Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona was born on the 30th of October 1960 at the Policlínico Evita Hospital in Lanús, Buenos Aires Province. He grew up in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires where his family had moved from Corrientes Province. His father worked at a chemicals factory and his mother Dalma Salvadora Franco raised five children after four daughters were already born. At age three, he received his first football as a gift and quickly became devoted to the game. A talent scout spotted him playing for local club Estrella Roja when he was eight years old. In March 1969, friend Gregorio Carrizo recommended him to Los Cebollitas, the junior team of Argentinos Juniors. As a twelve-year-old ball boy, he amused spectators during halftime breaks by showing off his skills. During 1973 and 1974, Maradona led Cebollitas to two Evita Tournament wins and an undefeated streak of 141 games. He played alongside future stars Adrian Domenech and Claudio Rodríguez in what is regarded as the best youth team in Argentine history.
On the 20th of October 1976, Maradona made his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors ten days before his sixteenth birthday against Talleres de Córdoba. He entered wearing number sixteen and became the youngest player in the history of the Argentine Primera División. A few minutes into that match, he kicked the ball through the legs of Juan Domingo Cabrera in a move known as a nutmeg. He scored his first goal on the 14th of November 1976 against San Lorenzo and added another shortly after. After five seasons scoring 115 goals in 167 appearances, he transferred to Boca Juniors in February 1981 for four million US dollars. Following the 1982 World Cup, Barcelona paid him five million pounds, setting a world record transfer fee. In 1984, Napoli paid another record fee of 6.9 million pounds to acquire him. His time at Barcelona ended in disgrace after a violent brawl during the 1984 Copa del Rey Final. He then spent two years at Sevilla before returning to Boca Juniors in 1995 for a final two-year stint.
Maradona captained Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup held in Mexico City. During the quarter-final against England at the Azteca Stadium, he scored two contrasting goals within four minutes of each other. The first goal was struck with his hand but went unpenalized by referee Ali Bin Nasser. Maradona later described it as 'a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God'. On the 22nd of August 2005, he acknowledged on television that he had hit the ball with his hand purposely. Four minutes later, he dribbled past five English players including Peter Beardsley, Steve Hodge, Peter Reid, Terry Butcher, and Terry Fenwick before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton. This second goal was voted 'Goal of the Century' in a 2002 online poll conducted by FIFA. He scored or assisted ten of Argentina's fourteen goals during the tournament. By the end of the competition, he won the Golden Ball as the best player by unanimous vote.
Described as a classic number ten playmaker, Maradona operated in a free role behind the forwards or as a second striker. His compact physique gave him a low center of gravity allowing him to withstand physical pressure while running with the ball. Former Dutch player Johan Cruyff saw similarities between Maradona and Lionel Messi with the ball seemingly attached to their boot. He was renowned for his acceleration, quick feet, and agility combined with close control at speed. One trademark move involved dribbling full-speed on the right wing to deliver accurate passes to teammates. Another was the rabona, a reverse-cross pass shot behind the leg holding all weight. He also utilized the roulette feint involving dragging the ball back first with one foot then the other while performing a 360-degree turn. He was dangerous from set pieces often raising his knee high when striking the ball to lift it over walls from distances between 17 and 22 yards.
Maradona's personal problems increased significantly during his time in Italy where cocaine use continued unchecked. He received seventy thousand US dollars in fines from Napoli for missing games and practices ostensibly due to stress. A fifteen-month ban for failing a drug test for cocaine led to his departure from Napoli in disgrace in 1992. At the 1994 World Cup in the United States, he scored one goal against Greece before being sent home after testing positive for ephedrine doping. His failed drug test signaled the end of his international career which lasted seventeen years yielding thirty-four goals from ninety-one games. Poor diet and extreme lifestyle choices including alcohol abuse contributed to significant weight gain and physical decline as his career progressed. These factors negatively impacted his performances and longevity in the later years of playing.
Maradona began his managerial career alongside Carlos Fren leading Mandiyú of Corrientes in 1994 and Racing Club in 1995 with little success. In May 2011 he became manager of Dubai club Al Wasl FC in the United Arab Emirates but was sacked on the 10th of July 2012. He moved to become spiritual coach at Deportivo Riestra in August 2013 before leaving Fujairah at the end of the 2017 season. From May to September 2018, he served as chairman of Dynamo Brest. Between September 2018 and June 2019, he managed Mexican club Dorados before stepping down citing health reasons. On the 5th of September 2019, he became head coach of Gimnasia de La Plata signing a contract until the end of the season. He died in November 2020 while still serving as manager of that club. His coaching staff resigned from the club following his death.
Diego Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football. Alongside Pelé, he won the FIFA Player of the Century award in 2000 after receiving 53.6% of internet-based votes against 18.53% for Pelé. In 2022, FourFourTwo ranked him third best player of all time while AIPS voted him second best footballer of the past hundred years in August 2024. His shirt sold for seven point one million pounds in 2022 making it the highest price for sports memorabilia. Nine days after his death on the 25th of November 2020, Napoli renamed their home stadium Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The Argentine Football Association named its stadium after him on the 26th of December 2003. Azteca Stadium authorities built a statue of him scoring the Goal of the Century at the entrance to honor his legacy. Maradona remains a symbol of hope and resistance for working-class communities across Latin America and beyond.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When and where was Diego Maradona born?
Diego Armando Maradona was born on the 30th of October 1960 at the Policlínico Evita Hospital in Lanús, Buenos Aires Province.
What happened during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England?
During the match at the Azteca Stadium, Diego Maradona scored two goals within four minutes including one struck with his hand which he later admitted to purposely hitting. He also dribbled past five English players to score a second goal that was voted Goal of the Century in a 2002 online poll conducted by FIFA.
How did cocaine use affect Diego Maradona's career in Italy?
Cocaine use led to a fifteen-month ban for failing a drug test which caused his departure from Napoli in disgrace in 1992. He received seventy thousand US dollars in fines from Napoli for missing games and practices ostensibly due to stress before this incident occurred.
Why did Diego Maradona die while still serving as manager of Gimnasia de La Plata?
Diego Maradona died in November 2020 while holding the position of head coach for Gimnasia de La Plata after signing a contract until the end of the season on the 5th of September 2019. Poor diet and extreme lifestyle choices including alcohol abuse contributed to significant weight gain and physical decline during his playing years.
Which clubs paid record transfer fees to acquire Diego Maradona?
Barcelona paid him five million pounds following the 1982 World Cup setting a world record transfer fee and Napoli paid another record fee of 6.9 million pounds to acquire him in 1984. He also transferred to Boca Juniors in February 1981 for four million US dollars after spending five seasons scoring 115 goals in 167 appearances for Argentinos Juniors.