June 22, 1986: Steve Hodge inadvertently hooked the ball perilously towards his own goal. Peter Shilton, always an alert customer, charged towards the ball fully expecting to punch it to safety. In a split second, he opened his eyes to witness Diego Maradona wheeling away in celebration.
Disbelief spread across the Azteca as the rebellious Maradona gloated in the limelight. It seemed as if every mortal from across the world had witnessed Maradona use his hand to punch the ball past Shilton, every mortal but Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser.
Terry Fenwick furiously pleaded with Bin Nasser but his complaints were to no avail. England had been undone by a disgraceful yet strangely innovative style of cheating from Maradona.
Moments later, Maradona would once again showcase his individual brilliance with a goal which has since been dubbed ‘the goal of the century’.
Slaloming past a sea of bodies, Maradona charged towards goal with the ball virtually glued to his feet. He even rounded Shilton for good measure before prodding the ball home and securing victory for La Albiceleste.
His infamous exploits reverberated across the globe but Maradona took the criticism in his stride. Winning was the priority for this temperamental genius and his individual masterclass was emblematic of his entire career.
Every moment of magic was tempered by an incident of obscene controversy. His stunning brace against Hungary in 1982 was overshadowed by a sending off against Brazil. His sumptuous chip against Red Star Belgrade in the red and blue strip of FC Barcelona was followed by a heated brawl against Athletic Bilbao. Just days after applying an unerring finish to a beautiful attacking move against Greece, Maradona was sent home in disgrace following a failed drugs test at the 1994 World Cup.
His career was laced with controversy but his genius was undisputable. One of the most exceptional footballing careers ever witnessed preceded perhaps the most emphatic downfall since Manchester United legend George Best.
Addictions and scandals followed Maradona everywhere but it’s more fitting to appreciate his uniqueness and the pure joy he provided the footballing world.
Maradona scored 354 goals in 694 appearances for club and country. He played at the highest echelons of European football – winning two Serie A titles at Napoli and three trophies in two seasons at FC Barcelona.
Gone but never forgotten is a term used frequently when one passes away, but I’m certain that Diego Armando Maradona will never be forgotten!
