Psychology

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Diego Maradona
Soccer fans and pundits alike will always include the name of Diego Armando Maradona when talking about the greatest player to grace a football pitch. Born in 1960 in Buenos Aires Argentina, Diego is without doubt, one of the best talents to be witnessed in soccer history; an accomplishment of sheer skills and talent mixed with controversy. His, is a fairy tale story of a boy raised in a struggling family, who rose to be a star in an epic soccer career.
Diego is the best
Maradona began his football career in his native Argentina playing for Argentino’s juniors from 1976 to 198(Maradona 14) 1. During this period, Diego had missed out a chance to play at the 1978 World Cup, where Argentina won the tournament despite scoring over 100 goals for his club. He did have his chance to participate in an official championship, playing for the under twenty national team in 1979, Tokyo Japan. Maradona was in fine form, helping the team win the youth championship as he also won the golden ball being voted as the best player of the tournament.
Boca Juniors signed for his services in 1981. He only played for one season with Boca, helping them win the league before a move to play for F.C. Barcelona. This was after a dismissal performance at the world cup by the reigning champions. In a world record transfer fee, Maradona move to Barcelona was not as impressive. The expectations and pressure for results meant that the club’s Spanish cup and a two super cups in two seasons at the club was an under achievement from the world’s most expensive player. In-board troubles with the club directors, plus health problems including a broken leg made his stay at Barcelona miserable despite scoring 38 goals in 58 games.
The only soccer player with two world records, Maradona secured another world record transfer fee to Napoli where he ultimately reached the pinnacle of his career. Still regarded as Napoli’s favorite son, his stay at Napoli was successful for both the club and himself. The clubs two championships in 1987 and 1990 against strong opposition from clubs in Italy like Juventus and AC Milan was impressive. Two titles and two runner’s up slots in a spell of five years was an astounding accomplishment for a rather “small team”. His performances also helped the team win the Coppa Italia in 1987, and the 1989 Uefa cup. He was appreciated and loved by the crowds of Stadio San Paulo and he paid them back with brilliant performances and beautiful goals. He was the league’s tops scorer in 1988.
The 1986 World cup in Mexico was indeed “the Maradona world cup”. As captain of the national team, Maradona led by example and delivered good on his duties. He brought his “A” game, leading Argentina to the final where he lifted the coveted trophy. With five goals and five assists this was Maradona finest moments in history. He scored two goals (brace) against England in the quarter finals and another brace against Belgium in the semi finals. His perfect pass to set up the winner in their 3-2 win over West Germany was impeccable. His brace against England, in a span of four minutes, was his masterpiece to legendary status in world football. The first goal he scored with an assist from his arm in what has remained to be famously known as “Hand of God” goal. England players and fans worldwide could not believe that the goal was allowed to stand despite numerous protests about its legitimacy. His second goal is regarded as the best goal in football history, a fact recognized when it was voted the best goal of the century. A sixty five yard solo run saw Maradona dribble past five English players, before rounding off the keeper and sliding the ball into an empty net. A showcase of pure beauty and brilliance, this goal drew praise from all people including the then England coach who labeled it “a miracle” (Burns 166).
His prowess continued to shine for his club career in Naples, where he continued producing the best of his natural but incredible talents. He wasn’t at his best during the 1990 world cup in Italy, although Argentina still reached the finals. His stint at Napoli came to an end in 1991, returning to Spain to play for Sevilla. His one year stay at the club was far from fruitful and he returned back home to Argentina to play for Newell’s Old Boys in 1993. Maradona had a reunion with his beloved Boca Juniors in 1994, where he graced the final moments of his career before retiring in 1997 aged 37. He did earn a place in the team to the 1994 world cup in the United States. His 94 caps for the national team with 34 goals isn’t an easy feat. Maradona was passionate and electrifying when he wore his national colours, moments that brought much emotion to him in both triumphant and sad moments.
His contribution as soccer’s best player of all time stretches beyond his playing years. After retiring from professional football, Diego has continued to bring out the best of the football’s culture and values wherever he has gone. Notably, are his contributions to various charities across the globe. His appearance leads to sell out stadiums, as he is still one of the most idolized football legends of all time. Gate charges, online pay-per-views and advertisement fees are used to help further good causes, football pitches, hospitals and schools have been built through these charities. His mentorship skills of upcoming talents have seen a lot of his fans take up the challenge to become professional footballers. Many Argentine greats, who have come after him, admit to being inspired by Maradona prowess with the ball. He jointly won the FIFA Player of the Century award alongside Brazil’s great Pele.
Named Argentina’s head coach for the 2010 world cup in South Africa, Maradona contribution to his nation elevated him to new heights. With the mandate of leading his country to another triumphant world cup as head coach, his role was of higher responsibility than when he was a player. Although they fell to Germany in the quarter finals, he did lead them to thrash England by four goals to one in a last 16 tie. His contribution to Argentine’s football has been devoted to say the least. A television co-host for a studio at the 2014 world cup in Brazil, Maradona offers great incitement to the game, offering left sided opinions to a mixture of topics notably, sports and politics.
Career lows
Maradona career was far from rosy. Drug abuse was a major undoing to his reputation. It did reflect significantly on his achievements to a point where it was the basis of his dismissal by critics, as the game all time best player. His first big money move to Barcelona appeared to have a huge effect on the then young Maradona as it is where his drug abuse problems begun. Cocaine use became part of his flashy lifestyle and its addiction would later lead to his disgrace and downfall.
Disputes with the club directors led to an unsettled era with the club before joining Napoli. It is in Italy that his drug problems escalated with his association with drug mafia families damaging his already bad reputation. In 1991, Maradona was suspended for 15 months after a failed drug test where he tested positive for cocaine. The 1994 world cup was however, the final blow to his glittering career. Having won a spot in the national team side to the world cup, Maradona was expelled from the tournament for failing yet another drug test.
This incident caused a lot of concern and confusion alike in the football world. Critics were without words to describe the already infamous player, while his millions of adoring fans were left in shock disbelief as Maradona was handed another 15 month suspension. According to critics, this was unacceptable behavior from one of the leading superstars and celebrity of the world. The influence of such people to large masses of people is undoubted, with millions of young children who looked up to him; his actions were unforgivable and selfish. Maradona drugs problems is perhaps one of the main reason to the severe drug abuse policies adopted by various leagues across the world.
Controversy seemed to be Maradona fifth name. With an enormous talent to become the game’s most loved and best player, controversial stints dented his career leaving a rather sour taste in football admirers. In his first world cup, Maradona was sent off for an ugly tackle after being frustrated by Brazil’s defence. The reigning champions campaign coming to a rather quick end. His first goal against England in 1986 word cup could be termed as a moment of ingenious by fans. However, to professionals, it was nothing but a dubious goal. The use of a hand to score at the football biggest stage spoke a lot about his character and his post match comments only added salt to injury, especially to England’s supporters. His off the pitch controversies didn’t help much in repairing his diminishing football status. He had peculiar choices stemming from his association with drug families to being friends to infamous people and leaders like then Cuba’s President Fidel Castro. Castro, a figure associated largely to the drug trafficking networks of the Caribbean’s and America, was ironically Maradona host during his 15 month drug abuse suspension.
His life was marred by ugly public disputes with officials and authority. His first tenure at Barcelona came to a brief end as a result of in-board disputes with the club’s football directors and officials. Indiscipline is rather unprofessional in any career despite the massive talent or in-put one gives to the organization. Maradona infringement with authorities was revisited, after his playing years when he was handed a suspended jail term in 1998 for shooting a journalist with an air rifle back in 1994.
Health problems also did dispute his greatness status. Any professional athlete is responsible for the good health of his body in order to offer quality services to employers and fans alike. Maradona weight problems did affect his status as a great athlete and his overweight problems casted doubt of his commitment to professionalism. He suffered a major heart attack in 2004, although he did recover.
Conclusion
His talent was undoubted and his skills unmatched, but, Maradona is far from soccer’s ultimate best player. This is a much greater title that goes beyond describing football skills on a pitch, to describing an all round athlete whose significance has influenced and impacted the football world to great extent. His merits and statistics should be unrivaled and comparable to none. Football has witnessed quite a number of legends who mesmerized the world with their brilliance and talents, moments that are treasured well in football history. Maradona history in the football world will forever be overshadowed by his flaws rather than the excellent talent that he was. This is rather unfortunate, when talking about one of the finest dribblers of football. His contribution to football is, nevertheless, important and appreciated.
Works Cited
Burns, Jimmy. Hand of God: The Life of Diego Maradona. London: Bloomsbury, 2002. Print.
Maradona, Diego A. Maradona: The Autobiography of Soccer’s Greatest and Most Controversial Star. New York: Skyhorse Publishing, Inc, 2006. Print.

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