La noticia más triste: a los 60 años, murió Diego Armando Maradona
When the ESPN Argentina tweeted, “the saddest news: at age 60, Diego Armando Maradona died” around 10 pm (Indian Standard Time), the soccer fans across the globe found it quite difficult to believe the news. Millions of football fans all over the world regarded him as the greatest player of all time in world soccer history. Risen to his sublime performances, Maradona was glorified by fans across continents. And the world mourns after realising that Maradona is no more. The legendary footballer was hospitalised earlier this month and underwent emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma. According to Argentina media, Mardona suffered a heart attack at his home in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, on Wednesday. His body will lie in state at the Casa Rosada (Pink House), the executive mansion and office of the President of Argentina for three days starting Thursday, Buenos Aires Times reported.
Timeline of Triumphs and Tragedies
The top footballer of the 1980s, Diego Armando Maradona Franco was born on 30 October 1960 at Lanus, Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina. His shocking death was at the age of 60 less than a month after his 60th birthday- a death knell which arrested the heart beats of soccer lovers all over the world. Before the end of a charismatic and controversial career he had served as a player, manager and coach for the national team of Argentina, various professional football clubs in Latin America and Europe; notably for Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors at home and Barcelona and Sevilla (both from Spain) and Napoli (Italy). Many former players, current players, soccer experts, football critics, and football fans regard him as the greatest football player of all time. He was selected as FIFA Player of the 20th Century along with Pelé.
Only a few players have been applauded by the fans of opposing teams in the world soccer history. However, Maradona received such a tribute by the fans of Real Madrid when he played for Barcelona in 1983. Now the fans and leaders across the globe pay tribute to the legendary football player. FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) President Gianni Infantino tweeted: “Today is an unbelievably sad day. Our Diego left us. Our hearts – of all of us who loved him for how he was, and for what he represented – have stopped beating for a moment. Rest in peace, dear Diego. We love you.” President of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez announced three days of national mourning following the sad news of his death, and on his Twitter account he posted “You took us to the highest place in the world. You made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of all. Thanks for existing, Diego. We are going to miss you the rest of our lives.” Lionel Messi wrote on Instagram “A very sad day for all Argentines and for football. He leaves us but does not go away, because Diego is eternal”., “Paying tribute to Maradona, Pele, regarded as the ‘King of Football’, tweeted, “What sad news. I lost a great friend and the world lost a legend…..”. Yes, now the world soccer has no ‘God’ only the King remains. …
Charismatic but Controversial Career
Despite all his achievements on the ground controversies took their toll on Diego Maradona’s popularity. From the ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986 to the arrest in 1991 for possessing cocaine to a suspended jail sentence in 1994. The last one was for shooting journalists with an air rifle, the “El Pibe de Oro” (“The Golden Boy”, a name that stuck with Diego Maradona throughout his career), is not a person shy away from controversy (Abraham, 2020). His unpopular and bad habits were overshadowed by his achievements and contributions to world football. His mastery in the game was not lost on soccer lovers. Even his small size too was not a barrier to his performances on the ground. “Short footballers are theoretically at a disadvantage, but when they succeed, it allows us to remember that that football holds magic beyond logic…”(Humphreys, 2020). Diego Maradona was such an exceptional magical man despite his short size with only at 5’6” or 165 cm. Maradona is renowned for his exceptional vision, ability to control the ball, dribbling skills, speed, reflexes, and created scoring opportunities for himself and others. With his role as an attacking midfielder and supporting striker, Maradona was successful in leading his clubs and nation to major championships. The most remarkable among his achievements is the victory of 1986 FIFA World Cup for Argentina which made him popular for the ‘two magical’ goals.
In the 1986 World Cup quarter final, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over England that entered football history for two different reasons. The first goal was an unpenalized handling foul known as the “Hand of God”, while the second goal followed a 60 m (66 yd) dribble past five England players, voted “The Goal of the Century” by FIFA.com voters in 2002. Diego Maradona Official (2020)
Peter Shilton, former England keeper who became (in)famous after the “Hand of God” controversy in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, wrote for in The Daily Mail (2020) “What I don’t like is that he never apologised. Never at any stage did he say he had cheated and that he would like to say sorry. Instead, he used his ‘Hand of God’ line. That wasn’t right. It seems he had greatness in him but sadly no sportsmanship”. His small size contributed to the ‘Hand of God’ moment against England which made it look so ridiculous. Unbelievably, when a short footballer managed to jump and head the ball beyond Peter, the English goalkeeper who is eight inches taller than him and punched the ball past the English goalkeeper it ultimately knocked England out of the competition in the match. Within just four minutes he scored “The Goal of the Century”, widely considered as one of the most incredible goals in the history of FIFA World Cups as he dribbled from his half through the entire opposition defence.
It was Emir Kusturica, Film director once said of the crazy character of Maradona:
“I asked myself, ‘Who is this man? Who is this footballing magician, this Sex Pistol of international football, this cocaine victim who kicked the habit, looked like Falstaff and was as weak as spaghetti?’ If Andy Warhol had still been alive, he would have definitely put Maradona alongside Marilyn Monroe and Mao Tse-Tung. I’m convinced that if he hadn’t been a footballer, he’d’ve become a revolutionary.” (Goal, 2020)
He was such a unique personality involved in different kinds of activities. His bad habits of drinking and use of drugs had their toll on his health and paved way to a ballooning body. He was also a man influenced by many revolutionary icons especially who were associated with Latin America and the left ideology. The tattoos on his body reveal his political affiliation. He has a tattoo of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, the Argentine-born revolutionary, on his right shoulder and Fidel Castro, the Cuban revolutionary leader, on his left leg.
Conclusion
Radio Jamaica News reported a statement from the Argentina Football Association: “The Argentine Football Association, through its President Claudio Tapia, expresses its deepest pain at the death of our legend, Diego Armando Maradona. You’ll always be in our hearts.” Yes, he will never die…he will live forever in the hearts of millions of soccer fans irrespective of caste and creeds, countries and continents. Even though Diego Maradona is regarded as the bad boy or the flawed genius, millions of football fans still support team Argentina because of this iconic man. The legend has left us,……my hero no more, ….world of sports has lost one of its greatest players,…..the hand of God, Maradona has left us….., you are eternal……, he will always be forgiven. Tweets go on searching in vein for players in lieu of Diego Maradona. Left with a void, aren’t we?
References
Encyclopedia Britannica (2020): “Diego Maradona,” 25 November, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Diego-Maradona
Goal (2020): “70 facts about Argentina legend Diego Maradona,” 29 May, https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/70-facts-about-argentina-legend-diego-maradona/1vuskowl7b15v1l15s750cf3cn
Buneos Aires Times (2020): “Maradona’s Body to Lie in State at Casa Rosada,” 26 November, https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/maradonas-body-to-lie-in-state-at-casa-rosada.phtml
Diego Maradona Official (2020): “About me,” https://www.diegomaradonagroup.com/about-me/
Abraham, Rohan (2020):”The Bad Boys Club: Ronaldinho, Maradona & Other Football Stars Who Ended up in Prison,” The Economic Times, 19 March.
Radio Jamaica News (2020): “Football World Mourns Passing of Argentine Legend Diego Maradona” 25. November, http://radiojamaicanewsonline.com/sports/football-world-mourns-passing-of-argentine-legend-diego-maradona
