Growing up in the 80s and 90’s, one of names I would hear often was Maradona. My first memory of Maradona, was back in 1986 World Cup that was played in Mexico. I was only 3 years old at the time and didn’t know much of what was happening on TV, but I do remember my dad and uncles talking about him “Que increible, que jugada..” is often what I would from my family. As I grew up and learned more about sports it wasn’t until my teenage years that I started loving football (soccer) more through the FIFA game video series by EA Sports playing the first editions on the very first playstation. As I got older and my love for football grew more and more and the internet became more available, I was able to look up videos of Maradona and understand why they called him the best of the best.
I traveled to Argentina in early 2002, and one of the first things I bought while there was a Maradona Jersey. Back in the day online shopping was still relatively new so buying a jersey from some other part of the world was very unique and when I got back to the states I would get so many people asking me where I got the jersey from and of course that made me smile knowing that I was part of a select few to wear the jersey, it still fits me to this day and considering it is 20 years old it is still good condition.
I’ve always been a fan of the Argentina National Team, I’ve followed pretty much since the early 90’s and know most of the players from the early 90’s to present. Diego Maradona is much more than an ex-player, he’s a legend, he’s one of the few players that has transcended above sport, he’s part of global culture and history. Marred by substance abuse most of his life, for those that don’t know sport, it is easy to criticize but if you know the sport of football, you know that Diego was a genius and one of a lifetime talent, we can only wonder what even better of a player he would be if he was off drugs.
Today Diego Maradona died shortly after turning 60 years old in his bed after having cardiopulmonary arrest through complications of his previous surgery where he suffered from a stroke. The world mourns and football will never be the same. I will truly miss you Diego, despite never knowing you, you made football what football is today and generations from now, your name will still be up there among the greatest of all time.
Rest in piece, La Pelusa.
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