The story of the “Hand of God” and a footballer with extraordinary technique.
Diego Maradona was born on 30 October 1960 in the slums of Villa Fiorito, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Like all the poor children of the city, football was his only daily pastime, and he spent much of his time playing on the streets or learning the game on rough, worn-out pitches.
It was the small spaces he was forced to play in — among cars, passers-by, and obstacles — that trained him to master the ball with extraordinary skill.
Already admired by his teammates for his incredible ability, he was quickly nicknamed El Pibe de Oro (the Golden Boy), a name that would stay with him throughout his career. Recognising his immense talent, he was first signed by Argentinos Juniors, before moving to Boca Juniors, the legendary Buenos Aires club. His extraordinary abilities could not go unnoticed, and at just sixteen years old he was called up to the Argentina national team, accelerating his rise.
However, César Luis Menotti, then Argentina’s coach, did not select him for the 1978 World Cup, considering him too young for such a major tournament. Maradona responded to this disappointment by winning the 1979 U-20 World Cup, where he stood out as the tournament’s best player.
From that moment on, his rise was unstoppable. After outstanding performances in Argentina, he moved to Europe for the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where he led a less impressive Argentina side. In key matches against Brazil and Italy, he failed to shine as expected and was even sent off.
That same year, Barcelona paid a record fee of 12 billion lire to sign him from Boca Juniors.
However, his time in Spain was difficult. He played only 36 matches in two years due to hepatitis and a serious injury — the worst of his career — caused by Goikoetxea, a defender from Athletic Bilbao, who fractured his left ankle and damaged his ligaments.
In 1984, after long negotiations, he arrived in the city that would turn him into an idol, a symbol, and an untouchable hero: Naples.
The Neapolitan club made a huge sacrifice, paying 13.5 billion lire — an enormous fee at the time — but it proved to be worth it. Maradona’s performances led Napoli to the peak of European football, winning two Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, one UEFA Cup, and one Italian Super Cup.
He reached the peak of his career at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he led Argentina to glory. He scored five goals, provided five assists, and was named the best player of the tournament. In the quarter-finals against England, he scored the infamous “Hand of God” goal — a moment that remains controversial to this day.
Just minutes later, he scored what is often considered the greatest goal in World Cup history: a solo run from midfield, dribbling past multiple opponents before scoring.
He almost single-handedly led Argentina to a 3–2 victory over West Germany in the final.
Then came Italia ’90 and the beginning of his decline. Argentina reached the final but lost to West Germany due to a Brehme penalty.
In March 1991, he tested positive for doping and was suspended for 15 months.
The scandal marked a turning point. His decline deepened as cocaine addiction, tax problems, and personal difficulties — including the birth of a son he did not initially recognise — affected his life.
He left Napoli in 1991 and moved to Sevilla, but failed to succeed there and returned to Argentina the following year.
Just when his story seemed close to ending, another twist came: his selection for the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where he scored a brilliant goal against Greece. Fans believed he had returned to form, but he was once again suspended after testing positive for ephedrine, a banned substance.
In October 1994, Maradona became coach of Deportivo Mandiyú, but the role lasted only two months. In 1995, he coached Racing Club for four months before resigning. He later returned to Boca Juniors as a player, where fans gave him a legendary welcome at La Bombonera.
He remained at Boca until 1997, when he tested positive for doping again. On his 37th birthday, El Pibe de Oro announced his retirement from football.
After retiring, Maradona struggled with the transition away from the game. Having been adored by crowds throughout his life, he found it difficult to accept the end of his playing career. While he no longer appeared in football news, he remained a constant figure in tabloids and gossip columns.
In 2008, following the resignation of Alfio Basile due to poor results in World Cup qualifying, Maradona was appointed head coach of the Argentina national team.
He went on to lead Argentina as one of the main contenders at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.