Italy Bids Farewell to Igor Protti After Battle with Cancer

The former Italian striker Igor Protti passed away at the age of 58 after a battle with cancer. Italian media announced his death today, Thursday, casting a shadow of sadness over the sports community in Italy.

In July 2025, Broti revealed that he had been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor, describing the illness as a "very tough match." He underwent surgery followed by therapy sessions, before it was later discovered that the disease had spread to the vertebrae of the spine, necessitating additional treatments that included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

During his football career, Protti played for several prominent Italian clubs, most notably Bari, Lazio, and Napoli, but he is considered an icon at Livorno. He achieved his most notable individual accomplishment in the 1995-1996 season when he was crowned the top scorer of the Italian league with 24 goals for Bari, despite the team's relegation that season.

Italy witnessed a wide wave of reactions following the announcement of his death, with clubs, former teammates, and fans mourning him, considering him a distinguished player on the field and a beloved personality off it, who maintained a special relationship with his fans until his last days.