His exploits at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico set a new bar for individual performances that may not be reached again
Maradona’s precocious talent was evident from a very young age. Not
even 10 years old, he was picked up by the junior team of Buenos Aires’
Argentinos Juniors. As a 12-year-old ball boy, he amused spectators by
showing his wizardry with the ball during the half-time intervals of
first division games. In 1976, 10 days before his 16th birthday, he made
his professional debut for the Argentinos Juniors. A few months later
he was awarded his first international cap. Maradona was one of the last
three players dropped from the 1978 World Cup when manager Mennotti
finalised his 22 player squad. Argentina lifted the FIFA under-20 World
Cup in 1979, with the 18-year-old Maradona winning the Golden Ball.
He was expected to make his mark at the global stage during the 1982
World Cup. Argentina, the defending champions, bowed out in the second
round. Maradona played all five matches scoring two goals. He was
tightly marked throughout. After being fouled repeatedly in all matches
and especially in the last game against Brazil, Maradona’s temper
eventually got the better of him and he was sent off with five minutes
remaining for a serious retaliatory foul against Batista da Silva.
In 1984, Maradona had been sold by Barcelona to Napoli, in Italy’s
Serie A, for a world record fee of $10.48 million. Barcelona had earlier
bought him from Argentina in 1982 for then world record fee of $7.6
million. Maradona was the only player to have earned the honour of being
the world’s most expensive transfer, twice.
By the time the 1986 World Cup arrived, the 25-year-old Maradona was a
battle hardened professional. At Mexico, the Argentine captain
literally ran the show. Maradona made his mark straight away. Argentina
started the campaign by beating South Korea 3-1; with Maradona bagging a
hat-trick of assists. Next was the toughest group tie, against Italy,
the defending Champions. Argentina fell behind as early as the sixth
minute. It was the 5 foot 5 inch pocket dynamo Diego Maradona who netted
the equaliser and forced the match into a 1-1 draw. In the last group
game, Bulgaria were defeated 2-0 but Argentina only breathed easily when
the second goal arrived in the 77th minute via a Maradona assist.
Argentina defeated Uruguay in the round of 16 by a lone goal to
progress into the quarter-final to set up an encounter against England.
The two nations had fought a bitter war over the Falkland Islands just
four years back. Argentina had lost that war and many Argentines saw it
as a prospect for revenge.
The much awaited tie is now a part of the football folklore; not for
one but two incidents both involving Maradona. The opening goal, in the
51st minute, was ‘made’ by Maradona as the replays showed the ball was
punched by him into the goal. He himself was evasive, describing the
goal scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the
hand of God.”
Within four minutes, ‘the hand of God goal’ was completely
overshadowed by the greatest of all the goals. Starting in his own half,
Maradona sprinted 60 metres, neatly eliminating four defenders one by
one through delightful dribbles before rounding the goal keeper to
score, and stun hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. It has been
officially voted as the ‘goal of the century’ by FIFA. England could
only manage a late consolatory goal to reduce the margin.
Argentina came across Belgium in the semi-final. After the baffling
goal against England, the eyes of the whole football world were on one
man; who provided yet another effervescent show. Maradona ran the
Belgian defence ragged scoring the only two goals of the match. The
second of which was again the culmination of a breath taking run.
The mighty West Germany ‘the ultimate tournament team’ awaited
Maradona and Argentina in the final. Majestic Azteca, the biggest
football stadium in the world jam packed with 115,000 spectators,
witnessed a classic duel.
The methodical Germans, as expected, had tightly marked Maradona. But
the legends can never be subdued; they always find a way. A free kick,
resulting from a foul on Maradona, brought the first goal through a
header by Brown in the 22nd minute. 10 minutes into the second half, the
lead was doubled, the magician was involved again. A fluent move
between Maradona and Enrique caught out the German defence, and Valdano
had only the goal keeper to beat with sufficient space; which he easily
did.
Germans’ never die spirit meant it was all level by the 80th minute
through two opportunistic goals. Mere mortals might have been depressed
by the sudden turn of events but not the Argentine captain. The man who
later jointly won the FIFA Player of the Century award, along with Pele,
provided the match winner. Burruchaga scored the clincher in the 83rd
minute after being put into the clear by Maradona’s defence splitting
pass; one of the finest assists ever seen.
Maradona went on to win the Golden Ball along with the World Cup
trophy. A statue of him scoring the ‘Goal of the Century’ was built and
placed at the entrance of the Azteca Stadium. Many regard that he won
the World Cup virtually single handedly.
Statistics: During the tournament, Maradona attempted or created more
than half of Argentina’s shots at goal, embarked on 90 dribbles some
three times more than any other player and was fouled 53 times winning
his team twice as many free kicks as any player. Of Argentina’s 14
goals, Maradona scored five and assisted another five. His country’s
victorious campaign was rightly summed up, ‘For Argentina, it was
Maradona and 10 men’.
His exploits at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico set a new bar for individual performances that may not be reached again.