#3 Diego Maradona (Argentina)
Diego Maradona was one of football's greatest entertainers.
Football's greatest maverick and entertainer, Diego Maradona, was hated and adored in equal measure, but his brilliance was undeniable. He stole the spotlight as a teenager, making his debut for Argentinos Juniors before turning 16. Five years and 115 goals later, he fulfilled his dream of playing for Boca Juniors, leading them to the league title.
Maradona only spent a solitary season with Boca Juniors before arriving on European shores with Barcelona in 1982. His transfer fee of £5 million was a world record at the time.
The Argentinean's time in Spain was a mixed bag, playing 49 games for the Blaugrana across two seasons. He scored 33 times and provided 18 assists while winning the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Maradona also became one of the first players to receive a standing ovation from the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid fans applauded the Argentine after he scored and led Barcelona to a win.
Unfortunately, Maradona's spell with Barcelona was tainted by injuries, racist abuse at the hands of opposition fans and bone-breaking tackles. After an infamous brawl at the Bernabeu while playing against Atheltic Bilbao, Maradona's stint with the club was over. The incident remains one of the most chaotic and violent fights witnessed on a football pitch.
Maradona shocked the world by joining unfancied Napoli in Italy. What followed next was nothing short of legendary. He became club captain, and led the club to their first-ever Serie A title in 1986-87. Triumphs in the 1987 Copa Italia and 1989 UEFA Cup followed before another Serie A title arrived in 1989-90.
He was revered like a God across Naples after changing the fortunes of the club. With 115 goals and 58 assists in 257 appearances, Maradona was Napoli's record scorer until Marek Hamsik surpassed him in 2017. The club's home stadium was renamed Stadio Diego Amando Maradona in December 2020, nine days after the legend's demise.
For all his numerous achievements in club football, Maradona's greatest feat was leading Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory in 1986. It is considered the biggest 'carry job' in football history, as Maradona single-handedly dragged his nation all the way to the very end.
He ended with ten goal involvements (five goals and as many assists) in seven appearances. Maradona was awarded the Golden Ball, and scored an outrageous solo effort against England, which would later be named FIFA's Goal of the Century.
French World Cup-winner Marcel Desailly waxed lyrical about Maradona, saying:
“The best player I’ve seen in my life. He did things that didn’t seem humanly possible. When he was on top of his game, and even without training that much, he was always in form, he was simply impossible to control. He decided matches alone, carrying average teams like Napoli and Argentina in 1986, to glorious achievements. A genius.”
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