Diego Armando Maradona
| Name | Diego Armando Maradona |
| Starting Number | #10 |
| Born | 30 October 1960 in Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Height | 168 cm / 5'8" feet |
| Weight | 78 kg / 172 pounds (1997) |
| Family Status | Has two daughters (Dalma and Giannina) from his former wife Claudia Villafane; has an illegitimate son (Diego Armando Junior) form Christiana Sinagra; other women are suing him for child suppor |
Diego Maradona was the best Argentine football (soccer) player in 20th century.His performance was like a magic.The best player in the world was achived a great reputation of all football match spectator's.
Maradona was born in Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires, Argentina to a family of humble origin. He first played in the Argentine Championship, for Argentinos Juniors (1976-81) and then for Boca Juniors (1981-82). He then went to Spain, where, playing for FC Barcelona, he won a Copa del Rey. On July 5, 1984 he went to Naples, Italy to join SSC Napoli, where he won two Italian Championships (1986/87 and 1989/1990), a Coppa Italia (1987), a UEFA Cup (1989) and an Italian Supercup (1990), plus Napoli were runners-up in the Italian Championship twice.
Maradona led the Argentine national team to victory in the World Cup in 1986, the team winning 3-2 in the final against West Germany. In this tournament, he became notorious for a goal in the quarter-final game against the England, which video evidence later clearly revealed he had scored with the aid of his hand. He later claimed it was the "Hand of God" which had caused him to score the goal, to the general derision of the English public and in particular the tabloid newspapers, who still resurrect the incident occasionally even today, branding him a cheat. However, Maradona showed the other side of his nature just a couple of minutes later in the same match, by running half the length of the pitch and beating almost the entire English team along the way, to score what is widely regarded as the most exceptional goal of all time.
Early YearsAt age 10, Maradona was spotted by a talent scout while he was playing in his neighborhood clubEstrella Roja. He became a staple of Los Cebollitas (The Little Onions), the junior team of Buenos Aires's Argentinos Juniors. As a 12-year-old ball boy, he amused spectators by showing his wizardry with the ball during the halftime intermissions of first division games.
Maradona was born in Lanús, but raised in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires, to a poor family that had moved from Corrientes Province. He was the first son after three daughters. He has two younger brothers, Hugo (el Turco) and Eduardo (Lalo), both of whom were also professional football players.
Playing Stayle
Maradona had a compact physique and could withstand physical pressure well. His strong legs and low center of gravity gave him an advantage in short sprints. His physical strengths were illustrated by his two goals against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup. Maradona was a strategist and a team player, as well as highly technical with the ball. He could manage himself effectively in limited spaces, and would attract defenders only to quickly dash out of the melee (as in the second 1986 goal against England), or give an assist to a free teammate. Being short, but strong, he could hold the ball long enough with a defender on his back to wait for a teammate making a run or to find a gap for a quick shot.
One of Maradona's trademark moves was dribbling full-speed on the right wing, and on reaching the opponent's goal line, delivering accurate passes to his teammates. Another trademark was the Rabona, a reverse-cross pass shot behind the leg that holds all the weight. This maneuver led to several assists, such as the powerful cross for Ramón Díaz's header in the 1980 friendly against Switzerland. He was also a dangerous free kick taker.
Maradona was dominantly left-footed, often using his left foot even when the ball was positioned more suitably for a right-footed connection. His first goal against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup semi-final is a worthy indicator of such; he had run into the inside right channel to receive a pass but let the ball travel across to his left foot, requiring more technical ability. During his run past several England players in the previous round for the "Goal of the Century", he did not use his right foot once, despite spending the whole movement on the right-hand side of the pitch. In the 1990 World Cup second round tie against Brazil, he did use his right foot to set up the winning goal for Caniggia due to two Brazilian.
markers forcing him into a position that made use of his left foot less practical.
International Career
During his time at Napoli, Maradona found his fame in international football. While playing for the Argentina National Team, he played 4 FIFA Tournaments. He led the Argentinean team to the World Cup in 1986 and came second during the 1990 World Cup.
His full international debut happened when he was only 16 on 27th February 1977, in a match against Hungary. The goal made by Maradona during the quarter final match against England in the 1986 world cup is voted as the ‘Goal of the Century’ through an online poll conducted by
Personal Life
His parents are Diego Maradona Snr and Dalma Salvadore Franco. His father is of Mestizoextraction.His maternal great-grandfather Mateo Kariolić was born in Korčula, Dalmatia, today'sCroatia (possibly then in the Austrian Empire), and emigrated to Argentina, where Maradona's grandmother Salvadora was born.Salvadora named her daughter Dalma after the Croatian region, after whom Maradona named his eldest daughter.
Maradona married long-time fiancée Claudia Villafañe on 7 November 1989 in Buenos Aires, after the birth of their daughters, Dalma Nerea (born on 2 April 1987) and Giannina Dinorah (born on 16 May 1989), by whom he became a grandfather in 2009.In his autobiography, Maradona admits he was not always faithful to Claudia, even though he refers to her as the love of his life.
Maradona and Villafañe divorced in 2004. Daughter Dalma has since asserted that the divorce was the best solution for all, as her parents remained on friendly terms. They traveled together to Napoli for a series of homages in June 2005 and were seen together on many other occasions, including the Argentina matches during 2006 FIFA World Cup.
During the divorce proceedings, Maradona admitted he was the father of Diego Sinagra (born in Naples on 20 September 1986). The Italian courts had already so ruled in 1993, after Maradona refused to undergo DNA tests for proving or disproving his paternity. Diego Jr. met Maradona for the first time in May 2003 after tricking his way onto a golf course in Italy where Maradona was playing.
After the divorce, Claudia embarked on a career as a theatre producer, and Dalma is seeking an acting career; she has expressed her desire to attend the Actor's Studio in Los Angeles.
His younger daughter, Giannina, is now engaged to Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero, with whom she has a son, Benjamin, born in Madrid on 19 February 2009. His son Diego Sinagra is a footballer in Italyn.
- League Matches -
Season | Club | Country | Matches | Goals |
1997 | Boca Juniors | Argentina | 6 | 2 |
1996 | Boca Juniors | Argentina | 13 | 2 |
1995 | Boca Juniors | Argentina | 11 | 3 |
1993 | Newell's Old Boys | Argentina | 5 | 0 |
1992 - 1993 | Sevilla FC | Spain | 26 | 5 |
1991 - 1992 | Napoli | Italy | 0 | 0 |
1990 - 1991 | Napoli | Italy | 18 | 6 |
1989 - 1990 | Napoli | Italy | 28 | 16 |
1988 - 1989 | Napoli | Italy | 26 | 9 |
1987 - 1988 | Napoli | Italy | 28 | 15 |
1986 - 1987 | Napoli | Italy | 29 | 10 |
1985 - 1986 | Napoli | Italy | 29 | 11 |
1984 - 1985 | Napoli | Italy | 30 | 14 |
1983 - 1984 | FC Barcelona | Spain | 16 | 11 |
1982 - 1983 | FC Barcelona | Spain | 20 | 11 |
1981 | Boca Juniors | Argentina | 40 | 28 |
1980 | Argentinos Juniors | Argentina | 45 | 43 |
1978 - 1979 | Argentinos Juniors | Argentina | 26 | 26 |
1977 - 1978 | Argentinos Juniors | Argentina | 35 | 26 |
1976 - 1977 | Argentinos Juniors | Argentina | 49 | 19 |
1976 | Argentinos Juniors | Argentina | 11 | 2 |
| | Total: | 491 | 259 |
