Cagliari celebrates Gigi Riva on his 82nd birthday

Cagliari is holding a special celebration at the Teatro Lirico to honor the memory of football legend Gigi Riva on what would have been his 82nd birthday. The sold-out event features a presentation of a volume dedicated to him by the Istituto della Enciclopedia Treccani as part of its ‘Miti Italiani’ series.

The evening includes musical performances, readings, and testimonies from figures associated with Cagliari’s historic 1970 Scudetto victory. An exhibition curated by Giorgio Pitzianti is also being held in the theater foyer.

Known as ‘Rombo di Tuono’ (Thunderclap) by journalist Gianni Brera, Riva is celebrated for his powerful left foot and his decision to remain loyal to Cagliari despite offers from larger clubs. His career highlights include winning the 1968 European Championship, participating in the 1970 World Cup, and scoring 35 goals in 42 matches for the Italian national team.