Thank you, Maradona

Alejandro Barron, Staff Writer|November 26, 2020

Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona passed away on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack at the age of 60.
Maradona had recently undergone successful surgery on a brain blood clot in early November and was recovering at home until he suffered a heart attack at his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
To those around the world where soccer is much more popular, Maradona is a household name, but to the casual American sports fan, who is Maradona? “El Diego” was simply one of the best to ever do it and was incredible on and off the field.
Maradona was born on Oct. 30, 1960, in Lanus, Argentina, a date that will forever be remembered by soccer fans as the day a great was born. At the age of 16, he was already making his senior debut with his club Argentina Juniors. By 17 he was playing for the U-20 Argentina National Team.
His legendary resume only begins to grow from there, as he played for his beloved Boca Juniors, one of the biggest clubs in Argentina, before making the jump to Europe to become a legend at the Italian club, S.S.C. Napoli. Napoli has only won two league titles in Italy, and both of those were led by Maradona.
His small stature of 5’5 did not matter as Maradona, who could dribble through defenders like nothing, while his passing and offensive creativity made him the icon he is.
One of his most iconic moments and what cemented his legendary status came during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, in the quarterfinals against England.
Maradona ended up scoring the first goal in the quarterfinal with a handball, but the referees did not notice he had scored with his hand. Maradona after the game gave the iconic quote saying that the goal was scored, “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” This goal would forever be known as the “hand of God.”


This could’ve been laughed off and Argentina could’ve moved to the semifinals of the World Cup with a cheap goal but “El Diego” had something else in mind. The goal that is widely known as the “goal of the century” is better than any piece of poetry you will ever read.
From Argentina’s side of the field, Maradona receives the ball and proceeds to dribble through every single English defender including the goalkeeper to score one of the most iconic goals of all time and in many fan’s eyes, the best in World Cup history. Uruguayan commentator Victor Hugo Morales screamed at the top of his lungs, “Which planet did you come from Diego?”

Argentina would go on to win that World Cup. In a country that breathes, eats, and lives soccer as Argentina does, that cemented him as one of the greats.
Maradona is the most beloved figure in Argentina, which loves soccer too much to say otherwise. So much so, that in Argentina there is a Maradonian Church, a religion created by the fans of “El Diego” who believe he is the best player of all time.
He was such a global superstar during his career there were no secrets to be told, as he was known to be a heavy drug user. This could be attributed to his deteriorating health year by year.
The Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez announced there will be three days of national mourning due to Maradona’s death. The reactions to his death on social media is seen from players all over the world.


Naples mayor Luigi De Magistris is urging Napoli, the club that Maradona was most known for during his time in Europe, to change the name of their stadium to Diego Armando Maradona stadium.
Thank you Maradona for all the magic that you created on the field. You will never be forgotten.