Maradona, Diego Armando (1960– )
Argentine footballer. One of the outstanding players of the 1980s, he won 91 international caps, and helped his country to two successive World Cup finals, of which they won the first in 1986. Despite his undoubted talent, his career was dogged by a series of drugs scandals, notably his disqualification from the 1994 World Cup after failing a drugs test.
Career highlights
International appearances (1977–94)
91 (34 goals)
World Cup
1986
UEFA Cup
1988
Argentine League Championship
1981
Italian League Championship
1987, 1990
Italian Cup
1987
Spanish Cup
1983
Awards
South American Footballer of the Year
1979, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992
FIFA Footballer of the Century
awarded in 2000 jointly to Maradona and Pelé
FIFA World Cup Goal of the Century
awarded in 2002
| Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors before leaving South America for Barcelona, Spain, in 1982 for a transfer fee of approximately £5 million. He moved to Napoli, Italy, for £6.9 million in 1984, and contributed to their first Italian League title. In the 1986 World Cup he appeared illegally to use his hand to score a winning goal against England – his infamous ‘hand of God’ incident. In the same match he also scored a solo goal to which FIFA gave their World Cup Goal of the Century award. His Italian league career ended in disgrace in March 1991 when he tested positive for cocaine after a match and was banned from football for 15 months. He joined Seville, Spain, in 1992 and returned to Argentina in 1993 to play for Newell's Old Boys. Recalled to the national team for the 1994 World Cup, he failed a drug test halfway through the tournament and was immediately withdrawn from the team and suspended from all football. |
