 However, he was substituted off in the final minutes of the 0–0 draw after injuring his rib.Despite a series of injuries prior to the tournament, Baggio was expected to be one of the stars of the 1994 World Cup, entering the competition as the reigning Ballon d'Or winner and FIFA World Player of the Year, and at the peak of his career; after a lacklustre start, he led his team to the final with three match winning performances in the knockout rounds, wearing the number 10 shirt, and scoring five goals in the process.In a disappointing first match against Republic of Ireland at Giants Stadium, New Jersey, Italy were defeated 1–0.