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For me a sporting hero is not necessarily the one who wins the most. Sometimes it is an individual's spirit and dignity that sets them out from the rest. For this reason, the footballer I have admired most in recent years is the Italian Roberto Baggio.

Baggio was born in 1967, in the region of Veneto in Italy. One of five children, he was spotted by footballing scout after scoring 6 goals in one game for a local youth team, and was signed by the Vicenza club - making his debut in 1981. Baggio rose to be one of the most graceful and technically gifted players of his generation. He became the most expensive player in the world when he moved to Juventus in 1990 and played for Italy 56 times, scoring 26 goals.

My most vivid memory of Baggio was during the 1994 world cup. As a player he was head and shoulders above everyone else. His skill and influence on the pitch almost single handedly dragged the Italian team to the final against Brazil. At that moment he was reveered, but the final was a close game and ultimately went to a penalty shoot out. It was Baggio's penalty miss that gave the trophy to Brazil, and suddenly the 'devine pony tail' had gone from being hailed as the reason for the team's success, to the reason for their failure. Yet it was the dignity and humility with which Baggio dealt with that failure that ultimately won the respect and the hearts of Italian's and fans around the world. Baggio set an example as a sportsman, and as a human being.

Learn more about this author, Robert Stephenson.
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