Editing Roberto Baggio (section)

== 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=http://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=A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Roberto Baggio|publisher=A.C. 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 }}</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 }}</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>