The 25th of November, 2020 will be remembered as one of the saddest days in footballing history. One of the greatest players to ever play the game, Diego Armando Maradona has passed away at the age of 60.
The cause of death is speculated to be a heart attack that he suffered only weeks after undergoing surgery for a brain clot in Buenos Aires. The former player passed away at home, after being released from the hospital almost two weeks ago.
His football career was as decorated as anybody could ask for. Maradona won almost every trophy that a player could hope to win playing for club and country.
Maradona’s 1986 World Cup winning campaign for Argentina is remembered as the single greatest spell in the legend’s playing career. His ‘Hand of God’ goal against England is still remembered as one of the best moments in the history of the sport.
The former Argentina captain was something special, with thousands of people comparing the legend to the Almighty himself. His club career was just as amazing as his spell with the Argentina national team.
He started off his professional career a few days shy of 16, with Argentinos Juniors and later moved to Boca Juniors. He only spent one season there but won the league title while at the club.
1982 would see Maradona move to Barcelona in a then-world record move worth £5 million. After spending a couple of years with the Blaugrana, he would move to Napoli, smashing the transfer record once again with a move worth £6.9 million to Naples.
His performances in Italy made Napoli retire the number 10 shirt in his honour.
He would then see a decline, battling with an addiction to cocaine and getting banned from playing the sport after a failed drug test. Maradona would eventually move to Sevilla, Newell’s and return to Boca Juniors before hanging up his boots.
While his managerial career might not have been a fair reflection of his playing days, the Argentinian did a decent job during his time in charge but had so much more to offer to the sport.
All things said and done, Maradona was, is, and forever will be one of the greatest of all time. The afterlife is very lucky to have someone as magical as Diego Maradona now.
