Diego Armando Maradona is famously said to have won the 1986 World Cup almost single-handedly and took Argentina to the final four years later. He also took unfancied Napoli to its only two Italian titles. Maradona was controversially voted best player of all time in an internet poll held by FIFA, much to the chagrin of Pelé and his fans, who contended that an internet poll was bound to attract relatively young voters. People that would have seen Maradona play, but not Pelé.
Truth be told, the title of greatest ever player was probably a bit too much credit. However, no one would surely deny Maradona was the best ever dribbler of the bal. He proved as much, when he scored what was arguably the greatest ever World Cup goal in 1986. Maradona picked up the ball on the halfway line and promptly proceeded to leave half the England team for dead before slotting the ball into the net.
That game was also the one in which he scored his infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal. The incident soiled Maradona’s reputation. All the more so, because he repeatedly refused to admit openly to handling the ball. In the nineties his career hit a downward trajectory. He was suspended when he tested positive in a for doping after a match between Napoli and Bari in 1990, and again when he tested positive at the 1994 World Cup.
After his retirement from football, Maradona’s life has been marred by drugs abuse, weight issues and heart problems. His managerial career never really took flight, although he did manage Argentina at the 2010 World Cup.
| Name |
Diego Armando Maradona |
| Born |
30 October 1960 (Buenos Aires, Argentina) |
| Position |
Attacking Midfielder |
| Caps |
91 (34 goals) |
| Clubs |
Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, FC Barcelona, SSC Napoli, FC Sevilla, Newell's Old Boys |
| Trophies |
Argentina
1x World Champion (1986)
Napoli
1x UEFA-Cup (1989)
2x Italian Champion (1987, 1990)
1x Italian Cup (1987)
1x Italian Super Cup (1991)
FC Barcelona
1x Spanish Cup (1983)
1x Spanish League Cup (1982)
1x Spanish Super Cup (1983)
Boca Juniors
1x Argentinean Champion (1981) |
| Honours |
5x South American Footballer of the Year (1979, '86, '89, '90, '92)
3x Top scorer Argentine League (1979, 1980, 1981)
1x Top scorer Italian League (1988) |
|
| Season |
Club |
Country |
Matches. |
Goals |
| 1997 |
Boca Juniors |
Argentina |
6 |
2 |
| 1996 |
Boca Juniors |
Argentina |
13 |
2 |
| 1995 |
Boca Juniors |
Argentina |
11 |
3 |
| 1994 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1993 |
Newell's Old Boys |
Argentina |
5 |
0 |
| 1992 - 1993 |
Sevilla FC |
Spain |
26 |
5 |
| 1991 - 1992 |
Napoli |
Italy |
- |
- |
| 1990 - 1991 |
Napoli |
Italy |
18 |
6 |
| 1989 - 1990 |
Napoli |
Italy |
28 |
16 |
| 1988 - 1989 |
Napoli |
Italy |
26 |
9 |
| 1987 - 1988 |
Napoli |
Italy |
28 |
15 |
| 1986 - 1987 |
Napoli |
Italy |
29 |
10 |
| 1985 - 1986 |
Napoli |
Italy |
29 |
11 |
| 1984 - 1985 |
Napoli |
Italy |
30 |
14 |
| 1983 - 1984 |
FC Barcelona |
Spain |
16 |
11 |
| 1982 - 1983 |
FC Barcelona |
Spain |
20 |
11 |
| 1981 |
Boca Juniors |
Argentina |
40 |
28 |
| 1980 |
Argentinos Juniors |
Argentina |
45 |
43 |
| 1978 - 1979 |
Argentinos Juniors |
Argentina |
26 |
26 |
| 1977 - 1978 |
Argentinos Juniors |
Argentina |
35 |
26 |
| 1976 - 1977 |
Argentinos Juniors |
Argentina |
49 |
19 |
| 1976 |
Argentinos Juniors |
Argentina |
11 |
2 |
|
|
Total: |
491 |
259 |
|