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| Maradona | |
|---|---|
| Name | Diego Armando Maradona |
| Fullname | Diego Armando Maradona |
| Birth date | 1960-10-30 |
| Birth place | Lanús |
| Death date | 2020-11-25 |
| Death place | Buenos Aires |
| Height | 1.65 m |
| Position | Attacking midfielder / Second striker |
| Youthyears1 | 1969–1971 |
| Youthclubs1 | Argentinos Juniors |
| Years1 | 1976–1981 |
| Clubs1 | Argentinos Juniors |
| Years2 | 1981–1982 |
| Clubs2 | Boca Juniors |
| Years3 | 1982–1984 |
| Clubs3 | FC Barcelona |
| Years4 | 1984–1991 |
| Clubs4 | SSC Napoli |
| Years5 | 1995–1997 |
| Clubs5 | Boca Juniors |
| Nationalyears1 | 1977–1994 |
| Nationalteam1 | Argentina national football team |
| Managersclubs1 | Al Wasl FC |
| Managerialyears1 | 2011–2012 |
Maradona was an Argentine professional footballer and manager widely regarded as one of the greatest players in association football history. He achieved global fame for his performances with Argentina national football team, SSC Napoli, FC Barcelona, and Boca Juniors, winning the 1986 FIFA World Cup and numerous domestic titles. His career combined extraordinary technical skill, creative vision, and controversial incidents that generated intense public attention across Europe, South America, and global media.
Born in Lanús and raised in Villa Fiorito, Maradona emerged from a working-class family in Buenos Aires Province. He began playing at local clubs including Argentinos Juniors youth system, attracting scouts from Deportivo Riestra and local academies. As a teenager he debuted for Argentinos Juniors in the Primera División and drew comparisons to legendary Argentine forwards such as Alfredo Di Stéfano and Omar Sívori, while drawing attention from European clubs including FC Barcelona and later SSC Napoli.
At Argentinos Juniors he became top scorer and a national sensation before transferring to Boca Juniors, where he won the Primera División title. His move to FC Barcelona involved matches against rivals like Real Madrid CF and appearances in the Copa del Rey and European Cup Winners' Cup. Transferred to SSC Napoli for a then-record fee, he led the club to its first major trophies including two Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia, and a UEFA Cup, elevating Napoli to international prominence and clashing with Italian Football Federation politics and organized supporters. Late-career stints included periods in Sevilla FC and a return to Boca Juniors where he remained an iconic figure amid disciplinary and medical issues.
He debuted for the Argentina national football team as a teenager and represented Argentina at multiple tournaments including the 1979 Copa América, the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and the victorious 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, where performances against England national football team and Belgium national football team produced moments of global notoriety and acclaim. He captained Argentina to the 1990 FIFA World Cup final against West Germany national football team and played his final international tournaments amid controversies at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in United States.
Maradona combined low center of gravity, exceptional dribbling, close control, and creative passing comparable to players such as Pelé, Johan Cruyff, and Michel Platini. His left-footed technique, vision, and set-piece ability influenced generations including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo debates. He is celebrated in cultural works alongside musicians like Bob Dylan and writers like Jorge Luis Borges for transcending sport, and commemorated in murals across Naples and Buenos Aires while featuring in documentaries and biopics alongside directors and producers from Argentine cinema and Italian cinema.
His family life involved marriages and relationships with figures in Argentina’s public sphere; he was father to several children and connected to celebrities and politicians including meetings with leaders from Venezuela and Cuba. He engaged in coaching roles with clubs and national sides, managed in United Arab Emirates and served as a global ambassador for football, interacting with entities like FIFA and domestic leagues.
Career controversies included disciplinary bans, positive tests for prohibited substances leading to suspensions by FIFA and national federations, and legal disputes over taxes and contracts with clubs and agents involving courts in Italy and Argentina. His relationship with media and organized supporters produced high-profile incidents involving journalists and legal actions, while political statements aligned him with figures such as Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro, prompting polarized public reactions.
Longstanding health problems included substance dependence treated in clinics in Spain and Cuba, and cardiovascular issues addressed in hospitals in Buenos Aires. He died in November 2020, prompting national mourning in Argentina and tributes from clubs like SSC Napoli, Boca Juniors, and FC Barcelona, as well as former teammates and opponents from teams such as AC Milan and Inter Milan. Global tributes included commemorative matches, stadium banners, and accolades from football institutions including FIFA and continental confederations CONMEBOL and UEFA.
Category:Argentine footballers Category:Football managers