Everything that Maradona left us... beyond football
There are personalities and personalities within the world of football, but few, not to mention any, can boast of having been inspiration from Andrés Calamaro and protagonist of an article by Mario Vargas Llosa. None except Diego Armando Maradona, cut muso number 10 from the album Honesty brutal y numen by the Peruvian writer, who defined him as “the Pelé of the eighties.”. A great player? More than that: one of those living deities that men create to worship themselves in.”.
And the Argentine player was more than a reference in football, He was a world figure. One of the big reasons? The phrases he said between games.
THE ORIGINS OF MARADONA: THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND
Maradona's beginnings occurred in Lanus. “I grew up in a private neighborhood… deprived of light, of water, of phone…", the player joked. “If you could eat, was eaten and if not, no”.
He started playing at Fiorito, but it didn't take long for him to attract the attention of the greatest coaches. “Suddenly I left Fiorito and ended up at the top of the Universe. "There I had to manage on my own.". In his autobiography I am Diego He clearly remembers the moment he received his first ball.. “It was the most beautiful gift they gave me in my life… I was three years old and I slept holding her all night”.
His first achievements came in the shadow of numerous criticisms, which the player avoided by warning that “people have to understand that Maradona is not a happiness machine.”. Those first detractors were not able to break the illusions of a young Maradona, that in his first statements on TV he was not ashamed to acknowledge what he expected from his career as a footballer: “My first dream is to play in the World Cup.”. The second, become World Cup champion”. “I felt like I could beat the world”, the Argentine assured.
And that's what he tried to do in his first World Cup with the absolute, that of 82. Argentina intended to reach Spain and win the trophy without difficulties, Nothing could be further from the truth. “We arrived in Spain with the idea that we had already won the Cup. We just forgot one detail.: to win, “First you have to play”.
the albiceleste, in addition to being eliminated against the new defender of the World Cup title: Italy, left Maradona on the road, who ended up staying in Spain to join the ranks of FC Barcelona.
YOUR STEP THROUGH SPAIN
His landing at the Camp Nou was not as expected. “Barcelona is the best club in the world but a horrible place. “They never let you forget that you are a South American.”, recognized.
He didn't even like the League. “The defenders in Spain killed you with elbows and kicks. “They even hit me on the tongue.”, the player protested. It was obvious that this was not his place.. And that's how he let the coach know, that at that time Cesar Luis Menotti. “I know that Bernd has things that I don't have, although I will learn them; "But the ones I have he won't be able to learn," said the Argentine about his teammate Bernd Schuster.. He was made of a different stuff. And Maradona sucked street football. Like almost all geniuses.
“I am more… more Madrid. Because of the bad relationship with José Luis Núñez and because that's where my relationship with drugs began.".
MARADONA'S CONSECRATION IN SERIE A
So, He left FC Barcelona to go to Serie A. Specifically to a club I knew nothing about. “For me Naples was something Italian like pizza and nothing more”. “They gave me the history of the club when I had already signed a contract. There I found out that in the last three seasons he had been fighting relegation.". But nevertheless Maradona had already filled San Paolo without playing.
This time things were going to be done his way and as soon as he found a place among his colleagues he gave the president, Corrado Ferlaino, the key to success: “It buys a 3 O 4 players and sell that people whistle. When I give the ball to someone and they whistle at it... bye. If not, think about selling to me, because I don't stay like that.".
The board listened to him and Naples began to improve its performance, reaching the level of Verona (current Scudetto champion in Maradona's first year in Italy at that time), first rival of the Argentine in Serie A. “We debuted as visitors against Verona and they welcomed us with a banner that made me suddenly understand that our battle was not just about football.: WELCOME TO ITALY".
“I gave Naples things they didn't have… tacos, dribbles and titles, but also, and more than anything, pride".
FROM “HOW…” TO “BE…” GOD
Maradona was only missing one thing: the world title. The year was running 1986 and the albiceleste traveled to Mexico with the sole purpose of winning that trophy.
That World Cup, beyond famous phrases, scored what may be the most memorable goal in history: the one with “the little hand”. A performance about which Maradona declared: “I didn’t touch her.”, “It was the hand of God.”. The 10 He claims that “no one noticed at the time”. “I went all out, I don't even know how I managed to jump so much... Defender Fenwick began to ask for a hand, not because I had seen her, but because I didn't understand how I could have beaten the archer to the jump.".
Who did seem to have seen it was someone else, fortunately from his team. “Valdano made me like this: schhh…with my finger in my mouth, “as if it were a photo of a nurse in a hospital,” he commented years later., between laughs, Maradona. “The goal was totally legitimate.”. The referee validated it and I am not the one to doubt the honesty of the referee.”.
But little time would pass for Maradona to redeem his sin before the eyes of the world.. Somewhat considered “The goal of the century”. Even the English coach, Sir Bobby Robson acknowledged: “The first one he marked with his hand, but the second was worth two”.
“When I see the goal again, It seems incredible to me that I have achieved it. It's the dream goal. In Fiorito I dreamed of scoring a goal like that one day... and I did it in a World Cup, for my country and in a final”, Maradona proudly recognizes.
His love for football was real. A real crush. “Playing gives me a unique peace. Give me a ball and I'll have fun... that's what we did in Fiorito and that's what I always did, even if I was playing against 100.000 personas”.
MARADONA'S FIGHTS
Considered a God by many and a devil by others, Maradona was one of those tough bones to crack. Its fine thread did not thread all the needles, something that, added to his sincerity before the media, brought him many disputes. “If I had to talk about all the characters I have fought with, "I would need an encyclopedia of those that sell in installments". “I didn't keep quiet at all. If I was sure of what I felt, I was saying. And? Why wouldn't I? Why had he left Fiorito?? The balls!”
His greatest known rival in the world of the ball was Pelé. “I already beat Pelé. Now go back to the museum,” said Maradona in full World Cup in South Africa 2010. “I was judged by the 12 years I played in Europe, something that Pele didn't do. let's be serious, Don't compare me to him anymore.".
But 10 He aimed high and also stood up to the top leaders of world football. “Football should be managed by the footballers.”; "The leaders only want to steal the clubs' money and be in the photo.". “The leaders of Boca are more false than a blue dollar”. “River's directors are like their players, The only thing they know how to do is scratch.”.
Even the Pope ended up splashed by his golden beak. “I fought with the Pope because I went to the Vatican and saw the gold ceilings.”. And then I heard the Pope say that the Church cared about poor kids. But I sold the roof, fair, do something!”
THE FALL OF A LEGEND
In a discreet league match against Bari, Maradona tested positive for cocaine and was sanctioned for 15 months. The Argentine returned home, to Buenos Aires, where the scandal increased after being arrested for possession of narcotics. After his release he declared: "I have been, I am and will be addicted to drugs.”. “I'm not the best example., but not as bad as they paint me; "What happens is that I have enough balls to tell people about my illness.". “I just ask that they let me live my own life.”. “I never wanted to be an example.”. “If Jesus Christ was wrong, Why can't I be wrong too??”
A vice that even kept him away from his fetish competition.. Argentina was defeated in the round of 16 against Romania in the USA World 94, and with it Maradona's career collapsed. The gourd was suspended others 15 months. “FIFA cut off my legs just when I had the opportunity to show my daughters that I could play with kids from 20 years".
Despite his addictions, comes and goes, Maradona assured in his farewell that “Football is the healthiest and most beautiful sport in the world.”, let no one have the slightest doubt. Because you make a mistake you don't have to pay for football. I made a mistake and paid…”, and surely what is his most famous phrase, “…but the ball doesn't get dirty.".
