Overview
- The family announced Protti’s death Friday on his social profile and published his farewell line: “This splendid journey, like every match, has reached the final whistle.”
- Relatives invited those who wish to pay respects to a public viewing at the Frongillo committal room in Cecina, Via della Rimembranza, from 15:00 the day of the announcement.
- Protti had gone public with a colon cancer diagnosis in July 2025 and disclosed that the disease spread to his vertebrae by September 2025 after surgery, a stoma and chemotherapy.
- On the field Protti was a celebrated striker who finished as Serie A top scorer in 1995–96 with Bari, also led scoring charts in Serie B and C, and recorded roughly 250–260 career goals while becoming an emblem for Bari and Livorno.
- Clubs, civic leaders and national football bodies issued condolences, and recent civic honours and a docufilm helped focus public mourning and will likely shape local memorials and tributes in Livorno, Bari and other cities.