Former Italian international player Roberto Baggio and his family were kidnapped for 40 minutes on Thursday while the Italy-Spain Euro 2024 match was underway, as a group of violent thieves entered their villa and locked them in a room, according to Italian media.

Baggio, 57, was injured after being struck on the forehead with the barrel of a gun during the robbery at his home in Altavilla Vicentina (Vicenza, northern Italy), "Il Corriere della Sera" reported on Friday.

The robbery began around 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT) while Baggio and his family were watching the Italy-Spain match on television. At least five armed individuals broke into the house.

Baggio confronted them, and after a brief scuffle with one of the assailants, he was hit in the face with the gun's barrel, causing a deep wound. Subsequently, the ex-footballer and his family were locked in a room.

Meanwhile, the thieves ransacked all the rooms, stealing watches, jewelry, and money. The total value of the stolen items has not yet been determined, according to the same sources.

Once Baggio realized the thieves had left, he broke down the door of the room where they had been held for about 40 minutes and called the Carabinieri (Italian military police), who quickly arrived at the villa and took footage from the surveillance cameras.

Baggio and his family were taken to the hospital, where the former player received several stitches for the forehead wound. The rest of his family members were unharmed physically but deeply shaken by the violence of the attackers.