Diego Armando Maradonna

Diego Armando Maradona is arguably the greatest footballer that has ever put on a pair of boots. He was originally born in the slums of Villa Fiorito near Buenos Aires as the fifth of eight children. Maradona entered professional football at the astonishing age of 15. By the time he turned 16, Diego was even called in the senior national team of Argentina. Regardless of his talent, Diego was considered too young by coach Cesar Menotti, who rejected him from his selection for the 1978 World Cup. Bitterly disappointed, Maradona watched the tournament from home as his country finished first. In the following four years, Diego dominated his country's league and easily entered the Argentine squad for Spain 1982.
At the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Maradona made his return on the World stage in a spectacular manner. Diego opened the game 1-0 by striking the ball with his hand. Unnoticed by the referees, it was ruled a goal. Five minutes later, Maradona single handedly took the ball through the entire English defense with a slalom from midfield right down to the goal. After the match, when confronted with the video footage of the illegal goal, Maradona simply replied "Even if there was a hand, it must have been the hand of God." Maradona silenced his critics by deciding the following semi and final matches. By scoring two goals in the first and with an assist in the second, Maradona practically earned the World Cup for his nation. Maradona's influence on his teammates was carried over to his club side Napoli, as they reached unprecedented heights, winning their first and second Scudetto (1997 and 1990) and the UEFA Cup in 1988/99.

© isaq salawu 2006