Diego Armando Maradona Franco is undoubtedly one of the most talented and controversial players to grace the World Cup stage and many would argue he is the greatest of all time. To England supporters, he will forever be remembered for one moment – ‘the hand of god’ – but his international career was packed with jaw-dropping dribbles and awe-inspiring finishes which shook the football planet.
Unlike Lionel Messi today, Maradona’s talent had no rival in the 1980s; he was the most exciting player since Pele and many were hinting he was even better. In the 1986 World Cup quarter finals, Maradona dribbled past half of the England team and coolly placed the ball beyond Peter Shilton, scoring ‘the goal of the century’. Moments after the England bench had seethed in outrage over the famous handball incident they were left applauding a goal of technical wizardry and limitless self-confidence.
Maradona’s career began a decade earlier, commencing a glittering career in professional football with Argentinos Juniors at the age of 15, signing a contract with the club ten days before his sixteenth birthday. He spent five years at Argentinos, scoring an impressive 115 goals in 167 appearances, before enhancing his prospects at Boca Juniors, who he had supported avidly as a boy; in truth, Maradona was still a boy when he was snapped up by the Argentinean giants for £1million. By 1981, the youngster had appeared on numerous occasions for his country and, in fact, it had only taken a year at Argentinos to attract the selectors’ attention. With the 1978 World Cup around the corner, the nation and press were campaigning for Maradona’s inclusion in the squad for the tournament but Argentina Coach Cesar Menotti decided he was too young to play on the world stage. When Maradona signed for Juniors, he had already led Argentina’s youth side to World Championship glory and had scored his first international goal, netting in an away fixture with Scotland in 1979. When Juniors won the Argentine Championship in his debut season, Maradona was a name hot on the lips of agents across Europe.
With interest already sky-high, Maradona’s talents were exhibited on the World Cup stage for the first time when Argentina travelled to Spain in 1982. In their opening match against Belgium at the Nou Camp, there were high expectations for the youngster but he didn’t perform and Argentina lost 1-0. After a disappointing start to the tournament, Maradona scored two goals against Hungary in a 4-1 victory over a formidable Uruguay team, showing the Spanish crowd what he is was capable of. The tournament ended sourly for Maradona, seeing red against Italy in the second round, but his antics had sealed a record deal with Barcelona.
In the summer of ’82, Maradona made the first of two world record-breaking transfers when he relocated across the Atlantic to Spanish giants Barcelona for £5million. In his first season, he won the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, however, His first season the campaign was littered were injury and ill-health for Maradona. He suffered from a bout of hepatitis before breaking his ankle in a collision with Athletic’s Andoni Goikoetxea. The career-threatening injury healed after intense treatment and Maradona managed to net 38 goals in 58 games in two difficult seasons at Barca. Spats with the club’s directors, including president Josep Lluis Nunez, resulted in the mercury-heeled Argentine demanding for a transfer in 1984. Subsequently, Italian side Napoli welcomed Maradona for another world record fee of £6.9million. When 75,000 fans attended his presentation at the Stadio San Paolo, there was a feeling that the saviour had arrived, with AC Milan, Inter, Juventus and Roma dominated Serie A at the time. In a seven year spell at the Italian club, Maradona could find some consistency in his career and quickly reached his peak, winning the ’86 World Cup before lifting the Serie A trophy in 1987. In Naples, Maradona’s face was painted on ancient buildings and babies were named after him as the team went from success to success, winning their second league title three years later. His incredible talent was finally seeking the rewards it deserved, and a sparkling career at Napoli saw him win two Italian Championships (1986/87), the Coppa Italia (1987), the UEFA Cup (1989) and the Italian Supercup (1990) and become top scorer in Serie A (1987/88) and the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with 115 goals. In his honour, Napoli’s number ten shirt was officially retired.
Maradona resumed his international supremacy at the 1990 World Cup and led Argentina to the final despite an ankle injury preventing him from playing with the dominance of four years earlier. In what many believed would be Maradona’s final appearance on the world stage, Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany. Remarkably, he returned to World Cup action in USA ’94 and scored a spectacular goal against Greece before failing a drugs test for doping. The test signaled the end of a colourful career at the helm of Argentina.
After finishing his career with a short spell at Newell’s Old Boys before returning to Boca Juniors, Maradona hung up his boots and faded from the Radar of international stardom. However, in 2008, Maradona was back in the international set-up and travelled to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as manager. After Argentina’s qualification for the tournament was confirmed, Maradona received a two-month ban for a foul-mouthed outburst in the press conference – never far from controversy. The tournament began with great success, defeating all three group-stage opponents and winning their second round match 3-1 against Mexico. Argentina were then overpowered by Germany, losing 4-0 in the quarter finals, and Maradona immediately doubted his future as coach, telling the press “I may leave tomorrow.” True to his word, he split with Argentina after the tournament.
Despite his moments of controversy, his drug addictions and bad behavior, Diego Maradona remains deeply in the hearts of the Argentinean people and his name will forever be sung on the streets of Buenos Aires when the international team travel to World Cup tournaments. From winning the ’86 World Cup and twice breaking the world-record transfer fee to becoming head coach of Argentina, Maradona’s life has never been short of a headline or memorable moment. His vision, skill, pace and unpredictability will forever contend the mantle of the world’s greatest player.
By Sam Fletcher
This photograph was provided by wallyg.
