The Eye of Memory. Today: Maradona

"I made mistakes and paid for them, but the ball doesn’t get stained." Maradona

Diego Armando Maradona was born on October 30, 1960, in Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Known as Maradona. He started his career at Argentinos Juniors, a club he left in 1980 to sign for Boca Juniors. In 1982, he arrived at Barcelona for 1200 million pesetas, the most expensive in history up to that point.

He only spent two years at Barcelona. In 1984, he moved to Naples until 1991. From that year on, his career is complicated to explain briefly. He was suspended for a year, signed for Sevilla, then for Newell’s Old Boys, was suspended again, signed for Boca Juniors, left football, signed again for Boca where he definitely hung up his boots as a professional.

He played as an offensive midfielder or forward, being considered one of the greatest footballers in history.

It would be endless to list the titles he won. In his first stage, he won league titles with Boca Juniors, Barcelona, and Naples. He won the World Cup with Argentina. He was chosen as best player several years, and I'll mention one more award: Best Player of the 20th Century, which he received along with Pelé (Brazil).

He received numerous nicknames throughout his life, the most notable being "Pelusa" (because of his hair since childhood), "El Pibe de Oro" (for his early talent), "Barrilete Cósmico" (Goal of the Century), "D10S" (a mix of his number 10 and Dios [God]), and "El Diego".

Playing Style

Maradona played like the ball was glued to his foot (There’s a Calamaro song that literally says this). His left foot was pure magic: he dribbled past anyone with unexpected changes of pace and very rapid movements. The way he turned his ankle in dribbles. He had a unique mix of talent, strength, and vision of the game, plus brutal control in tight spaces thanks to his low center of gravity. More than a player, he seemed like an artist on the pitch, using soft touches and waist feints to leave opponents behind as if nothing. He always went straight to goal. And in set-piece shooting, he was masterful. He watched the keeper’s position and with spin on the ball, placed it inside.

The Hand of God

On June 22, 1986, in the quarterfinal clash of the Mexico World Cup against England, on a ball into the box divided between Peter Shilton (England’s goalkeeper) and Maradona, the Argentine raised his hand and managed to touch the ball with a closed fist to score a goal. At that time, there was no VAR. The referee consulted the linesman and allowed the goal, despite protests from the English players.

Later, several years after, Maradona said about that goal: "A little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”

Songs have been made, and even a Netflix series about this event.

Goal of the Century

In the same game as "The Hand of God", in the 55th minute, starting from his own half, Maradona dribbled past 5 English players, including the goalkeeper, and scored into an empty net, considered the best goal scored in a World Cup.

In this match in 4 minutes, just 4 minutes, he scored the goals called - since when do goals have names? - "The Hand of God" and "The Goal of the Century".

The English press would have crushed him for life, but in his “legal goal”, he showed he was unmatched, an extraordinary phenomenon in the world of football, reducing the ferocity directed at him thanks to this goal.

Life Outside Football

Intense, very intense, and I’ll skip the details. He was a boy from a very humble family and suddenly, he began to have a lot of money. It is said that in 1976, when he earned his first significant amount, he bought home appliances and goods for his family, to give them a better life. This action was repeated continuously throughout the years.

Maradona publicly confessed to having started using drugs when he was at Barcelona and added that it was "the biggest mistake" of his life. He used drugs for several years and was even suspended for a year the first time he was sanctioned while playing at Naples.

Maradona died on November 25, 2020 at 60 years of age.

I had the opportunity to meet him at a Barcelona game in Seville in 1984. He was walking alone, and simply when I approached, he said “Want a photo?” which he signed and gave to me. Smiling, of course, he touched my head and walked away. I will never forget that moment. I no longer have the photo, but I remember it as if I saw it. With an orange shirt, his Puma boots, and the signature Diego (10).

Here we pay him a small tribute. Rest in Peace Maradona. Thank you for the football you gave us.

As it couldn’t be otherwise, we leave you a video of the Goal of the Century. Enjoy it, it’s worth it. Don’t forget to comment which player you would like to see in this section.