RIP Diego Maradona

 This 21 year old thin, tiny guy from Argentina was the new star in the horizon amongst the more established Brazilian, German and Italian stars like Zico, Socrates, Paolo Rossi in the 1982 World Cup Soccer being held in Spain. He was Diego Maradona.

Argentina the champion in the previous version missed to see Maradona in the World Cup held in their own soil as the coach thought at 17 he was too raw to play in a high profile tournament. But in 1979 FIFA Youth World Cup held in Japan, Maradona emerged as a star as Argentina won the cup defeating Soviet Union in the Finals.

In 1982 Maradona was no stranger to the world of soccer, having already carved his niche. The Quarterfinals was in a league format with Argentina, Brazil and Italy clubbed together in one group, the group of sudden death from which only one team can qualify for the semifinals. In the all important match, Brazil, the overwhelming favorite Samba team needed just a draw to qualify to the semis. But Argentina and Brazil, both lost to Italy which stopped their juggernaut, especially the fancied Brazil.

Maradona was a matured 25 year old and 1986 was His World Cup. I deliberately used (H in Caps) for His famous "Hand of God" goal which sealed England's chances in the Quarterfinals. Maradona scored a controversial goal against the English team, apparently touching the ball by his hand just before scoring the goal. The British press went berserk to which Maradona responded - "It was the hand of Diego (God)".

Arguably, apart from Pele, Maradona wearing his famous no. 10 Jersey when on a dribbling mode was unstoppable and dangerous proposition to any opponent. It also often made him victim to professional fouls to break their flow, causing frequent injuries.

He played in the next World Cup in 1990 when he took his team to the Finals again, before Argentina lost to Germany in a close encounter. I still remember a visibly crying Maradona at the end of the final, as he couldn't bear the loss of his team.

Maradona had an uneventful World Cup i in 1994 World Cup held in the United States, failing a drug test. He was always in the news ever since, mostly for wrong reasons with allegations of drug use and a messy married life. But he was still unstoppable on soccer front, working as a Manager. Death finally stopped him once and for all today. At 60, he still had yards to go. Rest in peace, Hand of God.