PAOL0 ROSSI 1982

The Italian media were furious when Paolo Rossi was selected in Italy’s 1982 World Cup squad, having spent two years sat on the sidelines over his involvement in a betting scandal.

In his opening three games of the tournament, Rossi’s displays justified their rage, as he ambled around the pitch.

But something suddenly clicked. Italy faced a Brazil outfit strongly fancied to win the competition in their decisive second group stage clash, and the Juventus frontman hit a stunning treble.

His first was a bullet header, the second a rifled finish one-on-one with the keeper and the hat-trick strike a close-range finish from six yards out, sealing a famous 3-2 victory in Barcelona.

Rossi didn’t look back, bagging both Azzurri goals in the last-four success over Poland.

West Germany awaited in the final but couldn’t deny Rossi his fairytale ending – he netted the opener in a 3-1 win to clinch the cup and Golden Boot.