Diego Armando Maradona, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time has died at the age of 60.
The Argentinian football genius, who had brain surgery earlier this month passed away from a heart attack.
Following announcement of the tragic news his homeland declared three days of national mourning.
The crowning moment of Maradona’s career was when he led Argentina to World Cup glory at Mexico 86. It was the pinnacle moment of a glorious career and unanimously led him to be named the Golden Ball winner of the tournament after mesmerising opponents, fans and team mates on the way to beating West Germany 3-2 in the final.
It was against the late Sir Bobby Robson’s England in the Quarter finals where Maradona infamously used his hand to lift the ball over Peter Shilton before going on to score the greatest World Cup goal ever.
As a ten year old watching it all in black and white no other person could provoke such loathing and loving in the space of five single minutes.
Four minutes after the “Hand of God” goal Hector Enrique laid the ball off to Maradona in his own half. It lit the fuse for a 10 second, 60 yard slalom through the heart of the England team, easing past Peter Beardsley, Peter Reid, Terry Butcher two times, and Terry Fenwick.
All that remained was feinting deftly to leave Peter Shilton on his backside before slotting home.
It was pure football sorcery delivered masterfully by the great Druid of the game. The Arena Azteca simply erupted.
On a domestic level Maradona shook up Italy to become the figurehead of a Napoli team which broke the monopoly of Italian giants Milan, Juventus, and Internazionale to lifted the Scudetto in 1987, 1990, an Italian Cup in 1987 and the UEFA Cup in 1989.
The latter half of his career was mired in controversy involving cocaine addiction and exploitation.
It is no surprise that Napoli will be retiring the famed number 10 shirt forever.
For me El Diego was the greatest player of all time.
What he did with Argentina and Napoli and the manner in which he did it may never be achieved again.
Goodbye Dieguito. You were a magician without comparison.
Eternal Gracias!
Diego Maradona 1960-2020
He's going to pass it to Diego, there's Maradona with it, two men on him, Maradona steps on the ball, there goes down the right flank the genius of world football, he leaves the wing and he's going to pass it to Burruchaga... Still Maradona! Genius! Genius! Genius! There, there, there, there, there, there! Goaaaaaaaal! Goaaaaaaal! I want to cry, oh holy God, long live football! What a goal! Diegoal! Maradona! It is to cry for, excuse me! Maradona, in a memorable run, in the best play of all times! Cosmic kite, which planet did you come from, to leave so many Englishmen behind, for the country to be a clenched fist crying for Argentina? Argentina 2, England 0! Diegoal, Diegoal, Diego Armando Maradona! Thank you, God, for football, for Maradona, for these tears, for this Argentina 2, England 0.
Víctor Hugo Morales
Diego Maradona 1960-2020
It was a dream come true
I’d emptied my savings tin
My broad smile stretched
From Bognor to Berlin
I would be the proud owner
Of a Diego Maradona boot
Now the barrel chested ones
Latest fanclub recruit
Sprinting down Whitechapel Road
I dragged along me Mam
Dropping a shopping bag en route
Shattering a jar of jam
"You wear them, you'll play like him"
The shop assistant said
I believed every single word
My beaming smile spread
A walking Ambassador I became
I put those boots to use
On grass, tarmac, concrete
Each time I got set loose
Wear them on the old sandpitch
In the thick of the Berner Estate
Not ideal for that surface
But that was open to debate
Even wore them to school
On an odd day or three
"Get them off right now!”
Hawkeyed Margaret would scream
Wore them into the ground
Even when they were a goner
Yes, the one and only
Puma Maradona
Goodbye to you Armando
A Druid, a one off edition
Eternal Gracias Dieguito
Footballs flawed magician
25 11 20
number7
© emdad rahman
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