[34] In 1983, under coach César Luis Menotti, Barcelona and Maradona won the Copa del Rey (Spain's annual national cup competition), beating Real Madrid, and the Spanish Super Cup, beating Athletic Bilbao. [80] This match was played with the background of the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom. He was fouled repeatedly in all five games and particularly in the last one against Brazil at the Sarrià, a game that was blighted by poor officiating and violent fouls. [244][245], Maradona's relationship with his immediate family was a close one, and in a 1990 interview with Sports Illustrated he showed phone bills where he had spent a minimum of 15,000 US dollars per month calling his parents and siblings. [194] In May 2020, Sky Sports ranked Maradona as the best player never to have won the UEFA Champions League or European Cup.[195]. "[264] He became friends with Cuban leader Fidel Castro while receiving treatment on the island, with Castro stating, "Diego is a great friend and very noble, too. Natali Rios, 26, from the city of … When a friend scolds him for taking the prank too far, the fake priest retorts, "But I was talking about Maradona." [300], In Naples, the Stadio San Paolo—officially renamed Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on 4 December 2020—was illuminated at night in honour of Maradona, with numerous fans gathering outside the stadium placing murals and paintings as a tribute. The Italian courts had already ruled so in 1993, after Maradona refused to undergo DNA tests to prove or disprove his paternity. [116][117][118][119] Maradona was renowned for his dribbling ability, vision, close ball control, passing, and creativity, and is considered to have been one of the most skilful players in the sport. [241], During the divorce proceedings, Maradona admitted that he was the father of Diego Sinagra (born in Naples on 20 September 1986). [260] During the 2018 World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria, Maradona was shown on television cameras behaving extremely erratically, with an abundance of white residue visible on the glass in front of his seat in the stands. On 15 August 2005, Maradona made his debut as host of a talk-variety show on Argentine television, La Noche del 10 ("The Night of the no. [48], Napoli would win their second league title in 1989–90, and finish runners up in the league twice, in 1987–88 and 1988–89. [225], After the resignation of Argentina national team coach Alfio Basile in 2008, Maradona immediately proposed his candidacy for the vacant role. [22] After the game, Maradona said, "That day I felt I had held the sky in my hands. [247], In 2014 Maradona was accused of assaulting his girlfriend, Rocío Oliva, allegations which he denied. [12] He was the coach of Argentine Primera División club Gimnasia de La Plata from September 2019 until his death in November 2020. At the final in Rome, Argentina lost 1–0 to West Germany, the only goal being a controversial penalty scored by Andreas Brehme in the 85th minute, after Rudi Völler was adjudged to be fouled. Sell your ceiling then, amigo, do something! How many players would even know to think like that? "[274], In December 2007, Maradona presented a signed shirt with a message of support to the people of Iran: it is displayed in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' museum. In the 1986 World Cup quarter final, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over England that entered football history for two different reasons. Regarding his two memorable goals against England in the quarter-finals, he commented: "Yes, it was Maradona’s hand, and not God’s, that was responsible for the first goal against England. After the meeting, Maradona said that he had come to meet a "great man" (un grande, which can also mean "a big man", in Spanish), but had instead met a gigantic man (un gigante). [213] On 17 August 2015, Maradona visited Ali Bin Nasser, the Tunisian referee of the Argentina–England quarter-final match at the 1986 World Cup where Maradona scored his Hand of God, and paid tribute to him by giving him a signed Argentine jersey. [257] In the following days, there were constant rumours about his health, including three false claims of his death within a month. ", "I asked myself, 'Who is this man? [320] In Rosario, Argentina, locals organized the parody religion of the "Church of Maradona". Though he's also listed as one of the most overrated players ever in other lists. Maradona made 694 appearances and scored 354 goals for club and country combined, with a goalscoring average of 0.51. Pitch International LLP. [45] Goldblatt wrote, "The celebrations were tumultuous. He was a special compensation factor for a country that in a few years lived through several military dictatorships and social frustrations of all kinds." p. 193. He would look so incredibly out of shape, but then he’d train like crazy and sweat it off by the time matchday came along. [106], Outwith official internationals, Maradona also played and scored for an Argentina XI against the World XI in 1978 to mark the first anniversary of their first World Cup win,[107][108] scored for The Americas against the World in a UNICEF fundraiser a short time after the 1986 triumph,[107][108] a year after that captained the 'Rest of the World' against the English Football League XI to celebrate the organisation's centenary (after reportedly securing a £100,000 appearance fee)[109][110] and was on the scoresheet for the Argentina XI once more in his own 'farewell match' in 2001. Attacking Midfield, Former International: [40] The Bilbao squad surrounded Maradona to exact some retribution, with Goikoetxea connecting with a high kick to his chest, before the rest of the Barcelona squad joined in to help Maradona. FIFA expelled him from USA '94, and Argentina were subsequently eliminated in the round of 16 by Romania in Los Angeles. [101], In the quarter-final, Argentina faced Yugoslavia in Florence; the match ended 0–0 after 120 minutes, with Argentina advancing in a penalty shootout even though Maradona's kick, a weak shot to the goalkeeper's right, was saved. Daughter Dalma has since asserted that the divorce was the best solution for all, as her parents remained on friendly terms. [254], Maradona had a tendency to put on weight and suffered increasingly from obesity, at one point weighing 280 lb (130 kg). [7] He played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, and Newell's Old Boys during his club career, and is most famous for his time at Napoli and Barcelona, where he won numerous accolades. José ended up crashing into the post, before Maradona slotted the ball into the net. [313] On 29 November, compatriot Lionel Messi scored in Barcelona's 4–0 home win over Osasuna in La Liga, dedicating his goal to Maradona by revealing a Newell's Old Boys shirt worn by the latter under his own, and subsequently pointing to the sky. Dries Mertens said it was "tough to pull that shirt on" after the Napoli player wore the famous number 10 shirt in honour of Diego Maradona prior … One day I hope we can play football together in heaven. Maradona received his first football as a gift at age three and quickly became devoted to the game. [41] One Barcelona executive stated, "When I saw those scenes of Maradona fighting and the chaos that followed I realized we couldn't go any further with him. He's the greatest player of all time, by a long way. [183][184][185] However, in 2005, Paolo Maldini, described Maradona both as the greatest player he ever faced, and also as the most honest, stating: "He was a model of good behaviour on the pitch – he was respectful of everyone, from the great players down to the ordinary team member. Argentina soccer superstar Diego Maradona (L) of S.S.C Napoli is about to shoot a ball to the goal during the Xerox Super Soccer 12 August 1988 … [292], — Pelé paying tribute following Maradona's death[293], In a statement on social media, the Argentine Football Association expressed "its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend", adding: "You will always be in our hearts. Boca defeated River 3–0 with Maradona scoring a goal after dribbling past Alberto Tarantini and Fillol. ", "Maradona, turns like a little eel and comes away from trouble, little squat man... comes inside Butcher and leaves him for dead, outside Fenwick and leaves him for dead, and puts the ball away... and that is why Maradona is the greatest player in the world. The Italian match is renowned for Maradona being aggressively man-marked by Claudio Gentile, as Italy beat Argentina at the Sarrià Stadium in Barcelona, 2–1. He also revealed that Maradona was ahead of his time in the fact that he had a personal fitness coach – Fernando Signorini – who trained him in a variety of areas, in addition to looking after his physical conditioning, adding: "While he [Maradona] was in a football team he had his own regime. "[276] Maradona participated and danced at the electoral campaign rally during the 2018 presidential elections in Venezuela. Diego Armando Maradona (İspanyolca telaffuz: [ˈdjeɣo maɾaˈðona], 30 Ekim 1960 - 25 Kasım 2020), Arjantinli profesyonel futbolcu, teknik direktör ve menajerdi.Birçok uzman, futbol eleştirmenleri, eski futbolcular, faal futbolcular ve futbol taraftarlarınca tüm zamanların en iyi futbolcularından biri olarak görülmektedir. The things I could do with a football, he could do with an orange. Lyhyen mutta vantteran Maradonan vahvuuksiin kuuluivat hänen peliuransa aikana nopeus, voima, … "Maradona: The Hand of God". [326] There is a documented phenomenon of Brazilians being named in honour of Maradona,[327] an example being footballer Diego Costa. Oxford University Press, 2001. Argentina beat West Germany 3–2 in front of 115,000 fans at the Azteca with Maradona lifting the World Cup as captain. The American newspaper Houston Chronicle wrote of Maradona: To understand the gargantuan shadow Maradona casts over his football-mad homeland, one has to conjure up the athleticism of Michael Jordan, the power of Babe Ruth – and the human fallibility of Mike Tyson. They all speak of the fact that he did not train, but it was not true because Diego was the last person to leave the pitch, it was necessary to send him away because otherwise he would stay for hours to invent free kicks. ", "The 50 Most Overrated Footballers Of All Time Have Been Named And Ranked By Fans", "I mille colori di Maradona in bianco e nero", "Napoli, Carnevale racconta: "Maradona una volta si presentò un'ora prima di giocare, "Bianchi, passione e rigore di un vincente". (2011). The only match Argentina played during Maradona's ban was a friendly away to Catalonia, which they lost 4–2. [224] Despite having a bad record during the 2019–20 season, Gimnasia renewed Maradona's contract on 3 June 2020 through the 2020–21 season. This quote from former teammate Jorge Valdano summarizes the feelings of many: He is someone many people want to emulate, a controversial figure, loved, hated, who stirs great upheaval, especially in Argentina... Stressing his personal life is a mistake. [141] Napoli's former president – Corrado Ferlaino – commented on Maradona's leadership qualities during his time with the club in 2008, describing him as "a coach on the pitch. [208], In May 2006, Maradona agreed to take part in UK's Soccer Aid (a program to raise money for UNICEF). In Argentina, however, Maradona was always more than just a sports hero -- he was a divine figure. [221] Maradona insisted that Gabriel Pellegrino remain club president if he were to stay with Gimnasia de La Plata. After winning his first three matches as the coach of the national team, he oversaw a 6–1 defeat to Bolivia, equalling the team's worst ever margin of defeat. The beauty of Diego's game has a hereditary element – his natural ease with the ball – but it also owes a lot to his ability to learn: a lot of those brushstrokes, those strokes of 'genius', are in fact a product of his hard work. John H Kerr (2004). [111], —Michel Platini, former French midfielder, on Maradona's ball control[16], Described as a "classic number 10" in the media,[112] Maradona was a traditional playmaker who usually played in a free role, either as an attacking midfielder behind the forwards, or as a second striker in a front–two,[113][114][115] although he was also deployed as an offensive–minded central midfielder in a 4–4–2 formation on occasion. [252] By the time he was playing for Napoli, he had a full-blown addiction, which interfered with his ability to play football. "Maradona" redirects here. FIFA did not grant the request, even though Argentine officials have maintained that FIFA hinted that it would. "People on People: The Oxford Dictionary of Biographical Quotations". [66] In 1996, he played in a friendly match alongside his brother Raul for Toronto Italia against the Canadian National Soccer League All-Stars. I'd never felt like that before, but it's true... and not just because it was such an important game. [76], Maradona played in all five matches without being substituted, scoring twice against Hungary. He left everyone open-mouthed every time he got on the ball. Maradona was left off the Argentine squad for the 1978 World Cup on home soil by coach César Luis Menotti who felt he was too young at age 17. "The Story of the World Cup: The Essential Companion to South Africa 2010". [24] Maradona scored his first goal in the Primera División against Marplatense team San Lorenzo on 14 November 1976, two weeks after turning 16. "Barca: A People's Passion". On 22 June 2005, it was announced that Maradona would return to former club Boca Juniors as a sports vice-president in charge of managing the First Division roster (after a disappointing 2004–05 season, which coincided with Boca's centenary). [44] Sports writer David Goldblatt commented, "They [the fans] were convinced that the saviour had arrived. Routledge, 2008, Susan Ratcliffe (2001). Messi, Hazard & how the attacking role works", Diego Maradona dominated 1986 World Cup after position switch – Jonathan Wilson – SI.com, Diego Maradona – Profile of Soccer Player Diego Maradona, "Maradona the coach can learn from experience of Maradona the player", "Lionel Messi plays for Argentina but he is not a traditional Argentine player", "Germany, Argentina, and What Really Makes a World Cup Team", "WORLD CUP '94; Maradona Lets Feet Talk for Him", "50 Greatest Dribblers in World Football History", "Messi's a world treasure says Johan Cruyff", "We Missed the Premier League, Too: The Legendary Career of Thierry Henry", "Recall the best not the worst of Maradona, says David Lacey", "Mythbuster: 'Messi is not Maradona' – Did Diego win the World Cup on his own? [9] In May 2018, Maradona was announced as the new chairman of Belarusian club Dynamo Brest. [222][223] Originally scheduled to be held on 23 November 2019,[222] the election was delayed 15 days. [309] The AFA announced that the 2020 Copa de la Liga Profesional, which is the debut season of Copa de la Liga Profesional, would be renamed Copa Diego Armando Maradona. [133] He is considered one of the greatest players of all time by pundits, players, and managers,[4][73][166] and by some as the best player ever. A new empire is born. Back then they merely served as the red rag of provocation that would guarantee he would be the victim of brutal challenges wherever he played. Maradona has had several online Flash games that are entirely dedicated to his legacy. His presence and leadership on the field had a great effect on his team's general performance, while he would often be singled out by the opposition. Maradona departed this role in 2017 to become the head coach of Fujairah, in the UAE second division, before leaving at the end of the season upon failure to secure promotion at the club. [286] On 25 November 2020, at the age of 60, Maradona suffered a heart attack and died at his home in Dique Luján, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. [145][146][147] Regarded as one of the best dead-ball specialists of all time,[148][149][150][151] his free kick technique, which often saw him raise his knee at a high angle when striking the ball, thus enabling him to lift it high over the wall, allowed him to score free kicks even from close range, within 22 to 17 yards (20 to 16 metres) from the goal, or even just outside the penalty area. 1 by, Greatest Football Players in World Cup History: No. Faber & Faber. [237] Afterwards, on 29 July, Maradona claimed that AFA president Julio Grondona and director of national teams (as well as his former Argentine national team and Sevilla coach) Carlos Bilardo had "lied to", "betrayed", and effectively sacked him from the role. The question is, which Maradona will show for the World Cup? [45] The following season, the team's prolific attacking trio, formed by Maradona, Bruno Giordano, and Careca, was later dubbed the "Ma-Gi-Ca" (magical) front-line. "[98] In a 2009 article for CBC Sports, John Molinaro described the goal as "the greatest ever scored in the tournament – and, maybe, in soccer. They travelled together to Naples for a series of homages in June 2005 and were seen together on other occasions, including the Argentina games during 2006 World Cup. [276] Having visited Chávez's tomb with Maradona, Maduro said, "Speaking with Diego was very emotional because comandante Chávez also loved him very much. ", "Diego was capable of things no one else could match. Robson, 2003, Jimmy Burns (2011). Brazilian goalie Ceni played over 1,200 times for Sao Paulo in a career that began in 1990 and ended in 2015. In April 1996, Maradona had a three-round exhibition boxing match with Santos Laciar for charity. 'I’m different to anyone else so I need to train at what I’m good at and what I’m weak at.' We all thought ourselves privileged to be witnesses of his genius. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Diego_Maradona&oldid=1003091716, Argentina youth international footballers, Argentina under-20 international footballers, World Soccer Magazine World Player of the Year winners, South American Footballer of the Year winners, Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Spain, Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Italy, Argentina national football team managers, Argentine expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates, Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Mexico, Expatriate football managers in the United Arab Emirates, Articles with Encyclopædia Britannica links, Articles with dead external links from January 2021, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from June 2016, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia pending changes protected pages, Articles using Template:Medal with Winner, Articles using Template:Medal with Runner-up, Pages using national squad without sport or team link, Pages using national squad without comp link, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CANTIC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CINII identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with Trove identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only, Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Century: 1999, Greatest Footballers in World Cup History: No. [31] That would be the only title won by Maradona in the Argentine domestic league. His surgeon said that Maradona would follow a liquid diet for three months in order to return to his normal weight. When you got him on his own he was a very good kid. The team leader on and off the field – he would speak up on a range of issues on behalf of the players – Maradona's ability as a player and his overpowering personality had a major positive effect on his team, with his 1986 World Cup teammate Jorge Valdano stating: Maradona was a technical leader: a guy who resolved all difficulties that may come up on the pitch. Maradona il più forte di sempre, ma a Van Basten è stato ancora più difficile prendere la palla", "Ibrahimovic: Maradona's off-field antics don't matter", "Pelè è più forte di Maradona, Zidane 3°, Baggio 9°: i migliori 10 secondo la Fifa", "The World Cup's top 100 footballers: by nationality, goals scored and votes", “Ranked! He was always getting kicked around and he never complained – not like some of today's strikers. In the final match, West Germany attempted to contain him by double-marking, but he nevertheless found the space past the West German player Lothar Matthäus to give the final pass to Jorge Burruchaga for the winning goal. [285] He was released on 12 November after successful surgery and was supervised by doctors as an outpatient. The smudges could have been fingerprints, and he later blamed his behaviour on consuming lots of wine. He made his debut two days later against Talleres de Córdoba, scoring twice in the club's 4–1 win. Messi’s Goal Better Than Maradona's Goal of the Century? [165][167][168][169] Known as one of the most skilful players in the game, he is regarded as one the greatest dribblers[95][122][128][129] and free kick takers in history. Argentina played Belgium in the opening game of the 1982 Cup at the Camp Nou in Barcelona. [170] [69] At age 18, Maradona played the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship in Japan and emerged as the star of the tournament, shining in Argentina's 3–1 final win over the Soviet Union, scoring a total of six goals in six appearances in the tournament. [72], Speaking thirty years later on the impact of Maradona's performances in 1979, FIFA President Sepp Blatter stated, "Everyone has an opinion on Diego Armando Maradona, and that’s been the case since his playing days. Maradona has no peers inside the pitch, but he has turned his life into a show, and is now living a personal ordeal that should not be imitated. p. 320. [202] Argentinos Juniors named its stadium after Maradona on 26 December 2003. ", "Messi lacks Maradona's charisma, claims Batistuta", "Maradona, il ct dei sogni che può vincere il Mondiale", "Free kick expert Maradona leads by example", "Where Does Lionel Messi Rank Among the Greatest Free-Kick Takers of All Time? Maradona's parents were both born and brought up in the town of Esquina in the north-east province of Corrientes, living only two hundred metres from each other on the banks of the Corriente River. He would literally say, 'This is the way I’m going to train you, read this book.' The Argentinan captain Diego Maradona wore the number 10 jersey in the 1990 world cup in Italy. [240], Maradona and Villafañe divorced in 2004. [43] Maradona transferred to Napoli in Italy's Serie A for another world record fee, £6.9 million ($10.48 million). The Argentine Football Association reported that the cause of death was cardiac arrest. [92][120][121] He had a compact physique, and with his strong legs, low center of gravity, and resulting balance, he could withstand physical pressure well while running with the ball, despite his small stature,[95][122][123] while his acceleration, quick feet, and agility, combined with his dribbling skills and close control at speed, allowed him to change direction quickly, making him difficult for opponents to defend against. [27] Nevertheless, Maradona expressed his will to be transferred to Boca Juniors, the team he always wanted to play for. Maradona was sacked on 10 July 2012. [93] In a tribute to him, Azteca Stadium authorities built a statue of him scoring the "Goal of the Century" and placed it at the entrance of the stadium. On 19 November 2008, Maradona managed Argentina for the first time when they played against Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow, which Argentina won 1–0.[226]. [322] In 2010 he appeared in a commercial for French fashion house Louis Vuitton, indulging in a game of table football with fellow World Cup winners Pelé and Zinedine Zidane. However, the show also included a cartoon villain with a clear physical resemblance to Pelé. [13] After two months in charge he left the club on 19 November. At the World Cup finals in June 2010, Argentina started by winning 1–0 against Nigeria, followed by a 4–1 victory over South Korea on the strength of a Gonzalo Higuaín hat-trick. "[16] Maradona used his hand in the 1990 World Cup, again without punishment, and this time on his own goal line, to prevent the Soviet Union from scoring. [276] Maradona attended Maduro's final campaign rally in Caracas, signing footballs and kicking them to the crowd, and presented Maduro with an Argentina jersey. [102] After scoring against Greece, Maradona had one of the most remarkable World Cup goal celebrations as he ran towards one of the sideline cameras shouting with a distorted face and bulging eyes.