📍Caldogno, Vicenza, Italy
1967 – 1985“Roberto Baggio was born in February 1967 in Caldogno, a small town in the flat farmland of the Veneto, just north of Vicenza, the sixth of eight children of Florindo and Matilde Baggio. The house was crowded and lively, and Florindo was a passionate cycling fan who would have liked his sons to race bikes. Roberto had other ideas: from the time he could walk he was kicking a ball around the streets and fields of Caldogno. He joined the youth teams of the local club, Caldogno, as a boy, and soon showed extraordinary skill, dribbling past whole teams and scoring goals by the dozen. At thirteen he was spotted by the scout Antonio Mora and joined Vicenza, the provincial club, where he made his debut in the third division at fifteen. Caldogno was also where he met Andreina, the daughter of a neighbour, whom he had known since he was fifteen and married in 1989. Just before he was due to join Fiorentina in 1985, he suffered a serious knee injury, and the long and painful recovery tested him deeply; during it he turned to Buddhism, which has guided his life ever since. Known as Il Divin Codino, the Divine Ponytail, for his hairstyle, he became one of the most loved players in the history of Italian football, starring for Fiorentina, Juventus, Milan, Inter and Brescia. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1993 and led Italy to the 1994 World Cup final. He has remained close to his roots, living quietly in the Veneto countryside, where he enjoys hunting and farming.”
🗺️ Approximate location today
📍 Street view today