Inter confirmed the death of Sandro Mazzola, describing him in a communiqué as "one of the greatest footballers in history, not only for the Nerazzurri" and expressing the difficulty of finding words to honour a player who "wrote the club’s history in an indelible and unprecedented way".
Mazzola, a central figure of the Grande Inter era, first wore the Inter shirt at eight years old. He made his senior debut at 18, scoring a penalty in the famous Juventus‑Inter clash on 10 June 1961, a match that signalled the start of a storied career.
Under manager Helenio Herrera, Mazzola helped the side win four Serie A titles, two European Cups – including the 1964 triumph over Real Madrid – and two Intercontinental Cups. He was Serie A’s top scorer in 1965 with 17 goals, led the European Cup scoring charts in 1964 with seven goals, and finished second in the 1971 Ballon d’Or behind Johan Cruyff.
After hanging up his boots, Mazzola remained at Inter as a sporting director, most famously orchestrating the signing of Brazilian star Ronaldo – a move the club celebrated as its 50th anniversary only yesterday.
In its tribute, Inter recalled Mazzola’s personal wish to be remembered as "a good man who gave everything even when victory seemed impossible", a sentiment echoed by fans who associate him with iconic moments such as the 9‑1 victory that epitomised his fighting spirit.