Maradona_ The Greatest Ever (2024) FULL BIOGRAPHY DOCUMENTARY w_ SUBS _ HD

That's why football is the most beautiful sport in the world. Few athletes compare to the sheer magnetism of Diego Maradona. He's a fantastic player. He can do anything with a ball. People say he's got hands instead of feet. A star. A hero. A legend. What people think of me, whether I'm a good or a bad coach, I'm in charge and I'm very happy. So they can't judge me. Maradona. The greatest ever. You've played up against some of the world's greatest players. Can you tell me the best player you admire the most? I believe that the best player I've been playing against, for me it's Maradona because he was so talented. Personality and also he's a great guy. His skills were absolutely unbelievable. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Diego Maradona's life played out like a rollercoaster. From intense jubilation in the eyes of the world, to a quiet somber character trapped by the chains of his impoverished past, but there's no denying that he was an icon. To some, more than merely a man. A god amongst men. Maradona's vision, passing, ball control and dribbling skills were combined with his small stature, standing at 5'5", which gave him a low center of gravity allowing him to maneuver better than most other football players. He would often dribble past multiple opposing players on a run. His presence and leadership on the field had a great effect on the many teams he played for. In addition to his creative abilities, he possessed an eye for goal and was known to be a free-kick specialist. A precocious talent, Maradona was given the nickname El Pibe de Oro, The Golden Boy. Diego Armando Maradona was born on the 30th of October 1960 in Lanús, Buenos Aires province to a poor family that had moved from Corrientes province. He was raised in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown on the southeastern outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was the first son after four daughters. He has two younger brothers, Hugo and Raul, both of whom also went on to become professional football players. His father, Diego Maradona, Chitoro, was Guarani and his mother, Dalma Salvadora Franco, was of Italian descent. In 1950, they left Esquina and settled in Buenos Aires. Maradona received his first soccer ball as a gift at age three and quickly became devoted to the game. At age eight, Maradona was spotted by a talent scout while he was playing in his neighborhood club Estrella Roja. He became a staple of the Little Onions, the junior team of Buenos Aires Argentinos Juniors. Francisco Cornejo, youth coach who discovered Maradona, famously said, When Diego came to Argentinos Juniors for trials, I was really struck by his talent and couldn't believe he was only eight years old. In fact, we asked him for his ID card so we could check it, but he told us he didn't have it on him. We were sure he was having us on because, although we had the physique of a child, he played like an adult. When we discovered he'd been telling us the truth, we decided to devote ourselves purely to him. As a 12-year-old ball boy, he amused spectators by showing his wizardry with the ball during the halftime intermissions of First Division games. He named Brazilian playmaker Rivelino and Manchester United winger George Best among his inspirations growing up. His family was close. It had to be. Working to escape poverty was and still remains an impossible feat. Lack of academic education, the danger of crime, and the draw of a lucrative, dangerous life. This struggle burdened Maradona, and throughout his life, he would confront numerous controversies that all seemed to stem from this root in his past. On the 20th of October, 1976, Maradona made his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors ten days before his 16th birthday against Tijeras de Córdoba. He entered to the pitch wearing the number 16 jersey and became the youngest player in the history of the Argentine Primera Division. A few minutes after debuting, Maradona kicked the ball through Juan Domingo Cabrera's legs, making a nutmeg that would become legendary. After the game, Maradona said, that day I felt I had held the sky in my hands. Maradona spent five years at Argentinos Juniors from 1976 to 1981. Scoring 115 goals and 167 appearances, before his 4 million U.S. dollar transfer to Boca Juniors. Maradona received offers to join other clubs, including River Plate, who offered to make him the club's best paid player. Nevertheless, Maradona expressed his will to be transferred to Boca Juniors, the team he always wanted to play for. Maradona signed a contract with Boca Juniors on the 20th of February 1981. He made his debut two days later against Tijeras de Córdoba, scoring twice in the club's 4-1 win. On the 10th of April, Maradona played his first Superclásico against River Plate at Bombonera Stadium. Boca defeated River 3-0, with Maradona scoring a goal after dribbling past Alberto Tarantini and Fiol. Despite the distrustful relationship between Maradona and Boca Juniors manager Silvio Marzolini, Boca had a successful season, winning the league title after securing a point against Racing Club. After the 1982 World Cup in June, Maradona was transferred to Barcelona in Spain for a then world record fee of 7.6 million dollars. In 1983, under coach César Luis Menotti, Barcelona and Maradona won the Copa del Rey, Spain's annual national cup competition, and the Spanish Supercup. The Argentines came here a week early to get away from it all, only to find, of course, that routine security like this offers a sharp reminder of the war back home, something which is on all their minds and which shows in almost every face. Last night, though, Maradona was in the stadium where they train, not against the town's police team, as you might think, but the local fourth division side. For Rossi Ardiles, the first appearance since announcing his decision not to return to England. And with him, other stars of 1978, Mario Kempes scoring goal one, Daniel Bertoni goal two, and the new idol, Diego Maradona making goal three. Due to illness and injury, as well as controversial incidents on the field, Maradona had a difficult tenure in Barcelona. After just two years with the club, Maradona transferred to Italy's Napoli for another world record fee, 10.48 million dollars. Maradona Napoli is a figure like San Gennaro. He's an important figure. He's a son of Napoli. He's of the people. He's different. He's the people who suffered like he suffered in life, from simplicity to nothing. And we see ourselves in this person who from nothing has become the greatest footballer of all time with his simplicity, his humility. And we, the Neapolitan people, we see Maradona as we see ourselves. Maradona arrived in Naples and was presented to the world media as a Napoli player on the 5th of July 1984, where he was welcomed by 75,000 fans at his presentation at the Stadio San Paolo. Their saviour had arrived. At Napoli, Maradona reached the peak of his professional career. He soon inherited the captain's armband from Napoli veteran defender Giuseppe Bruscolati and quickly became an adored star among the club's fans. In his time there, he elevated the team to the most successful era in its history. He had made his name known in Argentina, Spain and now Italy. But it was the 1986 World Cup where he would carve his name into the history of the sport and become a man of myth the world over, for better or worse. El hombre del pie dorado, the man with the golden feet. He's followed everywhere by the world's sporting press, gets more requests for interviews than his manager and the rest and is number one target for the World Cup autograph hunters. Maradona believes the 1986 World Cup is wide open. Historically, France and West Germany always do well, but I think Argentina and England are very strong this year. Following their captain's example, the mood in the Argentinian camp is relaxed and confident. The Argentinians' only fear is that their star man will again be kicked and hacked out of the competition. He has the perfect stage to show off his skills. He says he's a few more tricks in store for World Cup defenders. 1986 could yet be the year for the man with the golden feet. Maradona captained the Argentine national team in Mexico for the 1986 World Cup. Throughout the tournament, Maradona asserted his dominance and was the most dynamic player of the competition. He played every minute of every Argentina game, scoring five goals and making five assists, three of those in the opening match against South Korea. It was the quarterfinal match against England that would go down in history for contrasting reasons. It was a tense game, played against the backdrop of the Falklands War. Maradona's first goal was the most infamous. Replays seemed to show that Maradona had used his hand to direct the ball into the net. Despite the uproar, the referee allowed it. Maradona said, a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God. It became known as the hand of God. England was furious. Maradona's second goal, only four minutes after the holy hand of God was described as the goal of the century, and rightly so. He received the ball in his own half, swiveled around, and with 11 touches ran more than half the length of the field, dribbling past five English outfield players before he left goalkeeper Peter Shilton on his backside with a feint in the semifinal match against Belgium. In the final match, West Germany attempted to contain him by double-marking, but he nevertheless found the space past the West German player Lothar Matthaus to give the final pass to Jorge Burrachaga for the winning goal. Argentina beat West Germany three to two in front of 115,000 fans Maradona played for Napoli at a period when north-south tensions in Italy were at a peak due to a variety of issues, notably the economic differences between the two. Led by Maradona, Napoli won their first-ever Series A Italian Championship in 1986-87. Murals of Maradona were painted on the city's ancient buildings, and newborn children were named in his honor. Napoli would win their second league title in 1989-90 and finish runner-up in the league twice in 1987-88 and 88-89. Maradona captained Argentina again in the 1990 World Cup in Italy to yet another World Cup final. An ankle injury affected his overall performance, four years earlier. After losing their opening game to Cameroon at the San Siro in Milan, Argentina were almost eliminated in the first round, only qualifying in third position from their group. In the round of 16 match against Brazil in Turin, Claudio Caniglia scored the only goal after being set up by Maradona. In the quarter-final, Argentina faced Yugoslavia in Florence. After 120 minutes, with Argentina advancing with a penalty shootout, even though Maradona's kick, a weak shot to the goalkeeper's right, was saved. The semi-final against the host nation Italy at Maradona's club stadium in Naples, the Stadio San Paolo, was also resolved on penalties after a 1-1 draw. This time, however, Maradona was successful with his effort, almost exact replica of his unsuccessful kick in the previous round. At the final in Rome, Argentina lost 1-0 to West Germany. From the mid-1980s until 2004, Maradona was addicted to cocaine. He allegedly began using the drug in Barcelona in 1983. By the time he was playing for Napoli, he had a full-blown addiction, which interfered with his ability to play football. Although Maradona was successful on the field during his time in Italy, his personal problems increased. His cocaine use continued, and he received US$70,000 in fines from his club for missing games and practices, ostensibly because of After serving a 15-month ban for failing a drug test for cocaine, Maradona left Napoli in disgrace in 1992. Later on, in honor of Maradona and his achievements during his career in Napoli, the No. 10 jersey of Napoli was officially retired. At the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Maradona played against Greece before being sent home after failing a drug test for ephedrine doping. Argentina's finest start training hard. 21 players pushed, punished, and put through their paces. Someone's missing, though. Away from the rest, training alone is Diego Maradona, once the best in the world, now battling age and injury The others sign autographs and pose for photographs, but Argentina's fans say there's only one superstar. Well, obviously Maradona. The team, I think, is driven by Maradona. He's a fantastic player. He can do anything with a ball. People say he's got hands instead of feet. His failed drug test signaled the end of his international career, which lasted 17 years with a bronze medal and one runner's up medal in the World Cup. Both analyses of the urine sample have proved to be positive. Tonight it was official. A second dope test was positive and Diego Maradona is out of the World Cup. In view of this decision, FIFA will make a ruling on the disciplinary aspects of the case after this World Cup. And until the case is finally settled, it will be suspended from all footballing activity. First news of the drug scandal came as Maradona and his teammates took in the venue for their final first-round match in Dallas. But there was no training. Instead, reporters were called over by an Argentinian football official who first confirmed Maradona had been tested positive for ephedrine, taken, he said, in a nasal spray not prescribed by the team's doctor. Back at the hotel, I think that Diego Maradona wasn't on purpose that he drugged. Arguably the greatest footballer of his generation, certainly the most controversial, Diego Maradona is now protesting his innocence. At a chaotic press conference, he said, I told those people who condemn me without letting me defend myself that they did not only take away the happiness of Maradona but the people who love me. So the career of one of the world's finest footballers is again in tatters and this time almost certainly beyond recovery. In 2000, he won FIFA Player of the Century Award, which was to be decided by votes on their official website, their official magazine, and a grand jury. Maradona won the internet-based poll, gathering 53.6% of the votes against 18.53% for Pelé. In spite of this, and shortly before the ceremony, FIFA added a second award and appointed a football family committee composed of football journalists that also gave to Pelé the title of Best Player of the Century to make it a draw. Well I think it's a it could be a dead heat whatever you look at it depends on your era I suppose you were brought up and it was Pelé or Maradona and it's been going on and on and on they are I think probably they are the two greatest players and I think the one you would maybe put in amongst it would be De Stefano you know if you look at both careers I mean World Cup winners played in great teams both played for their country at 17 years of age you know it tells you even before they became famous what they thought of them Maradona and Pelé were different in some ways Maradona had a fantastic close control of driving the ball at defenders feet I always thought that was his greatest strength he always put the bait out to the defender to try and tackle him you know it was fantastic the way he did that and such courage and that's what great players you will always have see in players like Pelé he's a great player and he's famous and wonderful and a great friend I think they are great players and he loves On the 26th of August 2006, it was announced that Maradona was quitting his position in the club Boca Juniors because of disagreements with the AFA. In 2008, Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica made Maradona, a documentary about Maradona's life, which made its debut at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. There were times when I couldn't find Diego in Buenos Aires, so without me this film would be finished. Diego! After the resignation of Argentina national football coach Alfio Basil in 2008, Maradona immediately proposed his candidacy for the vacant role. On the 29th of October 2008, AFA chairman Julio Grandona confirmed that Maradona would be the head coach of the national team. On the 19th of November 2008, Maradona managed Argentina for the first time when they played against Scotland at Hampton Park in Glasgow, which Argentina won 1-0. Today, Maradona seemed rather bemused by his animosity. If people are fine with me, I'll greet them. Let Butcher get on with his life, and I'll get on with my life. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. England won the World Cup with a goal, and it was plain to see by everyone that it never crossed the line, so I don't think it's fair that anyone should judge me when stuff like that went on. Well, I think I'm 4-1 to get a red card in the tunnel. No, I never forgive him, and it's not nice when you lose a World Cup quarter-final under those circumstances. And what they think of me, if I'm a good or bad coach, well, I'm in charge and I feel very happy. So whatever they think, I don't care at all. Really. And I die for the 23 that live. I die for them. After winning his first three matches in charge of the national team, he oversaw a 6-1 defeat to Bolivia, equaling the team's worst ever margin of defeat. With two matches remaining in the qualification tournament for the 2010 World Cup, Argentina was in fifth place, and faced the possibility of failing to qualify. But victory in the last two matches secured qualification for the finals. There were 23 players who knew they had a chance, but I was always going to put my team in a gala. A real gala. Because that's how the Argentines deserve it. Starting with Rafa Marquez, Cuauhtemoc, Guardado, Mario Santos. There are a lot of players who still worry about him. Knowing that we have a difficult game, but that with the team we have, with the players we have, we can pass the turn. It's not easy to go from not being anyone in your country to winning three games and losing focus. The same people who said we were a disaster and that we were the worst team they had ever seen, now say that we are an excellent team. That we have a great team, that we play well. We are the same players. I keep saying that the favorites are the others, that we are there to fight, but the fight is for history. And that's true. Because when the roads are cut, that's where history comes in. And that's where the fight is going to be. And I'm completely sure that my players understood the message and know perfectly what I want. I'll say it again. We came here to fight and today, apparently, we are the most beautiful in the neighborhood. And it's not true. It's not true. We have to keep working, keep getting into things. I'm not, I'm old. I'm 50 years old. I'm going to turn 50 on October 30. As a gift, I tell you. I don't really feel resentment. Because they know me and they know who I am. After Argentina's qualification, Maradona used abusive language at the live post-game press conference, telling members of the media to suck it and keep on sucking it. FIFA responded with a two-month ban on all footballing activity, which expired on the 15th of January 2010. At the World Cup finals in June 2010, Argentina started by winning 1-0 against Nigeria, followed by a 4-1 victory over South Korea on the strength of a Gonzalo Higuaín hat-trick. In the final match of the group stage, Argentina won 2-0 against Greece to win the group and advance to a second round, meeting Mexico. After defeating Mexico 3-1, however, Argentina was routed by Germany 4-0 in the quarterfinals to go out of the competition. Argentina was ranked fifth in the tournament. After the defeat to Germany, Maradona admitted that he was considering his future as Argentina's coach, stating, I may leave tomorrow. On the 15th of July 2010, the AFA said that he would be offered a new four-year deal that would keep him in charge through to the summer of 2014, when Brazil stages the World Cup. On the 27th of July, however, the AFA announced that its board had unanimously decided not to renew his contract. Maradona's relationship with his immediate family remained close his entire life, and in a 1990 interview with Sports Illustrated, he showed phone bills where he had spent a minimum of $15,000 per month calling his parents and siblings. Maradona's mother, Dalma, died on the 19th of November 2011. He was in Dubai at the time, and desperately tried to fly back in time to see her, but was too late. She was 81 years old. His father, Don Diego, died on the 25th of June 2015 at age 87. After his illustrious career had calmed down, he dedicated a lot of time to personal, charitable ventures. Poverty was an issue he held close to his heart, and he became an advocate for tackling child poverty in 2016. When one of the world's most gifted footballers walks into a room, you pay attention. When it's Diego Maradona, you can't take your eyes off him. He's in London working for a new charity to help children through football. I asked him why he was getting involved. To look for places where today children don't have anywhere to run, anywhere to play, anywhere to be happy. And we will be there, looking for places that the children need. And that will be the great work that we'll do. I never thought in the world that you could say, we've signed Diego Maradona. It's a huge dream, especially being a British charity. It's incredible to have someone of that level to understand what we're doing. So it's like grassroots level and the hierarchy coming in between to help the children that are needed worldwide. In September 2018, he was appointed manager of Mexican second division side Dorados. He made his debut with Dorados on the 17th of September 2018, with a 4-1 victory over Cafetaleros de Tapachula. I left my heart to him. I've had a lot of setbacks in my life, and today I'm 57 years old. And I assume this responsibility as someone who has a son in her arms. When I used to drink, it was a step back. And what soccer players have to do is move forward. I would have been sick for 14 years. Today, I want to see the sun, and I want to sleep at night. On the 13th of June 2019, after Dorados failed to clinch promotion to the Mexican top flight, Maradona's lawyer announced that he would be stepping down from the role, citing health reasons. On the 5th of September 2019, Maradona was unveiled as the new head coach of Gimnasia de la Plata, signing a contract until the end of the season. After two months in charge, he left the club on 19th of November. However, two days later, Maradona rejoined the club as manager, saying that he finally achieved political unity in the club. Maradona insisted that Gabriel Pellegrino remain club president if he were to stay with Gimnasia de la Plata. However, it was still not clear if Pellegrino, who declined to run for re-election, would stay on as club president. Today, I felt like I was in heaven. I felt like I was in heaven. When I was playing on the pitch, I was saying to myself, I don't promise anything. Like I said to the boys, I'm not a magician. If not for their support, it would be enough. But no, no, no. I want more. You can't believe what happened to Doping in 1994. Not even a five-year-old boy. What happened was that they didn't sell a single ticket. A single ticket. And they had to make Argentina qualify and go with Maradona. When they sold everything, when they sold everything, they said, I think we can clean this up. On the 2nd of November 2020, Maradona was admitted to a hospital in La Plata, supposedly for psychological reasons. A representative of the ex-footballer said his condition was not serious. A day later, he underwent emergency brain surgery to treat a subdural hematoma. He was released on the 12th of November after successful surgery and was supervised by doctors as an outpatient. On the 25th of November 2020, at the age of 60, Maradona died of a heart attack at his home in Tigre, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The world was in shock. Tributes began pouring in from all over the world. Maradona's coffin, draped in Argentina's national flag, and three Maradona No. 10 jerseys, Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, and Argentina, was lying in state at the Presidential Palace in Casa Rosada, with mourners filing past his coffin. On the 26th of November, Maradona's wake, which was attended by tens of thousands of people, was cut short by his family, as his coffin was relocated from the rotunda of the Presidential Palace, after fans took over an inner courtyard and also clashed with police. The same day, a private funeral service was held, and Maradona was buried next to his parents at the Jardín de Bellavista Cemetery in Bellavista, Buenos Aires. A star. A hero. A legend. Despite a challenging life, Maradona worked and fought to make a name for himself. His incomparable skill, undying spirit, and unwavering love for the game of football will never be forgotten. And the man who became a myth will continue to live on forever, as the greatest ever. © 2014 University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences UGA Extension Office of Communications and Creative Services