Roberto Baggio breaks his silence after he was beaten and locked up by armed robbers as he describes 'violence' of 'lightning attack' on his terrified family at his Italian villa

Italian football legend Roberto Baggio has opened up about the 'violence' he and his family suffered after armed robbers launched a 'lighting attack' against them as they watched the Euro 2024 match between Spain and Italy in their home. 

Baggio, 57, was at his home in Altavilla Vicentina, a small town in northern Italy that lies roughly an hour's drive away from Venice, at around 10pm local time last night when the gang of five broke in. 

While Il Divin Codino, The Divine Ponytail in English, tried to fight the thugs off, he was hit in the head with the butt of a gun before he and his family, made up of his wife, two sons, his mother- and brother-in law, were locked in a room. 

The robbers stole watches, jewellery and money, the value of which is not currently known, from the isolated agricultural estate which he and his family have lived in for 15 years. 

The Ballon d'Or winner, who scored 27 goals in 56 caps for his national team was able to break his family out of the room they were locked in, but not before the robbers got away. Corriere della Sera reported that the robbery took place over 40 minutes. 

Baggio was seen stalking the grounds of his estate today sporting a bandage on his head following the treatment he suffered at the hands of the robbers. 

Investigating cops have been handed CCTV footage to assist their inquiry. 

Baggio, meanwhile, had to go to a hospital in Arzignano, roughly eight miles from his home, to be treated for his forehead injury, for which he was given stitches. 

Speaking to Italian media through his agent Vittorio Petrone, Baggio said: 'First of all, my family and I would like to thank everyone for the great love we have received. Thank you very much.'

'In similar circumstances, anything can happen, and fortunately the violence suffered only generated a few stitches to my person, bruises and a lot of fear. Now all that remains is to overcome the fear.'

Mr Petrone told Italian media: 'The lightning attack, in full light, did not allow the activation of all the best security systems with which the villa is equipped.

'Now, from what happened, we will further strengthen the daytime detection systems throughout the entire perimeter.

'Only when you are hit do you realize the wounds left by an episode of violence and oppression suffered in your home, together with his family Roberto once again amazed me with the clarity and strength of spirit he expressed immediately following the attack he suffered.

'I am sure that Roberto will once again be the pillar on which his entire family can lean on to leave this behind brutal attack. The investigators are working intensely to bring the culprits to justice.' 

Diego Fabbi, Baggio's brother-in-law, told reporters outside the villa that he and the rest of the family haven't spoken about the shocking attack. 

'We talked little about what happened. They were all watching the match together when the shot occurred. Where did they come in from? That's the problem. We don't know, the criminals found themselves in the living room. 

'Roberto's two sons were there and also my mother. The criminals spoke little, it was not clear where they were coming from but they acted well with their hands, beating Roberto. I can't say anything else.'

While none of the family except for Roberto were hurt, they were left terrified by the incident at their home, which reportedly sits on an isolated plot of land surrounded by countryside and woodland. 

The homestead, a rustic country farmhouse, is made of several floors that were designed to accommodate his family an agricultural company. 

The central hall of the home overlooks the vast garden, which hosts several braziers used for cooking meat outside as well as a pergola.

The home also has a private gym that the family uses to maintain physical well-being.  

The Italian legend spent his entire 22-year sporting career in Italy, playing for the country's three most decorated clubs, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan, as well as other smaller clubs. 

While he won two Serie A titles in this time, his legacy was somewhat stained by his infamous penalty miss at the final of the 1994 World Cup against Brazil. 

A 1985 injury, just three years into his career, threatened to end his time as a footballer. The incident profoundly changed him, and he converted from Catholicism to Buddhism. 

His religion became such a deep part of his identity that he proudly wore the colours of his religious school, Nichiren Buddhism, on his captain's armband. 

The band also bore the Japanese motto 'We win. We must win.'

His strong Buddhist belief allowed him to forge a strong tie to Japan, where he is popular. Baggio has appeared in several football-themed cartoons and video games published in the country. 

But he has never let go of his Catholic roots, marrying his long-time partner Andreina Fabbi in 1989 in a Catholic ceremony. 

The couple had three children together - Valentina, born in 1990, Mattia, born in 1994, and Leonardo, born in 2005.

On top of being a successful footballer, he was a businessman, owning a sports goods store in Thiene, Vicenza, called Baggio Sport which had to close down in 2012 following a series of losses after the 2008 global recession. 

After retiring from football, he became a high-ranking officials in Italy's Football Federation, presiding over the organisation's technical section. 

But in 2013, after three years in the job, he resigning claiming that the sporting body did not listen to his recommendations on how to nurture young talent. 

Outside of football, he is heavily involved in charity work. He was named a Goodwill Ambassador of the UN's Food and Agriculture organisation, and helped fund hospitals, raise money for disaster victims and raised funds to tackle bird flu. 

The Divine Ponytail has also used his footballing skills to raise money for charity, taking part in several fundraising matches, including a 2008 friendly between Milan and Florentina that raised money for ALS treatment. 

He also took part in the 2014 Match for Peace in Rome, to raise money for Scholas, a project aiming to connect schools and educational networks from different cultures and beliefs from around the world. 

Baggio played alongside Diego Maradona, Carlos Valderrama, Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi and Andrea Pirlo. 

He was given the 2010 Man of Peace award for his charity and social justice work, which was presented by the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Hiroshima, Japan. 

Baggio is also a keen hunter, and owns a ranch in Rivera in the southwest of Argentina where he hunts wild game.