'''<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/>
*[[Serie A]]: [[1995–96 Serie A|1995–96]]

'''Italy'''<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/>
*[[FIFA World Cup]] Runner-Up: [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]];<ref>[https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1994usa 1994 FIFA World Cup USA], FIFA.com</ref> Third Place [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]<ref>[https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1990italy 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy], FIFA.com</ref>

'''Individual'''<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/>
* Guerin d'Oro ([[Serie C]] Best Player): 1985<ref name="Roberto Baggio detto Roby"/>
* [[Bravo Award]]: 1990<ref name="Bravo Award">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/bravo-awards.html|title=The "Bravo" Award|author1=José Luis Pierrend|date=8 January 2015|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=20 August 2020}}</ref>
* [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup records and statistics#Most goals in a single season|UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Top Scorer]]: [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1990–91#Top goalscorers|1990–91]] (9 Goals)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec2tops.html|title=Cup Winners Cup Topscorers|author1=Jarek Owsianski|author2=Davide Rota|date=18 December 2013|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=20 November 2015}}</ref>
* ''[[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer]]'''s World Player of the Year: 1993<ref name="ws">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/world-soccer-awards-previous-winners-2-338433 |title=World Soccer Awards – previous winners |publisher=World Soccer |author1=Jamie Rainbow |date=14 December 2012 |access-date=21 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629194202/http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/world-soccer-awards-previous-winners-2-338433 |archive-date=29 June 2016 }}</ref>
* [[Ballon d'Or]]: [[1993 Ballon d'Or|1993]]<ref name="FIFA 94"/> 
** 2nd Place: [[1994 Ballon d'Or|1994]]<ref name="Baggio elogia Stoichkov">{{Cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/dicembre/16/Baggio_elogia_Stoichkov_Barcellona_giusto_co_0_94121616248.shtml |title=Baggio elogia Stoichkov a Barcellona: "giusto che il Pallone d' oro sia suo" |work=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |date=16 December 1994 |access-date=30 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072033/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/dicembre/16/Baggio_elogia_Stoichkov_Barcellona_giusto_co_0_94121616248.shtml |archive-date=7 April 2014 }}</ref> 
** 8th Place: [[1990 Ballon d'Or|1990]]<ref name="Ballon d'Or 1990"/>
* [[FIFA World Player of the Year]]: [[1993 FIFA World Player of the Year|1993]]<ref name="FIFA 94"/> 
** 3rd Place: [[1994 FIFA World Player of the Year|1994]]<ref name="FIFA 94-2">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=174363/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602200053/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=174363/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2014|title=Roberto Baggio - FIFA Profile|publisher=FIFA.com|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FIFA Awards – World Player of the Year - Top 10"/>
** 5th Place: [[1995 FIFA World Player of the Year|1995]]<ref name="FIFA Awards – World Player of the Year - Top 10">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html |title=FIFA Awards – World Player of the Year - Top 10 |author=José Luis Pierrend |access-date=31 March 2016 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112042845/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html |archive-date=12 January 2016 }}</ref>
* [[Onze d'Or]]: 1993<ref name="Onze Mondial Awards">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|title="Onze Mondial" Awards: Onze de Onze 1976-2011|author1=José Luis Pierrend|date=6 March 2012|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=14 September 2015}}</ref> 
** [[Onze d'Or|Onze de Bronze]]: 1994<ref name="Onze Mondial Awards"/> 
** [[Onze d'Or|Onze d'Argent]]: 1995<ref name="Onze Mondial Awards"/>
* [[Onze Mondial|Onze de Onze]]: 1993, 1994, 1995<ref name="Onze Mondial Awards"/>
* [[FIFA World Cup awards#Golden Ball|FIFA World Cup Silver Ball]]: [[1994 FIFA World Cup#Awards|1994]]<ref name="Happy birthday">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2012/m=2/news=happy-birthday-you-1582974.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409005738/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2012/m=2/news=happy-birthday-you-1582974.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 April 2016|title=Happy birthday to you!|publisher=FIFA.com|date=12 February 2012|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FIFA Awards – World Cup Golden Ball">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html |title=FIFA Awards – FIFA World Cup Golden Ball Awards |author=José Luis Pierrend |access-date=13 January 2017 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112042845/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html |archive-date=12 January 2016 }}</ref>
* [[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|FIFA World Cup All-Star Team]]: [[1994 FIFA World Cup#All-star team|1994]]<ref name="94WCAll-Star1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/16/sports/world-cup-94-romario-and-baggio-among-first-all-star-cast.html|title=World Cup '94; Romario and Baggio Among First All-Star Cast|newspaper=The New York Times|date=16 July 1994|access-date=27 May 2015}}</ref><ref name="94WCAll-Star2">{{cite web|url=http://football.sporting99.com/fifa-world-cup-all-star-team.html |title=FIFA World Cup All-Star Team – Football world Cup All Star Team |publisher=Football.sporting99.com |access-date=28 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630203237/http://football.sporting99.com/fifa-world-cup-all-star-team.html |archive-date=30 June 2016}}</ref>
* [[Don Balón Award]]: 1994<ref name="Baggio elogia Stoichkov" />
* [[Onze d'Or|Super Onze d'Or]] (4th Place): 1995<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|title="Onze Mondial" Awards: Super Onze d'Or 1976 - 1995 (top 5)|author1=José Luis Pierrend|date=6 March 2012|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=14 September 2015}}</ref>
* Serie A Top Assist-Provider: [[1995–96 Serie A|1995–96]] (12 Assists)<ref name="beaute"/>
* {{lang|fr|Planète Foot}}'s Best 50 Players of All Time: 1996<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html |title=Planète Foot's 50 Meilleurs Joueurs du Monde |author1=Karel Stokkermans |date=5 February 2001 |access-date=12 August 2015 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231035356/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html |archive-date=31 December 2015 }}</ref>
* ''[[Il Venerdì di Repubblica|Il Venerdì]]'''s Best 100 Players of All Time: 1997 (32nd Place)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/100magn.html|title=Venerdì's All-Time Top-100 (100 Magnifici)|author1=Marcelo Leme de Arruda|date=19 September 1999|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref>
* ''[[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer]]'''s [[World Soccer (magazine)#Greatest Players of the 20th Century|Greatest Players of the 20th Century]]: 1999 (16th Place)<ref name="World Soccer Players of the Century"/>
* ''[[Guerin Sportivo]]'''s Greatest Players of the 20th Century: 1999 (27th Place)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html |title=Guerin' Sportivo's I 50 Grandi del Secolo by Adalberto Bortolotti |author1=Karel Stokkermans |date=5 February 2001 |access-date=12 August 2015 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231035356/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html |archive-date=31 December 2015 }}</ref>
* [[IFFHS|IFFHS Italian Player of the 20th Century]]: 1999 (9th Place)<ref name="IFFHS' Century Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html|title=IFFHS' Century Elections|publisher=IFFHS|author=Karel Stokkermans|date=30 January 2000|access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref>
* [[IFFHS|IFFHS European Player of the 20th Century]]: 1999 (53rd Place)<ref name="IFFHS' Century Elections"/>
* ''[[France Football]]'''s Football Player of the Century: 1999 (18th Place)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html|title=The Best x Players of the Century/All-Time:France Football's Football Player of the Century|author1=Karel Stokkermans|date=23 December 2015|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref>
* ''[[Placar]]'''s Best 100 Players of All Time: 1999 (91st Place)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html|title=The Best x Players of the Century/All-Time: Placar's 100 Craques do Século|author1=Karel Stokkermans|date=23 December 2015|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref>
* [[FIFA|FIFA XI]]: 2000, 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html |title=FIFA XI´s Matches - Full Info |access-date=4 January 2016 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033752/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html |archive-date=17 November 2015 }}</ref>
* [[Guerin d'Oro]]: [[2000–01 Serie A|2001]]<ref name="Guerin d'Oro"/>
* [[Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare "Gaetano Scirea"]]: 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2001/luglio/15/Roberto_Baggio_aggiudica_premio_Scirea_co_5_0107155477.shtml|title=Roberto Baggio si aggiudica il premio ®Scirea¯ alla carriera|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=15 July 2001|access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref>
* [[Gran Galà del Calcio#Serie A Most Loved Player|Gran Galà del Calcio 'Best Football Book' Award]]: 2001<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/>
* [[FIFA World Cup Dream Team]]: 2002<ref name="World All-Time Teams"/>
* [[Gran Galà del Calcio#Serie A Most Loved Player|Gran Galà del Calcio 'Serie A Most Loved Player' Award]]: 2002<ref name="Roberto Baggio: Statistiche"/>
* [[Golden Foot]]: 2003<ref name=goldenfoot.com/>
* [[FIFA 100]]: 2004<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/2374252/Pele-open-to-ridicule-over-top-hundred.html|title=Pele open to ridicule over top hundred|newspaper=The Telegraph|author1=Christopher Davies|date=5 March 2004|access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref>
* [[UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll]]: 2004 (24th Place)<ref name="Golden Jubilee"/>
* Giuseppe Prisco Award: 2004<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sport.repubblica.it/news/sport/calcio-premio-giuseppe-prisco-moratti-mazzone-baggio/480272|title=Calcio: premio Giuseppe Prisco a Moratti, Mazzone e Baggio|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=2 April 2004|access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref>
* San Siro Gentleman Nazionale Award: 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.premiogentleman.it/portfolio-item/2004/ |title=Premio San Siro Gentleman 2004 |publisher=Premio Gentleman |language=it |access-date=16 April 2020 }}</ref>
* ''[[Placar]]'''s Best 100 World Cup Players: 2005 (24th Place)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/placwc100.html|title=Os 100 Craques das Copas (Placar Magazine)|author1=Marcelo Leme de Arruda|date=21 December 2005|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=12 August 2015}}</ref>
* [[Association of Football Statisticians]]'s Best 100 Players of All Time: 2007 (79th Place)<ref name="AFS Top-100 Players of All-Time"/>
* AC Milan Hall of Fame<ref name="acmilan.com"/>
* [[Man of Peace]]: 2010<ref name=Man-of-peace/>
* [[Italian Football Hall of Fame]]: 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan.com/en/news/breaking_news_show/49563|title=Baresi, Capello and Rivera Accepted in Hall of Fame|publisher=AC Milan.com|date=26 November 2013|access-date=20 April 2015}}</ref>
* Juventus FC 50 Club Legends: 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juventus.com/juve/en/news/17giugno2011_aus_baggio|title=Journey through the Stars: Roberto Baggio|publisher=Juventus.com|date=17 June 2011|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref>
* Gentleman di Platino: 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calciomercato.com/news/il-gentleman-di-platino-a-roberto-baggio-269163|title=Il Gentleman di Platino a Roberto Baggio|publisher=Calcio Mercato|language=it|date=18 May 2015|access-date=21 May 2015}}</ref>
* [[Walk of Fame of Italian Sport]]: 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coni.it/it/news/primo-piano/9832-inaugurata-la-walk-of-fame.html|title=Inaugurata la Walk of Fame: 100 targhe per celebrare le leggende dello sport italiano|publisher=Coni|language=it|date=7 May 2015|access-date=26 August 2015|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712120410/https://www.coni.it/it/news/primo-piano/9832-inaugurata-la-walk-of-fame.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coni.it/images/CNA_100_Leggende_per_data_di_nascita.pdf|title=CNA 100 Leggende CONI per data di nascita|publisher=Coni|language=it|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712120416/https://www.coni.it/images/CNA_100_Leggende_per_data_di_nascita.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[IFFHS]]' [[IFFHS World's Best Player#Men Legends|48 Football Men's Legend Players]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/ |title=IFFHS announce the 48 football legend players |publisher=IFFHS |date=25 January 2016 |access-date=14 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216142734/http://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/ |archive-date=16 February 2016 }}</ref>
*[[Juventus FC Hall of Fame]]: 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 September 2025 |title=Juventus creates its Hall of Fame - Juventus |url=https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articles/juventus-creates-its-hall-of-fame |access-date=10 September 2025 |website=Juventus.com |language=en}}</ref>

'''Orders'''
:*[[File:Cavaliere OMRI BAR.svg|left|50px]] 5th Class / Knight: ''[[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic|Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana]]'': 1991<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=211713|title=Baggio Sig. Roberto - Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana|publisher=Quirinale.it|language=it|date=30 July 1991|access-date=16 March 2015}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |last1=Baggio |first1=Roberto |title=Una porta nel cielo |trans-title=A goal in the sky |publisher=Limina Edizioni |language=it |location=Arezzo |isbn=88-88551-92-1 |date=2001 |pages=49–59 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Nappi |first1=Raffaele |title=Roberto Baggio. Divin codino |trans-title=Roberto Baggio. Divine ponytail |publisher=Giulio Perrone Editore |language=it |location=Rome |isbn=978-88-6004-465-5 |date=2018 }}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{sports links}}
* {{Official website|url=http://www.robertobaggio.com}}
* [https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/nazionali-in-cifre/dettaglio-convocato/?calciatoreId=43346&squadraId=12 Roberto Baggio] at FIGC.it {{in lang|it}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516014018/http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/ambassadors/ambassadors/ambassadors-robertobaggio/en/ |date=16 May 2012 |title=FAO Goodwill Ambassador website }}

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{{Italy squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Italy squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}
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{{1994 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
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{{FIFA World Cup Dream Team}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{Italian Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Juventus FC Hall of Fame}}
{{Walk of Fame of Italian sport}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Baggio, Roberto}}
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