Who is Maradona? Maradona or pele who is better?

Who is Maradona? Diego Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers to ever grace the pitch. Known for his extraordinary talent, charisma, and controversial moments, Maradona’s name is synonymous with football greatness. Born in Argentina, he became a global icon, captivating audiences with his skill, vision, and leadership. His performances, particularly at the 1986 World Cup, where he led Argentina to victory, cemented his place in football history. But Maradona’s influence goes beyond his achievements on the field; he is a symbol of passion, resilience, and the beautiful game’s power to inspire. Let’s learn about Maradona through the following article with Premiumsoccertips.net!

Who is maradona?

Biography of Diego Maradona:

• Full name: Diego Armando Maradona Franco
• Date of birth: October 30, 1960
• Date of death: November 25, 2020 (aged 60)
• Place of birth: Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Height: 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
• Position: Attacking midfielder, Second striker

Diego Maradona was born in Lanús, Argentina. He grew up in a family of three sisters, one brother and one younger brother. As a child, he experienced harsh living conditions and financial difficulties.

Although living in a slum plagued by poverty, his family still lived in harmony and close together. At the age of 8, his talent was discovered while playing for the Estrella Roja Club.

As a teenager, he joined The Little Onions – the youth team of Argentina Juniors and made a strong impression on the coaches with his incredible dribbling ability for a player who was only 12 years old.

At this time, he also idolized two players: Brazilian playmaker Rivelino and Manchester United winger George Best. Maradona also said that it was these two who inspired him to play football.

Diego Maradona’s Club Career

Diego Maradona’s club career did not involve many clubs, but his contributions were significant in bringing victories to the teams he played for.

Boca Juniors

This was Maradona’s favorite club, though he only played one full season there. The 1981-82 season was his first official and most memorable season with Boca Juniors. He played a total of 40 matches and scored 28 goals. This was an impressive achievement for a young player of only 18 years old.

His goals were crucial, including one against Boca’s eternal rival, River Plate. Maradona also helped Boca Juniors win the Argentine Primera División championship at the age of 18. That season, he also led the team to victory in the Copa Libertadores, the South American club championship. Thanks to this remarkable performance, Barcelona took notice of Maradona and flew to Argentina to negotiate a contract with him.

Barcelona

Some sources suggest that Barcelona spent a record-breaking £5 million to recruit Maradona, an unimaginable amount in the 1980s. This made him the most expensive player in the world at the time. However, despite the huge fee, his performance was rather underwhelming, as he only appeared in 40 matches. Many experts noted that he struggled to adapt to the European football environment. After two unsuccessful years in Spain, he moved on to join Napoli.

Napoli and the Unforgettable 1986 World Cup

Napoli was the club Maradona played for the longest, from 1984 to 1992, where he achieved legendary status and set records that would be remembered for years. He made a total of 188 appearances for the club, scoring 81 goals. Maradona led Napoli to the Scudetto title in 1987, marking the first time in history the team broke the dominance of Juventus and AC Milan in Italian football.

Maradona had an extraordinary career moment in 1986 while playing in the World Cup in Mexico, where he took on a key leadership role for the Argentine national team.

In the quarterfinals against England, Maradona scored a goal that remains unforgettable. This goal, later known as the “Goal of the Century,” saw him dribble past six opposing defenders, starting from midfield and reaching England’s penalty area.

He then bypassed goalkeeper Peter Shilton and calmly sealed a 2-1 victory for Argentina. In the semi-final against Belgium, Maradona shined again with two goals. As in the final against West Germany, he provided two important assists for Jorge Burruchaga and Jorge Valdano to help Argentina win a thrilling 3-2 victory.

In 1987, both FIFA and UEFA honored him as the World’s Best Player. Maradona also became the first player to make two assists in a World Cup final. However, in later years, he moved to several clubs without much success and retired at the age of 43.

International Career with the Argentina National Team

Diego Maradona’s national team career began at a very young age. Like the legendary “King of Football,” Pelé, Maradona made his debut for the national team at only 16 years old.

1976–1981: First Division and the National Team

Maradona made his national team debut on February 27, 1977, in a match against Hungary. However, he was left off the official squad for the 1978 World Cup by coach Cesar Luis Menotti, who deemed him too young.

In 1979, Maradona played in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Japan, where he emerged as the brightest star of the tournament, leading Argentina’s U-20 team to victory. Individually, Maradona was awarded the “Golden Ball,” recognizing him as the tournament’s best player.

1981–1982: The First World Cup

In the 1982 World Cup, Maradona took his first steps on the world’s biggest stage in the opening match against Belgium in Spain.

Although Argentina lost 0-1 to Belgium, they advanced to the second round after defeating Hungary and El Salvador convincingly in Alicante, despite internal team conflicts between younger players and veterans.

Maradona left the tournament having played all 450 minutes of regulation time, scoring 2 goals and receiving 1 red card. The “Golden Boy” returned to Argentina, where he would wait four more years until the 1986 World Cup in Mexico to fully shine.

The Goal of the Century in 1986, Mexico

The “Goal of the Century” is widely regarded as the greatest goal of all time, referring to Maradona’s extraordinary goal against England in 1986. During the World Cup in Mexico, this goal gave Argentina a 2-0 lead over England.

Maradona took possession of the ball from his own half and used his incredible speed and skill to outmaneuver five English players before finally dribbling past England’s top goalkeeper, Peter Shilton.

He swiftly passed six opponents, almost as if the ball was glued to his feet, in a run as fast as a galloping horse. This goal is considered the finest of Maradona’s career.

Beyond its artistic brilliance, this goal carried the weight of a World Cup quarterfinal. For this reason, FIFA later dubbed it the “Goal of the Century.”

Many players have since recreated this iconic play, including Lionel Messi (in the 2006-07 Copa del Rey semifinal between Barcelona and Getafe) at just 19 years old, and Javier Saviola (while playing for S.L. Benfica in the Portuguese league), among others.

The Hand of God

The “Hand of God” is another iconic and controversial goal in football history, scored by the legendary Diego Maradona in 1986.

In the World Cup quarterfinal between England and Argentina, with the score still 0-0, in the 51st minute, following a clearance from an English player, Maradona raced to contest the ball with goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Due to his shorter stature, Maradona decided to use his hand to punch the ball into the net, to the astonishment of more than 114,000 spectators, and even his own teammates. To everyone’s surprise, the referee allowed the goal.

 

Immediately, the England players surrounded the referee, protesting vehemently about what they saw as a clear violation. However, the referee’s decision stood.

When asked by reporters about his goal, Maradona famously replied: “I scored it with my head, and the hand of God.”

Argentina went on to win the match 2-1, and later triumphed in the final against Germany with a 3-2 victory, claiming the World Cup title.

Playing Style

Maradona’s football technique was remarkable, characterized by several distinctive traits: dribbling at high speeds, a superior flick-up move to outmaneuver opponents. Due to his skills developed from a young age, Diego was known for his precise passing, primarily with his left foot, making him exceptionally effective with free kicks.

He was capable of scoring from any position, using his head and executing a wide variety of moves; all these techniques contributed to his playing style, making it unique and nearly unbeatable.

Diego Maradona’s Coaching Career

Before retiring from playing, Maradona spent a considerable amount of time as a coach. His first managerial job was with the little-known club Deportivo Mandiyú, but this ended quickly due to a dispute with one of the club’s owners. Maradona then moved on to coach Racing Club de Avellaneda, but his time there was also unremarkable.

Although he didn’t achieve much success at these two clubs, Maradona didn’t give up. He aimed to become the head coach of the Argentina national team in 2008 and remained in charge for two years. However, after the 2010 World Cup, the Argentine Football Association decided not to renew his contract.

After taking a year off, he was offered the position of head coach at UAE’s Al-Wasl. As with his previous stints, Al-Wasl also failed to achieve the desired results, and Maradona was frequently involved in controversies. Due to his fiery temperament, he left his managerial position at the club earlier than expected.

Who is better pele or maradona?

The question “Who is better, Maradona or Pelé?” is one of the greatest debates in football history, and there is no definitive answer, as each player has unique traits and achievements, as well as a different impact on the game.

• Pelé: Pelé is known as one of the greatest players of all time, with three World Cup titles (1958, 1962, 1970) and over 1000 goals in his career. He is known for his impressive goal-scoring ability, exquisite technique, speed, power, and his ability to adapt to various playing styles. Pelé played for Santos, New York Cosmos, and the Brazil national team, winning numerous international and club titles.
• Maradona: Maradona stood out for his exceptional dribbling skills, ball control, and excellent tactical vision. He is remembered for the “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century” during the 1986 World Cup, where he led Argentina to victory. Maradona had the ability to produce extraordinary moments and was a team leader with his breakthrough performances. While he didn’t win as many international titles as Pelé, he is still considered one of the greatest players in football history.

 

Pelé has an impressive record with three World Cup titles and a long, successful career spanning many years. Maradona, on the other hand, is more famous for his ability to shine in major tournaments and his legendary moments, such as his performances in the 1986 World Cup, even though he only won one World Cup title.

Ultimately, who is better depends on personal perspective. Pelé is highly regarded for his consistency and long-lasting success, while Maradona is loved for his natural talent and the unforgettable moments that made him a legend in the hearts of many fans.

Comparison

Diego Maradona is one of the most iconic figures in football history, known for his incredible skill, vision, and leadership on the field. He is best remembered for his legendary performances with the Argentina national team, especially during the 1986 World Cup, where he led his country to victory with unforgettable moments such as the “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century.” Despite a career filled with both triumphs and controversies, Maradona’s impact on the sport remains unparalleled. His brilliance, creativity, and passion for the game have earned him a place among the greatest players ever. In answering “Who is Maradona?” – he is a football legend whose legacy transcends time and continues to inspire generations of players and fans worldwide.

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