Diego Maradona obituary: Argentine legend rose from poverty to become one of the greatest ever

To many, Diego Maradona is best remembered for the Hand of God goal that knocked England out of Mexico 86 and his later descent into drugs. 

But Jeff Powell, who was the first British journalist to recognise his genius, believes the little Argentine should be celebrated as the greatest player (bar one) to have graced the game 

Diego Maradona, one of the all-time ultimate legends of football, has died at the age of 60

Many will remember him for the  'Hand of God' but the little Argentine was so much more

Many will remember him for the  ‘Hand of God’ but the little Argentine was so much more 

Two nights after Argentina’s tumultuous winning of the 1978 World Cup, the streets of Buenos Aires still thronged with millions of celebrants as Cesar Luis Menotti held court in the bar of a downtown hotel.

That most languid of football managers was savouring the moment of glory with his heroes.

As Menotti clinked glasses with Passarella and Ardiles, Kempes and Luque, a slight figure sat in a dim corner. Too small to be noticed, too young to drink.

Diego Armando Maradona was occupying only a vague recess of Menotti’s mind.

The boy slipped away early into the night and not until dawn was breaking did Menotti have reason to discuss the future of that unobtrusive boy.

Mario Kempes, the goal-scoring hero in the World Cup and its extraordinary final against Holland, had just informed his manager that he was unlikely to be released by his Spanish club for FIFA’s anniversary showpiece fixture, to which Argentina were committed a couple of months later.

As the players dispersed, in the reluctant way triumphant gladiators do, I asked Menotti how he could possibly replace the great Kempes for such a prestigious occasion.

Cesar Luis Menotti (left) was Argentina's World Cup winning coach in 1978 and that year, he had already identified Maradona as a rising star - here, the duo are pictured together during a training session in 1980

Cesar Luis Menotti (left) was Argentina’s World Cup winning coach in 1978 and that year, he had already identified Maradona as a rising star – here, the duo are pictured together during a training session in 1980

Maradona was one of the most gifted sportsmen of all time, even though in England he has been vilified for his 'Hand of God' goal against Bobby Robson's side in Mexico in 1986

Maradona was one of the most gifted sportsmen of all time, even though in England he has been vilified for his ‘Hand of God’ goal against Bobby Robson’s side in Mexico in 1986

‘Did you notice that nino in the bar earlier?’ he asked. ‘He will be wearing the No 10 shirt the next time we take the field. Let me give you one piece of advice. Be there.’

Maradona had been disappointed to be considered too young at 17 to be part of the home glory of 1978. But the advent of the unlikely looking genius who was to become the most potent challenger to Pele’s mantle of Greatest Footballer Of All Time would not be delayed much longer.

As advised, I travelled to Switzerland that autumn and watched in awe as Maradona unfurled his phenomenal talent in Argentina’s reprise of their World Cup Final against Holland.

Such was my enthusiasm for the new wonder boy of the world game that several of my most distinguished sportswriting colleagues chided me gently for going over the top. But they had not been there.

When Argentina toured on from Switzerland, first to Hampden Park, then to Wembley, so the rest of Fleet Street saw Maradona’s brilliance for themselves – and were astonished.

Now, as the Hand of God hovers over his death-bed in Buenos Aires, it is time to remember the magnificence, not the human frailties.

Argentina is crying for Diego, now he has lost at 60 his protracted battle with a cruel manner of self-inflicted illnesses, culminating in brain haemorrhage and a heart attack.

Not for nothing is the world of football and beyond falling into mourning.

Maradona, pictured celebrating an Argentina goal at the 2018 World Cup in Russia against Nigeria, was a tortured soul but a cherished one in the worldwide football community

Maradona, pictured celebrating an Argentina goal at the 2018 World Cup in Russia against Nigeria, was a tortured soul but a cherished one in the worldwide football community

Maradona was manager of Argentina in the 2010 World Cup in Argentina where he oversaw, among others, his nation's other iconic talent in Lionel Messi

Maradona was manager of Argentina in the 2010 World Cup in Argentina where he oversaw, among others, his nation’s other iconic talent in Lionel Messi 

The facile tendency in England to vilify Maradona as nothing more than the culprit in the handball goal which helped defeat Bobby Robson’s brigade in the World Cup quarter-finals of Mexico 86 does no justice to one of the most gifted sportsmen of all time.

As Menotti described him on that long, hot night so many years earlier: ‘You will see that this boy, Diego, is a footballer made in heaven.’

Argentina’s love affair with their flawed phenomenon is all the stronger because he was born in the barrios.

Maradona, as he rose from the poverty of the Buenos Aires slums to play for Bocca Juniors – the team which represented every poor Argentine boy’s dream – and then to illuminate Argentina’s second World Cup triumph – became a symbol of hope for his people.

That he was a rascal, an incorrigible mischief-maker, a troubled human being and, ultimately, a waster of his own talent, only serves to make him all the more heroic to countrymen and women immersed in the melancholy of the tango.

They like their genius to come wrapped in controversy and bubbling with volatility in South America.

That was one reason why Pele was so reluctant to embrace the natural successor to his throne. The other was that Maradona represented the most threatening challenge to the legendary Brazilian’s unique place in the pantheon of the game.

Maradona became a symbol of hope for his country as he rose from the Buenos Aires slums to play for Boca Juniors (above) and then achieved World Cup glory with Argentina

Maradona became a symbol of hope for his country as he rose from the Buenos Aires slums to play for Boca Juniors (above) and then achieved World Cup glory with Argentina

Maradona left Argentina to ply his trade in European club football and played for Barcelona (pictured in 1984) - where Messi has made his name - but it was at Napoli, in Italy, where he truly shone aside from the international stage

Maradona left Argentina to ply his trade in European club football and played for Barcelona (pictured in 1984) – where Messi has made his name – but it was at Napoli, in Italy, where he truly shone aside from the international stage

Maradona pictured firing a shot at goal against Juventus in the 1986-87 Serie A season - that year, he helped Napoli win the Italian league, an achievement that plays an important part in the legacy that he now leaves within the footballing world

Maradona pictured firing a shot at goal against Juventus in the 1986-87 Serie A season – that year, he helped Napoli win the Italian league, an achievement that plays an important part in the legacy that he now leaves within the footballing world

His rise went far beyond his homeland - Maradona's ability places him among the greatest to ever play the game, alongside Brazil icon Pele. Here, the legendary attackers are pictured together in Paris in 2016 ahead of the start of the European Championship that year

His rise went far beyond his homeland – Maradona’s ability places him among the greatest to ever play the game, alongside Brazil icon Pele. Here, the legendary attackers are pictured together in Paris in 2016 ahead of the start of the European Championship that year

The unlikely body in which those mercurial gifts were to be found – short, squat, bowlegged and no-necked – made Maradona’s status in Edson Arantes do Nascimento’s beautiful game all the more difficult to acknowledge.

Yet it was that low centre of gravity which blessed Diego Armando with a remarkable dexterity on the turn and acceleration with the ball. It was that capacity to produce magical skills at electrifying pace- especially in the deadly zone around goal – which still sets him apart from even the sublime likes of Zidane, Ronaldo, Cruyff, Platini and all the rest of Pele’s apostles.

The most vivid demonstration of those talents came, as we should remember, against England in Mexico. Robson and his players of the day remember it only too well.

No, not the cross nudged in with his hand but the other goal. The one he scored with a dazzling pirouette away from a posse of England players, an unstoppable run from the halfway line and a typically impudent finish. That stands, still, as the greatest World Cup goal of all time.

But what of the Hand of God? Does that not diminish Maradona’s reputation as much as his misspent life?

Not, if pressed to the truth, in the estimation of Lineker,the Robsons and Co.

Whisper it softly when Peter Shilton is in earshot but, for the most part, that England team faulted their goalkeeper for not thumping his way through the head and body of the short Maradona to clear the ball. A calm study of the photograph of that incident now reveals Maradona with his eyes closed and his arm raised as if to protect himself from the expected impact of Shilton’s advance from his line.

Subsequently, he became the victim of his own, clever little phrase to describe that momentous happening. 

A calm look at the 'Hand of God' suggests Peter Shilton, the England goalkeeper, could have done much more to get to the ball before Maradona diverted it over him and into the net

A calm look at the ‘Hand of God’ suggests Peter Shilton, the England goalkeeper, could have done much more to get to the ball before Maradona diverted it over him and into the net

It was Maradona himself who described that goal against England in 1986 as 'The Hand of God'

It was Maradona himself who described that goal against England in 1986 as ‘The Hand of God’

Maradona and Argentina deserved to win that World Cup. Four years later, he was the captain and hero of the team which lost that trophy. And I do mean hero.

Argentina staggered into the Final of Italia 90 – which Germany reached by virtue of their expert penalty shootout against England – under the self-inflicted handicap of several suspensions as a consequence of their cynical football.

But Maradona was still trying to work his sorcery even though he had virtually been crippled by opponents desperate to subdue him. He showed me his ankles two days before the Final – a forlorn affair in Argentina’s case – and they were as black, blue and swollen as his self-abused body finally became.

By the time he got to the United States in 1994, he was sustaining himself on drugs and, after one magical but manic moment, was caught and shamed by the testers.

Mistaken though he had been in his means of trying to cling to the dying of the light, he was a lost soul from that moment on.

The addictions, the scandals, the physical assaults on intrusive representatives of the media and the retreat to such absurd havens as Havana all spoke of his desperation.

By the time Maradona (centre) got to the USA World Cup in 1994, he was sustaining himself on drugs and, after one magical but manic moment, was caught and shamed by the testers

By the time Maradona (centre) got to the USA World Cup in 1994, he was sustaining himself on drugs and, after one magical but manic moment, was caught and shamed by the testers

Maradona pictured in March 2020 in his role as manager of Argentine club Gimnasia y Esgrima

Maradona pictured in March 2020 in his role as manager of Argentine club Gimnasia y Esgrima

Argentina still loved him but he no longer loved himself.

Maradona saw himself for what he was, the little fat boy who never grew up.

In the eyes of his nation, he was Peter Pan, an enchanting child, albeit in a grotesque, misshapen form.

Now, after bringing so many so much pleasure, he is due a full measure of our sympathy.

Think of him not as the Hand of God. Think of him as the second greatest footballer ever to grace the game. Perhaps the greatest.

Think of him not as a drugged fiend. Think of him as a broken doll in a toy hospital. A Pinocchio awaiting the gift of life.

That blessing which the hand of God had delivered several times before. Until the Almighty decided the time had come to bring peace to this tortured soul.