Diego Armando Maradona Redefining Football

Introduction Diego Armando Maradona is a former Argentinean football player, coach and team manager who is also considered to be one of the greatest football players of all times. Moreover he is the only football player to have set a world record for contract fees and that too twice, the first one being £5m when he shifted to Barcelona and the next one £6.9m while shifting to Napoli. In his international career he has played in 4 FIFA World Cup tournaments and his club career includes association with 6 clubs. Although Maradona had an excellent football career, he is also known for a controversial side too, which has caused him a lot on his reputation. 

Early Years and Personal Life

Diego Armando Maradona was born on 30 October 1960 in Lanús, Buenos Aires Province but was later raised and brought up in Villa Fiorito, a purlieu on the southern suburbs of Buenos Aires. He belonged to a poor family and had 5 siblings. He was the fifth child and the first son, after three daughters, of his parents. Maradona always had the charm of playing football in him and it got spotted by a talent scout who found the 10 year old playing the game in the neighborhood. Later he joined the junior team of Buenos Aires’s Argentinos Juniors and charmed the crowd by his wizardry with the ball.

Maradona married his long time love and fiancée Claudia Villafañe on 7 November 1984 in Buenos Aires and has two daughters from this relationship. However due to his infidelity and other personal matters the couple got separated in 2004. However from his illegitimate relationships and affairs Maradona has two sons from different mothers.

Careers

1. International – Maradona made his international debut at the age of 16 in the match against Hungary. In his international career, playing for the Argentina national football team, he has scored 34 goals in his altogether 91 appearances. As mentioned earlier MAradona has played 4 FIFA world cup tournaments, which are:

• 1982 World Cup
• 1986 World Cup (Captain)
• 1990 World Cup
• 1994 World Cup

In the 1986 World Cup Maradona captained his team and led to their glorious victory over West Germany, which also earned him the Golden Ball award for being the tournament’s best player. As you may know, he is the only football player to have won the Golden Ball award in the 1979 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and 1986 FIFA World Cup.

2. Club – Maradon’s club career includes his association with altogether 6 teams that are as follows:

• 2.1 Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors
• 2.2 Barcelona
• 2.3 Napoli
• 2.4 Sevilla, Newell’s Old Boys and Boca Juniors

His average of goals scored/match is 0.526, while playing for the domestic clubs.

Playing Style

Maradona’s strong legs, compact physique and short height gave him a lot of advantages in short sprints and was able to hold the ball for long enough. His trademark moves are Rabona, a reverse cross pass that is shot behind the leg (the one holding all the weight) and dribbling full-speed on the right wing along with accurate passes on reaching the opponents goal line. He truly redefined football with his excellent capabilities and sportsmanship!