“His influence extended beyond football,” says The Athletic reporter
Michael Cox in his tribute to Argentina legend Diego Maradona.
Maradona passed away at the age of 60 on Wednesday just 13 days
after being released from hospital.
Three days of mourning has started in his native Argentina, while the city
of Naples along with the entire footballing world will be remembering a
true great of the game.
Cox has highlighted the story behind the 1990 World Cup semi-final
against Italy as an example of his overpowering influence outside of
football.
“I think he had an influence that extend beyond football,” Cox said. “The
story behind the 1990 World Cup semi-final between Argentina and Italy
was one of the most remarkable things in World Cup history.
“The game was played in the city of Naples and Maradona basically got
the people of Naples on Argentina’s side by saying ‘Italy has looked
down on Naples for so many years so why would you now support
Italy?’”
Argentina would go onto narrowly edge Italy on penalties with Maradona
converting the winning spot-kick. However, West Germany prevailed 1-0
four days later at the Stadio Olimpico in the Italian capital of Rome.
Others took to social media to also pay tribute to Maradona.
Maradona will always be remembered for his two goals against England
in the quarter-final of the 1986 World Cup at the Azteca in Mexico City.
His self-proclaimed ‘hand of god’ goal divided opinions across the globe,
while his second goal was voted ‘goal of the century’. Although Jonathan
Pearce believes Maradona clearly cheated, he also explained how it was
perceived differently in Argentina.
“The first goal he cheated,” Pearce declared. “But that was seen in
Argentina in a culturally different way than we see it in England.
“He’ll also be remembered for his glories at Napoli of course but tainted
as well with his connections to nefarious activities in that country.
“Glorious footballer on the pitch. The greatest footballer I’ve ever seen?
No I don’t think so because of that flawed genius.”
Ian Darke disagreed and cited the recent eulogy from The Times writer
Henry Winter as a fitting tribute.
“Where was he in the list of all-time greats? I think only really a couple of
players are in the argument. Pele because he won three World Cups,”
Darke declared.
He added: “But remember Maradona, unlike Lionel Messi, more or less
single-handedly won a World Cup for Argentina in 86’ when he was very
much at his peak.
“Maradona transfixed every football fan every time he got the ball. The
second goal against England in that World Cup quarter-final in 1986 was
something to behold. Never mind the hand of god debate.
“So he’s right there in the argument. Three days of mourning in
Argentina, there is great grief in Naples too where he brought two titles
to that impoverished city.
“We’ve lost a really great player no matter how chaotic his life was off
the pitch.”
