Diego Maradona
Argentine footballer and manager, joint FIFA Player of the Century.
Diego Armando Maradona (30 October 1960 – 25 November 2020) was an Argentine footballer and manager. He is considered one of the sport’s all-time greats and shared the FIFA Player of the Century award with Pelé. A classic number 10 and advanced playmaker, he was famous for his vision, passing, ball control, dribbling, and free kicks. His short stature gave him a low center of gravity, helping him maneuver past defenders. Nicknamed *El Pibe de Oro* (“The Golden Boy”), his leadership and presence on the pitch greatly influenced his teams.
Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, and Newell’s Old Boys. He led Napoli to their first Serie A title and a second three years later, though he was later banned from the club for cocaine use. He set the world transfer record twice: £5 million to Barcelona in 1982 and £6.9 million to Napoli in 1984. For Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals across four World Cups. As captain in 1986, he led the team to victory and won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. In the quarterfinal against England, he scored both goals in a 2–1 win: the first was an unpenalized handball known as the “Hand of God,” and the second was a 60-meter dribble past five players, later voted the “Goal of the Century” by FIFA.com voters in 2002.
Maradona managed Argentina from November 2008 until after the 2010 World Cup. He later coached UAE club Al Wasl (2011–12), was chairman of Belarusian club Dynamo Brest for several months in 2018, and coached UAE club Fujairah (2017–18), Mexican club Dorados (2018–19), and Argentine club Gimnasia de La Plata (2019–20). He died on 25 November 2020.
Born on 30 October 1960 at Policlínico Evita Hospital in Lanús, Buenos Aires Province, Maradona grew up in a poor Roman Catholic family in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown on Buenos Aires’s southern outskirts. His father, also named Diego, worked in a chemicals factory; his mother, Dalma Salvadora Franco, was of Italian and Croatian descent. His parents had moved from Esquina, Corrientes, to Buenos Aires in the 1950s. He had two younger brothers, Hugo and Raúl, both professional footballers, and four older sisters. He received his first football at age three and became devoted to the game. At eight, a talent scout spotted him playing at his local club, Estrella Roja. In March 1969, friend Gregorio Carrizo recomme
- born
- 30 October 1960, Lanús, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
- died
- 25 November 2020
- field
- Football player and manager
- nationality
- Argentine
- known_for
- FIFA Player of the Century (joint winner), leading Argentina to 1986 World Cup victory, 'Hand of God' goal, 'Goal of the Century'
Lore & Background
Maradona was born into a poor Roman Catholic family in Lanús and raised in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown. He received his first football at age three and was spotted by a talent scout at age eight. He joined the junior team of Argentinos Juniors and led the Cebollitas to two Evita Tournament victories and 141 undefeated games. He made his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors on 20 October 1976, ten days before his 16th birthday, becoming the youngest player in Argentine Primera División history. He scored 115 goals in 167 appearances for the club.
Maradona transferred to Boca Juniors in February 1981 for US$4 million, winning the 1981 league title. In 1982 he moved to Barcelona for a world-record £5 million, winning the Copa del Rey and Copa de la Liga. After a brawl in the 1984 Copa del Rey Final, he was transferred to Napoli for another world-record £6.9 million. At Napoli, he led the club to their first Serie A league title and a second three years later. He was later banned from the club for taking cocaine.
In his international career, Maradona earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals for Argentina. He played in four World Cups, captaining Argentina to victory in 1986 and winning the Golden Ball. In the quarterfinal against England, he scored both goals in a 2–1 win: the first was an unpenalized handling foul known as the 'Hand of God,' and the second was a 60-metre dribble past five players, voted 'Goal of the Century' by FIFA.com voters in 2002.
Reader's Guide
Diego Maradona's significance lies in his extraordinary skill as an advanced playmaker and his impact on the teams he played for. He was the first player to set the world record transfer fee twice, first to Barcelona in 1982 and then to Napoli in 1984. At Napoli, he transformed a club from southern Italy into a Serie A champion, breaking the dominance of northern clubs. His leadership and presence on the field were legendary, earning him the nickname 'El Pibe de Oro.'
His 1986 World Cup performance, particularly the two goals against England, remains iconic: one a controversial handball, the other a sublime solo run. These moments encapsulate both his cunning and his genius. After his playing career, he managed the Argentina national team from November 2008 through the 2010 World Cup, and later coached clubs in the UAE, Mexico, and Argentina. His death on 25 November 2020 marked the end of a life that was as turbulent as it was brilliant, with his legacy permanently etched in football history.
Did You Know?
- Maradona was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century award, alongside Pelé.
- He scored the 'Hand of God' goal and the 'Goal of the Century' in the same 1986 World Cup quarterfinal against England.
- He was the first player to set the world record transfer fee twice: in 1982 to Barcelona and in 1984 to Napoli.
- Maradona led Napoli to their first Serie A league title and their second three years later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Diego Maradona?
Diego Armando Maradona (1960–2020) was an Argentine footballer and manager widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He shared the FIFA Player of the Century honor with Pelé and is best remembered for steering Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title.
What made Maradona's playing style so distinctive?
As a classic number 10, he combined extraordinary close ball control, creative vision, and explosive dribbling to unlock defenses that seemed impregnable. His short frame gave him a remarkably low center of gravity, letting him pivot and change direction faster than taller opponents could react.
What happened in the 'Hand of God' goal?
During the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England, Maradona punched the ball into the net with his left hand while the referee failed to spot the infringement. He later admitted it was 'a little with the head and a little with the hand of God,' and the moment became one of football's most debated controversies.
What is the 'Goal of the Century'?
Just four minutes after the Hand of God, Maradona scored a solo run from midfield, weaving past five English defenders before slotting the ball into the corner of the goal. FIFA's global poll in 1992 named it the Goal of the Century, and it remains one of the most celebrated individual efforts in World Cup history.
Why do fans consider Maradona the greatest player of all time?
His ability to single-handedly shift the momentum of a match, combined with his leadership and flair, set a standard that few have matched. Even critics of his off-field life acknowledge that his on-pitch genius redefined what a number 10 could do for a team.
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