Lets face it. We all love heroes in real life and when it comes to sport, we place them on a slightly higher pedestal and label them “Demi-gods”. We’ve had many such demi-gods in football over the years but the one still fresh in our memories responds to the name Diego Armando Maradona.
Born on October 30, 1960, Maradona began playing football at the tender age of 9 and his amazing skills with the football earned him the sobriquet - “Pibe De Oro” or “The Golden Boy”. He was drafted into “Argentinos Juniors” at the age of 16 and caught the attention of the world with his dazzling display in the junior world cup which his side won. Inspite of being considered a child prodigy, he was left out of the 1978 World Cup squad as he was considered too young.
His chance came four years later in the 1982 world cup where he vindicated the faith reposed in him by scoring two important goals, one each against Brazil and Italy. He also gave the world a glimpse of his ugly side and was expelled from the field for a vicious foul. In spite of Argentina going out in the second round, Maradona was noticed and was lapped up by the Spanish club Barcelona. After two years of mediocre play, he was signed on by the Italian team “Napoli” and thence commenced the best part of his soccer career. The Italian fans drooled all over him and he in turn mesmerized them and his opponents with some magical football.
The crowning moment of his career came in the 1986 World Cup in the high altitude climes of Mexico. Such was his audacity that he boldly declared on the eve of the World Cup that he would be “The Star” of the World Cup, something the whole world agreed with at the end of the championship. Not only did he lead his team to victory as the captain but also lead from the front by scoring 5 goals and setting up another half a dozen more.
The best of those 5 goals came in the crucial quarterfinal match against England. Barely a few minutes after the kickoff, Maradona was making his way towards the English goalpost and a few seconds later – Wham! The ball was whacked in! What the referees missed but the TV cameras didn’t was the fact that Maradona had actually touched the ball with his hand and technically, that was a foul and the game ought to have been stopped then and there. Asked for his opinion after the match, Maradona denied having handled the ball with his hand and the goal came to be called “Hand of God”. Just five minutes after that controversial goal came another from the golden boot of Maradona – probably the best ever in World Cup history! After being passed the ball in his half, Maradona dribbled past, not one, not two, but past 7 hapless and utterly confused Englishmen and scored the “Goal of the tournament”.
After savouring the World Cup victory, Maradona led his club, Napoli to another league title and a UEFA cup win in 1989. The world cup in Italy was expected to be another cakewalk for Argentina but they were given a rude shock in the very first match when they lost to dark horses Cameron. In spite of the initial setback, they played well to reach the finals which they lost to Germany.
Then started the mighty downfall. He was involved in two drug scandals that threatened to end his career pre-maturely. A never-say-die Maradona made a series of comebacks and helped Argentina qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the USA. A superb goal against Greece in their opening match pointed to the resurgence of Maradona but fate had something else in store for him and his team. A rude shock it was when it was announced that Maradona was suspended from the World Cup for taking “Ephedrine” – a banned drug. That, effectively marked the end of his chequered career in which he played 21 matches in the WC and scored 8 goals.
Maradona’s life had all the ingredients of a spicy “Priya Pickle” (TiC!). He started from a humble background, hit it big time, earned the love and adulation of millions of aficionados across the world and then shifted into reverse gear. Left to me, I would like to remember him not for his “Hand of God” goal or for his drugs addiction but for the magic and sublime artistry that he brought into his game. Magic that prompted many to acclaim him as the second best football player of all time, next only to the incomparable Pele in the annals of football.
It’s not very often that we come across performers of such caliber and let’s remember that he was considered a Demi-God – not God. It was therefore natural that he made mistakes both on and off the soccer field. What ultimately counts is the memories of his playing skills that he left us with. Ah, if only we had more players like him…