There’s no doubt Diego Maradona was eponymous with controversy just by looking at the range of messages on social media in response to the footballing enigma’s death, but it’s also clear he is eponymous with adoration and greatness.
It was to be Maradona’s curse that his brilliance would be shadowed by controversy.
His big money transfer to Barcelona and the infamous brawl against Athletic Bilbao in the 84 Copa del Rey final, his league success with Italian minnows Napoli and his murky association with the Italian mafia, his 1986 World Cup triumph and the ‘Hand of God’ goal against England, and his final World Cup goal against Greece in USA 94 swiftly followed by a drugs ban.
“Maradona had greatness but no sportsmanship.”
Peter Shilton
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On social media responses span the spectrum of human reflection towards someone the British media has always had a distant relationship with after Maradona’s conduct in the 86 World Cup quarter-final against England.
You ask players involved in that match such as former Bolton, Everton and City great Peter Reid, who was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 the day of the Argentine legend’s death, and they straight up say he cheated.
Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton: “Maradona had greatness but no sportsmanship.”
Daily Mail columnist David Jones: “He had the hand of God but he was far from a saint”
BBC China correspondent Steven McDonell: “Maradona is definitely a massive figure but he is not Shakespeare, or Genghis Kahn or Julius Caesar or Karl Marx. I think more like one of the most famous sport stars in the 20th century. Even in that category, I reckon only the second most famous soccer player to Pele.”
However there is no doubt how loved Maradona was the world over, with tributes flooding in and Argentina announcing three days of national mourning to mark the passing of probably the country’s most adored son.
Pele:“I lost a great friend and the world lost a legend. One day I hope we can play football together in the sky.”
Football’s archetypal troubled genius, a player whose life and career scaled the most dazzling heights but also plumbed to the darkest depths
He rose from poverty, was football’s greatest ever poet warrior, on & off the field, lived life his own way & proved that 60 years is plenty if you pack enough into them.
Pep Guardiola: “He made the world of football better.”
Hard to believe that Best died at 59 on 25th November (05) and Maradona died at 60 on the same day 15 years later.
Jurgen Klopp: “What a footballer he was, unbelievable.”
New York Times: “Maradona, the most human of immortals.”
RIP Maradona. For me the greatest of all time. Got to admire what he did at Napoli. Absolute legend.
Because of you I loved football and I loved you too. You are a true icon of the soccer world.
Footballing genius, Scottish hero, painfully flawed yet utterly iconic. Thanks for the memories.
He played in a different era. Messi couldn’t have survived a season in Serie A. No comparison.
Imagine football and Samba at the same time. Rest in perfect peace Diego
Liam Gallagher: “Met Maradona 2x and he was the real fucking deal, scary but beautiful.”
The greatest!
Diego and Lionel
It adds another facet to Maradona’s long and vibrant story that one of the other GOATs of the game has come out of Argentina with a similar stature and playing style to the great Diego.
Messi left an emotional tribute on his Instagram on the day of Maradona’s death and had a surprisingly close relationship with his compatriot and fellow great in a sphere of excellence where contemporaries often hold distant relationships.
Messi has built his legacy at a club Maradona had a testy relationship with, the current Argentine number 10 becoming their all time top goalscorer.
Maradona moved to Barcelona for a world record £5m after his World Cup debut in 1982 but left the club in sad circumstances having been at the centre of a brutal brawl against Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey, fought in front of the onlooking eyes of King Juan Carlos.
Comparisons between different eras are difficult to make. Would Messi have survived the crunching tackles of the 80s? Would Maradona have the legs to defeat the ultra-fit defenders of the 00s?
That argument is for another day, to rumble on for decades. For now many just want reflection on someone they regarded as one of their own.
Diego Armando Maradona, 30 October 1960 – 25 November 2020
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 