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Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

20 Años is an album by Mexican singer Luis Miguel released in 1990. The album was produced by Juan Carlos Calderón, who had worked on the two previous albums by Luis Miguel, and was a massive success across Latin-America, Spain, and with Hispanic listeners in the United States. Almost all the tracks of the album were played on the radio, nevertheless, the official singles released were: "Entrégate", "Tengo Todo Excepto a Tí", "Amante del Amor", "Hoy El Aire Huele a Tí" and "Será Que No Me Amas". It received a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album.

This album was the album that confirm the success that Luis Miguel had reached with his last album Busca Una Mujer. The album broke the record of more copies in one weekend only in Mexico (600,000 copies during the release weekend).

"Será Que No Me Amas" had an "official choreography" that remains popular in Mexico to date.

Track listing[link]

Charts and certifications[link]

Personnel[link]

• Producer: Juan Carlos Calderón
• Arrangements: Robbie Buchanan & Jerry Hey
• Drums: John Robinson
• Bass: Dennis Belfield & Neil Stubenhaus
• Electric Guitar: Paul Jackson Jr.
• Acoustic Guitar: Oscar Castro Neves
• Piano: Robbie Buchannan and Juan Carlos Calderón
• Strings: Gina Krontasadt (String Section)
• Metals: Jerry Hay (Brass Section)
• Background vocals: Martika, Darlene Koldenhoven, Marlene Landin, K. C. Porter, Jose Pezullo, Dan Navarro y Clydene Jackson
• Trumpet Solo on "Hoy El Aire Huele a Tí": Herb Alpert
• Sax Solo: Daniel Heggins
• Computer Music Programming and Sound Design: Philip Cacayorin
• General coordination: Ivy Skoff
• Photography: Carlos Somonte
• Mastering: Bernie Grundman
• Recorded and mixed at Sunset Sound Studios on Hollywood, CA
• Mixing on "Será Que No Me Amas", "Alguien Como Tú" and "Cuestión de Piel" by: Brad Gilderman.

See also[link]

• List of best-selling albums in Argentina

References[link]

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Aline Barros
Background information
Birth name	Aline Barros Kistenmacker dos Santos
Born	(1976-10-07)October 7, 1976 Rio de Janeiro, RJ,  Brazil
Genres	pop, dance, gospel
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1992 – now
Labels	AB Records (1995 - 2003) MK Music (2004 - now)
Associated acts	Trazendo a Arca, Fernandinho, PG
Website	Pagina oficial

Aline Barros Kistenmacker dos Santos (Rio de Janeiro, October 7, 1976), better known as Aline Barros is a gospel music singer, songwriter, presenter and manager in Brazil, winning 11 Trofeu Talento, five Latin Grammy, a Dove Awards and a Brazilian International Press Award. It is also evangelical pastor the Comunidade Evangélica Internacional da Zona Sul, the Flamengo neighborhood, the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro.

Aline Barros is a reference name and expression in the gospel segment. The gospel singer was the first in Brazil to win the Latin Grammy in 2004 and has been nominated for five consecutive times was also winning in 2006, 2007 and 2011. At age 35, Aline has 20 years of career with 23 albums, including four in Spanish, in Portuguese five for children and one in Spanish, seven career and some collections as well as eleven DVDs. Mixing pop, and rock & Prase and Worship, the singer attracts children, youth and adults with modern rhythms and Christian messages in context.

Her career has been characterized by pioneering spirit in the secular media. Aline has been invited to participate in major television shows (Carla Perez, Eliana, Faustão, Gilberto Barros, Hebe Camargo, Luciana Gimenez, Netinho de Paula, Raul Gil, Xuxa, Sem Censura, Ritmo Brasil, Manhã Maior, Show da Virada, Programa do Jô,...) as well as interviews from reputable newspapers, magazines and also the first major gospel singer to attend the event Criança Esperança, Rede Globo and SBT Teleton. Her ministry has extended throughout Central and North America, with awards and recognition. Aline was also the second gospel singer to have a song on a novel. The music CD again O Poder do Teu Amor was chosen as the theme of the primetime soap opera Duas Caras of Rede Globo in 2007. Today she is regarded by the mainstream media one of the greatest Brazilian singers, with approximately six million records sold.

In 2010 released an autobiographical book entitled Fé e Paixão and DVD Aline Barros Na Estrada to back shows his last tour and album released in 2011 Aline Extraordinário Amor de Deus, Latin Grammy nominated in 2012, a CD of original songs focused for adult audiences, produced by Ricardo Feghali Grupo Roupa Nova after three years touting the award-winning CD Live Caminho de Milagres. Future projects Aline Barros are CD / DVD Infant Aline Barros & Cia vol. 3rd and 4th album in Spanish. In February 2011, Aline has announced a new pregnancy, the baby was born on October 12, the same month as Aline's birthday.

Biography[link]

Daughter of Sandra Barros Barros and Ronaldo, both evangelical pastors, Aline with only 2 years old already showing interest in music. At nine years has accompanied his father and the Ministry of Praise Community of Vila da Penha, in the north of Rio de Janeiro. Soon the singer became part of the worship team, participating in some recordings, the first of which was "Thy Word," when he was 14, and the music was forty-five days on the hit parade of evangelical radio stations in the city. At 16 years, "Consecration" was nine months on the charts. At 18 she recorded her debut album.

In 1995, Aline Barros launched Unlimited, their debut album for the label Grape Vine, and produced by Ricardo Feghali Cleberson Horsth LP format. The album brought compositions of several singers in the segment known as Marquinhos Gomes and brought some innovations to the construction segment of time. and the same year, made participation in a disk Xuxa on the track "Believe to see" .

In January 1998, recorded his second CD, Voice of the Heart and in December 1998 launched an EP called Christmas carols. In October 1999, was distributed is good to be a child, the first album dedicated to children Aline. In July 2000, the collection hit stores Millennium, produced by Indie Records and distributed by Universal Music with songs from artist. And in December 2000, launched the book The Power of Your Love, which sold more than three hundred thousand copies and is considered by critics as the best album ever recorded by Aline.

In November 2001, launched a romantic collection, titled Eternal Love. In December of that year, launches Message of Peace, with the participation of Cid Moreira. In May 2002 a child is to be launched Good vol. 2.

In December 2002, Aline Barros recorded her first video album, Life in Jesus summer event, held every year at Praia da Costa, in Vila Velha, Espirito Santo to an audience of fifty thousand people. With 14 tracks, we selected the best songs from all their previous albums.

In 2003, the singer had her first son, Nicolas, and also had problems in their vocal cords. However managed to record fruit of Love, which won the Latin Grammy that year for Best Christian Music Album. Furthermore, sold more than three hundred thousand copies and was the last album of the singer in AB Records. On it is a participation of PG at the time lead singer of G3 in the song "I will sing this Love".

In 2004, Aline Barros signed a recording contract with MK Music and released his first career live album, Sound of Worship. The work produced by Roger Vieira and Kleber Lucas brought compositions Alda Celia, Emerson Pinheiro, Eyshila, among others. It was the best selling album of the singer, receiving a diamond certification from ABPD in 2007 and a Latin Grammy nomination. The following year, Aline made the recording on DVD disc in the Via Show, which is also a diamond. Between 2005 and 2008 released several albums, including Path of Miracles, Latin Grammy winner in his years.

On June 7, 2008, with an audience of ten thousand people Maracanãzinho recorded in the DVD with the songs of Path of Miracles, directed by Marina de Oliveira. The album was nominated for Talent Trophy 2009, but surprisingly lost to Live in the Maracanãzinho Bringing the Ark, recorded in the same location weeks earlier in the month of May. The following year, Aline Barros Aline Barros launched the DVD Road, which brought the scenes of his tour Path of Miracles and a little of his twenty year career.

After a long career recording their albums live, in January 2011 was released Extraordinary Love of God, recorded in studio. The book sold fifty thousand copies in one day, being considered an extraordinary event. Today, that number is greater than three hundred thousand copies, making it was the second disc with Aline to be certified by a diamond disk ABPD. The album featured several compositions of Jamba, and especially David Anderson Fernandes Freire, including "Arise I", chosen as the single from the album, nominated for Best Music Award at Promises in 2011.

Furthermore, in Aline had the same year his first daughter, named Mary Catherine, the disc Aline Barros & Cia vol. 3 and another win at the Grammy Latino. Despite the great promises of favoritism in Aline Trophy lost in the categories Best song with "I'm Human" Bruna Karla and Best CD for Diamond Damares, won only for Best Singer.

In 2012, with production and distribution of AB Records of Sony Music was recorded in the DVD Paulínia Aline Barros 20 Years. Directed by Bruno Murtinho recording brought guest appearances by Michael W. Smith, Tom Brooks and Abraham Laboriel. People from all over Brazil attended the event, which brought together about two thousand people.

External links[link]

• Official website

Alejandro Sanz
Alejandro Sanz at the Tony Bennett Birthday Gala on September 17, 2011.
Background information
Birth name	Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro
Born	(1968-12-18) December 18, 1968 (age 43)
Origin	Madrid, Spain
Genres	Latin pop
Occupations	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Warner Music Benelux
Associated acts	Juanes, Shakira, Alicia Keys, Calle 13
Website	AlejandroSanz.com

Alejandro Sanz (born Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro on December 18, 1968) is a Spanish singer-songwriter and musician. For his work, Sanz has won a total of fifteen Latin Grammy Awards and three Grammy Awards. He has won the Latin Grammy for Album of the Year three times, more than any other artist. Throughout his career, he has released a total of ten studio albums and six DVDs. The singer is noted for his flamenco-influenced ballads, but he has also experimented with rock, salsa, and hip hop.

Born in Madrid, Sanz began playing guitar at age seven, taking influence from his family's flamenco roots. He released his debut album at age sixteen, although he did not gain commercial success until his second release, Viviendo Deprisa. His next two records, Si Tú Me Miras and 3 also fared well commercially, but it was his 1997 breakthrough album Más that garnered international success. El Alma al Aire followed in 2000, selling more than a million copies in its first week.

In 2002, he became the first Spanish artist to record an MTV Unplugged album. His collaboration with Shakira on the single "La Tortura" reached number one on several charts worldwide. His albums No Es lo Mismo (2003) and El Tren de los Momentos (2006) showed Sanz experimenting with more diverse styles of music, while his most recent release, Paraíso Express (2009) served as a return to form for the musician. He signed to Universal Music Group in 2011 and is reported to be working on his tenth studio album.

Early life[link]

Sanz was born in Madrid, Spain, on December 18, 1968, the youngest son of María Pizarro and Jesús Sánchez.^[1] He grew up in the high-crime neighborhood of Moratalaz in eastern Madrid.^[2] Sanz recalled that "Back then, kids grew up on the street...I was a bit like the group troubadour; the one who played the guitar and sang. That kept me out of a lot of trouble."^[2] Sanz's father, a door-to-door book salesman, played guitar professionally, which inspired seven-year-old Sanz to learn to play the instrument.^[1][3] He pursued the instrument with an intensity that eventually frustrated his mother, who broke his guitar one morning after his playing kept the family from sleeping.^[3]

He was exposed to traditional flamenco music as a child while vacationing each summer in his parents' native Andalucía in southern Spain.^[3] Originally, Sanz intended to become a flamenco performer, but he found the music teachers to be overly strict. Commenting on his early experiences, Sanz explained, "Flamenco can be very hard on beginners. If you lose the rhythm, they toss you out with, 'You're no good, boy!' They're very strict and very cruel. But it's also a marvelous education, because you either learn to play or else."^[3] He felt that he could not compete with his peers, and decided to focus on creating pop music with flamenco influences, viewing flamenco to be a "lifestyle" better suited to others.^[4]

Recording career[link]

1989–96: First four albums[link]

As a teenager, Sanz performed in various venues in his hometown. He became acquainted with Miguel Ángel Arenas, a music industry executive who had signed several popular Spanish groups such as Mecano.^[1] Arenas helped Sanz find work, eventually leading to a record deal with the Spanish label Hispavox.^[1] In 1989, sixteen-year-old Sanz released his debut album, Los Chulos Son Pa' Cuidarlos under the name of Alejandro Magno (Spanish for "Alexander the Great").^[4] The record, which fused techno and flamenco, was met with critical and commercial indifference, and today Sanz views the record to be "insignificant".^[3] However, the album is now considered to be a collector's item.^[1] In an attempt to promote Los Chulos Son Pa' Cuidarlos, he performed at strip clubs, playing short sets between acts.^[3] This proved to be unsuccessful and Sanz took a break from music, choosing to study business administration.^[3] He also took a job at a recording studio in which he wrote material for other artists. He persuaded Arenas to send demos of his songs to record companies, which led to being signed by Warner Music Latina.^[3] At this time, he began performing under his current name.^[1]

Sanz's rise to fame began in 1991, when he released his first album from Warner, Viviendo Deprisa. The record and the songs "Pisando Fuerte" and "Se le Apagó la Luz" helped him gain a dedicated fan base in Spain.^[5] In 1993, he released Si Tú Me Miras shortly followed by a live album, titled Básico. That same year, he recorded a song entitled "Mi Primera Canción" with flamenco pioneer Paco de Lucía, whom Sanz idolized as a child.^[6] He released his third studio album, 3, in 1995. In addition to Spanish, 3 was also released in Italian and Portuguese.^[7] "La Fuerza del Corazón", the first single released from 3, was his first song to chart internationally.^[1] All three albums proved to be successful, reaching multi-platinum status in Spain.^[1]

[edit] 1997–2002: Más, El Alma al Aire, and MTV Unplugged

Sanz spent two years in Milan, Italy to work on a follow-up for 3.^[8] For the album, he wished to create a "true fusion" of many different sounds, and began studying the saxophone and piano in addition to guitar.^[8] In 1997, Sanz released his fifth studio album, Más, a record containing ballads strongly influenced by flamenco, pop, and tropical rhythms.^[9]

	Alejandro Sanz "Corazón Partío" (1997) noicon The single "Corazón Partío", from Más, draws influence from flamenco music and has been described as a "powerhouse ballad".[10][11] It is considered to be Sanz' breakthrough song, and "changed the course" of the singer's career.[1][10]
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Driven by the singles "Corazón Partío", "Y, ¿Si Fuera Ella?", "Amiga Mía", "Aquello Que Me Diste", and "Siempre Es de Noche", Más sold more than two million copies in Spain and was certified 22× Platinum in the country, making it the best-selling album in Spanish history.^{[1][4][12][13]} The album remained on the Billboard Latin Albums chart for 74 weeks, and one year after the record's release, Sanz was granted an Ondas Award for Best Song for "Corazón Partío".^[14][15] According to David Cazares of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the album "made Sanz an international star on the strength of the pop-salsa hit 'Corazón Partío', a song on the lips of fans from Spain to Cuba and the United States."^[5] Following the success of the album, Sanz began touring in United States for the first time.^[4]

His fifth album, El Alma al Aire, released September 26, 2000, featured Sanz exploring diverse genres of music, including jazz, R&B, soul and tango.^[5] In Spain, the album sold more than one million copies in the first week, breaking the record of one million copies sold in four months, also set by Sanz with his previous album, Más.^[17][18] At the 2001 Latin Grammy Awards, Sanz walked away with four awards: Best Pop Male Vocal Album and Album of the Year for El Alma al Aire, and Record of the Year and Song of the Year for the title track from the album.^[19] Later that year, El Alma al Aire was released in a special edition including Sanz's duets with Irish band The Corrs. In October 2001, Sanz collaborated with Michael Jackson and various other artists on the Spanish version of the charity single "What More Can I Give", which benefited the victims of the September 11 attacks.^[17][20]

In 2002, Sanz recorded MTV Unplugged at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida.^[4] He was the first Spanish artist to record and release an MTV Unplugged album.^[21] For Sanz, the recording of the album "changed the way I do my music. It was a rediscovery of how to perform, and also how to record, music with live musicians. That was the spirit of the music in its pure form, though [it is ironic] that the more people who are playing, the more simple it is."^[4] With the MTV Unplugged, he garnered three Latin Grammy Awards (Album of the Year, Recording of the Year and Song of the Year for "Y Sólo Se Me Ocurre Amarte").^[22]

[edit] 2003–07: No Es lo Mismo and El Tren de los Momentos

On September 2, 2003, Sanz released his sixth studio album, No Es lo Mismo. On this record, Sanz took a more political approach than he had on previous releases. The song "Sandy a Orilla do Mundo" discusses oil spills on the Spanish coast, while "Labana" tells the story of people fleeing from Cuba on makeshift rafts.^[23] The album won four awards at the 2004 Latin Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year.^[24] Sanz was unable to attend the event and his awards were accepted by presenters and colleagues.^[24] Also in 2004, he became the first Spanish musician to give a lecture at Harvard University, speaking about Hispanic culture at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies.^[25]

Alejandro Sanz performing in Managua, Nicaragua on November 1, 2007.

In 2005, Sanz collaborated with Shakira on her song "La Tortura". Co-written by Sanz, the song became an international hit, breaking the record for the most weeks at the number one spot on the Hot Latin Songs chart.^[26] The song exposed Sanz to a more diverse audience, and helped build anticipation for his next release.^[1] The first single from the album El Tren de los Momentos, "A la Primera Persona", became his first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 100 on the chart.^[1][27] The record was also noted for its guest appearances, which featured Shakira, Juanes, Alex González of Maná, and Residente of Calle 13.^[1]

In the spring of 2007, Sanz suffered a mental breakdown and took two months off in the middle of a world tour at the request of his doctor. The breakdown was caused by several events in his personal life, including the death of his father in 2005, his separation with Mexican model and actress Jaydy Mitchel, and his announcement that he had a three-year-old son outside of his marriage with Mitchel.^[28] He commented on the situation, saying "You have to put things in perspective. It was stress, something that had never affected me, but this time, yes, it did. So I had to pay. A doctor told me to stop for a couple of months to recuperate completely."^[28] Sanz spent time in therapy, a time which "helped [him] a lot" and gave him "more power" to perform.^[28]

In a press conference in late 2007, he criticized Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, calling him "undemocratic" in the wake of a petition made by Venezuelan citizens to prevent Chávez from running for re-election.^[5][29] Sanz further stated "If they gave me 3 million signatures to stop singing, I would stop singing immediately."^[29] Supporters of Chávez subsequently gathered 230,000 signatures in response to Sanz' comments.^[29]

[edit] 2008–present: Paraíso Express

Sanz performing on May 28, 2008.

To promote his new record, Paraíso Express, Sanz started a campaign in which fans could create a video about their definition of paradise and upload it to his YouTube channel.^[30] Artists such as Shakira, Laura Pausini and Paulina Rubio also participated.^[30] On November 10, 2009, Sanz released Paraíso Express. This record was described as a return to form for Sanz, focusing more on melody as opposed to the experimentation he pursued on his previous two albums.^[31] He commented that "On this album, I first composed the melody and then the lyrics. It is more of a rock album than my past releases, with more elegant and positive lyrics and a happier and more rhythmic spirit."^[32]

The bilingual single "Looking for Paradise" featuring Alicia Keys reached number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.^[33] At the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards, the album was nominated Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Album, while the single "Desde Cuándo" received both Record and Song of the Year nominations.^[34] On February 15, 2011, Sanz announced that he would be signing with Universal Music Group after twenty years with Warner.^[35]

Musical style[link]

Sanz is known for his distinctive raspy vocals, which he attributes to his flamenco roots, crediting singer Camarón de la Isla as a major influence.^[36][37] His song "Sí, He Cantado Mal" (Yes, I Have Sung Badly) from No Es lo Mismo references this, with Sanz saying "I'm laughing a little at myself so that I can laugh at other things. Sometimes, I'm harder on myself than any music critic can be. I'm laughing at that."^[36] Throughout his youth, Sanz was heavily influenced by English-language heavy metal groups such as Iron Maiden and Dio, referring to himself as a "heavy metal radical".^[36] He also feels that living in the city of Cadiz had a major impact on his musical style, where "Any 7-year-old kid you find knows how to play guitar, play the cajón, knows how to sing. When the family comes together we start to sing. In a way it's not just music, it's culture."^[37]

Early in his career, his music generally consisted of romantic ballads. However, in the late 1990s, his collaborations with other artists greatly expanded his musical style.^[1] On No Es lo Mismo, he experimented with rock, salsa, and hip hop.^[4] While recording the album, he noted that he often entered the studio with a rough idea for a song and the guest artists would "contaminate it with their rhythms...in a good way."^[23] El Tren de los Momentos continued this pattern of musical experimentation, featuring diverse genres such as funk, jazz, and country.^[38] Despite this, Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic described his musical evolution by saying "Even as Sanz broadened his style over the years, he never ventured far from his strength: romantic songs, generally ballads, tinged with flamenco and sung wholeheartedly with his distinct voice."^[1]

Personal life[link]

Sanz with Shakira and King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

Sanz married Mexican fashion model and actress Jaydy Michel in Bali on December 30, 1999, but this marriage was never legally recognized in either of their home countries. Sanz felt that having a legally recognized marriage was unnecessary: "My wife is my wife and I am her husband. For me, that has enough validity...I am married with the heart."^[39] The couple separated in 2005.^[28] Their daughter, Manuela Sánchez Michel, was born in 2001. Sanz later had a son named Alexander with Valeria Rivera, a Puerto Rican fashion designer.^[40]

Sanz welcomed his third child in New York, a boy named Dylan (b. July 2011), the first child from his relationship with girlfriend and former assistant, Raquel Perera.^[41] Sanz chose flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía to be the godfather to his son. Sanz and Perera are godparents to David Bisbal's daughter, Ella.^[42] On May 23, 2012, Sanz married Raquel Perera in a private ceremony in Barcelona.^[43]

In addition to music, Sanz enjoys painting, which he often does while trying to create ideas for new songs.^[44] He explains that painting "teaches you that taking risks rarely leads to failure. In fact, from the moment you assume a risk, you have succeeded."^[3]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

• 1989: Los Chulos Son Pa' Cuidarlos
• 1991: Viviendo Deprisa
• 1993: Si Tú Me Miras
• 1993: Básico
• 1995: 3
• 1997: Más
• 2000: El Alma al Aire
• 2003: No Es lo Mismo
• 2006: El Tren de los Momentos
• 2009: Paraíso Express

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Alejandro Sanz

• Alejandro Sanz's Official Site (Spanish)
• Alejandro Sanz's Official Red (Spanish)
• Alejandro Sanz Biography (Spanish)

References[link]

Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Diego Armando Maradona
Date of birth	(1960-10-30) 30 October 1960 (age 51)
Place of birth	Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position	Second Striker/Attacking Midfielder
Youth career
1968–1969	Estrella Roja
1970–1974	Los Cebollitas
1975-1976	Argentinos Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1976–1981	Argentinos Juniors	167	(115)
1981–1982	Boca Juniors	40	(28)
1982–1984	Barcelona	36	(22)
1984–1991	Napoli	259	(115)
1992–1993	Sevilla	26	(5)
1993–1994	Newell's Old Boys	5	(0)
1995–1997	Boca Juniors	30	(7)
Total		492	(258)
National team
1977–1994	Argentina	91	(34)
Teams managed
1994	Mandiyú de Corrientes
1995	Racing Club
2008–2010	Argentina
2011–	Al Wasl
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Diego Armando Maradona Franco (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdjeɣo maɾaˈðona]; born 30 October 1960) is a retired Argentine football player, and current manager of Al Wasl FC in Dubai. Many experts, football critics, former and current players consider Maradona the greatest football player of all time.^[1][2][3][4] 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.

He is the only player in football history who set world-record contract fees twice. The first, when he was transferred to Barcelona for a then world record £5m and the second, when he was transferred to Napoli for another record fee £6.9m. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys. In his international career, playing for Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals.

He played in four FIFA World Cup tournaments, including the 1986 tournament, where he captained Argentina and led them to their victory over West Germany in the final, winning the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player. In that same tournament's quarterfinal round, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over England that entered football history, though for two different reasons. The first goal was via an unpenalized handball known as the "Hand of God", while the second goal followed a 60 m (66 yd) dribble past five England players, voted "The Goal of the Century" by FIFA.com voters in 2002.^[5]

Maradona is considered one of the sport's most controversial and newsworthy figures. He was suspended from football for 15 months in 1991 after failing a drug test, for cocaine, in Italy, and he was sent home from the 1994 World Cup in the USA after testing positive for ephedrine. After retiring from playing on his 37th birthday in 1997,^[6] he gained weight, suffered ill health and the effects of cocaine use. In 2005, a stomach stapling operation helped control his weight gain, and he overcame his cocaine addiction. His outspoken manners have sometimes put him at odds with journalists and sport executives. Although he had little managerial experience, he became head coach of the Argentina national team in November 2008, and held the job for eighteen months, until his contract expired after the 2010 World Cup.

Early years[link]

Maradona was born in Lanús, but raised in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires,^[7] to a poor family that had moved from Corrientes Province. He was the first son after three daughters. He has two younger brothers, Hugo (el Turco) and Eduardo (Lalo), both of whom were also professional football players. Maradona has Italian and indigenous ancestry.^[8]

At age 10, Maradona was spotted by a talent scout while he was playing in his neighborhood club Estrella Roja. He became a staple of Los Cebollitas (The Little Onions), the junior team of Buenos Aires's Argentinos Juniors. 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.^[9]

Club career[link]

Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors[link]

Diego Maradona's debut for Argentinos Juniors against Talleres de Córdoba, 1976.

On 20 October 1976, Maradona made his professional debut with Argentinos Juniors, ten days before his sixteenth birthday.^[6] He played there between 1976 and 1981, scoring 115 goals in 167 appearances before his £1m transfer to Boca Juniors. Having joined the Boca squad midway through the 1981 season, Maradona played through 1982 earning his first league championship medal. Whilst playing for Argentinos Juniors, English club Sheffield United put in an offer of £180,000 for his services but the bid was rejected.

FC Barcelona[link]

Maradona playing for Boca Juniors in 1981.

After the 1982 World Cup, in June, Maradona was transferred to Barcelona in Spain for a then world record £5m.^[6] In 1983, under coach César Luis Menotti, Barcelona and Maradona won the Copa del Rey (Spain's annual national cup competition), beating Real Madrid, and the Spanish Super Cup, beating Athletic de Bilbao. However, Maradona had a difficult tenure in Barcelona.^[10] First a bout with hepatitis, then a broken ankle caused by an ill-timed tackle by Athletic's Andoni Goikoetxea threatened with jeopardizing Maradona's career,^[6] but after treatment and therapy it was possible for him to soon be back on the pitch. At Barcelona, Maradona got into frequent disputes with the team's directors, especially club president Josep Lluís Núñez, culminating with a demand to be transferred out of Camp Nou in 1984. He was transferred to Napoli in Italy's Serie A for another record fee, £6.9m.

Napoli[link]

At Napoli, Maradona reached the peak of his professional career. He quickly became an adored star among the club's fans, and in his time there he elevated the team to the most successful era in its history. Led by Maradona, Napoli won their only Serie A Italian Championships in 1986/87 and 1989/1990, placing second in the league twice, in 1987/88 and 1988/89. Other honors during the Maradona era at Napoli included the Coppa Italia in 1987, (second place in the Coppa Italia in 1989), the UEFA Cup in 1989 and the Italian Supercup in 1990. Maradona was the top scorer in Serie A in 1987/88.

During his time in Italy, Maradona's 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 'stress'.^[11] He faced a scandal there regarding an illegitimate son; and he was also the object of some suspicion over an alleged friendship with the Camorra.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

Later on, in honor of Maradona and his achievements during his career at Napoli, the #10 jersey of Napoli was officially retired.^[17]

Sevilla, Newell's Old Boys and Boca Juniors[link]

After serving a 15-month ban for failing a drug test for cocaine, Maradona left Napoli in disgrace in 1992. Despite interest from Real Madrid of Spain and Olympique Marseille of France, he signed for Sevilla of Spain, where he stayed for one year.^[18]

In 1993 he played for Newell's Old Boys and in 1995 he returned to Boca Juniors for two years.^[6]

Maradona also appeared for Tottenham Hotspur in a friendly match against Internazionale, shortly before the 1986 world cup. The match was Osvaldo Ardiles' testimonial, who insisted his friend Maradona played, which Tottenham won 2–1. He played alongside Glenn Hoddle, who gave up his number ten shirt for the Argentine. Maradona would go on to dribble past Hoddle during his "goal of the century" against England in the World Cup that year.

International career[link]

Maradona and the Youth World Cup trophy in 1979.

Along with his time at Napoli, international football is where Maradona found his fame. Playing for the Albicelestes of the Argentina national football team, he participated in four consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments, leading Argentina to victory in 1986 and to second place in 1990.

He made his full international debut at age 16, against Hungary on 27 February 1977. At age 18, he played the World Youth Championship for Argentina, and was the star of the tournament, shining in their 3–1 final win over the Soviet Union. On 2 June 1979, Maradona scored his first senior international goal in a 3–1 win against Scotland at Hampden Park.^[19] He is the only player to win the Golden Ball at both the FIFA U-20 World Cup and FIFA World Cup, in 1979 and 1986.

1982 World Cup[link]

Maradona played his first World Cup tournament in 1982. In the first round, Argentina, the defending champions, lost to Belgium. Although the team convincingly beat Hungary and El Salvador to progress to the second round, they were defeated in the second round by Brazil and by eventual winners Italy. Maradona played in all five matches without being substituted, scoring twice against Hungary, but was sent off with 5 minutes remaining in the game against Brazil for serious foul play.

1986 World Cup[link]

Diego Maradona with the World Cup obtained in 1986.

Maradona captained the Argentine national team to victory in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, winning the final in Mexico against West Germany. Throughout the 1986 World Cup Maradona asserted his dominance and was the most dynamic player of the tournament. He played every minute of every Argentina game, scored 5 goals and made 5 assists. After scoring two goals in the 2–1 quarter-final win against England his legend was cemented.

This match was played with the background of the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom and emotions were still lingering in the air throughout the entire match. Replays showed that the first goal was scored by striking the ball with his hand. Maradona was coyly evasive, describing it as "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." It became known as the "Hand of God". Ultimately, on 22 August 2005 Maradona acknowledged on his television show that he had hit the ball with his hand purposely, and that he immediately knew the goal was illegitimate. This became known as an international fiasco in World Cup history. The goal stood, much to the wrath of the English players.^[20]

Maradona's second goal, just four minutes after the hotly disputed hand-goal, was later voted by FIFA as the greatest goal in the history of the World Cup. He received the ball in his own half, swivelled around, and with 11 touches ran more than half the length of the field, dribbling past five English outfield players (Peter Beardsley, Steve Hodge, Peter Reid, Terry Butcher, and Terry Fenwick) and goalkeeper Peter Shilton. This goal was voted "Goal of the Century" in a 2002 online poll conducted by FIFA.^[22]

Maradona followed this with two more goals in the semi-final against Belgium, including another virtuoso dribbling display for the second goal. In the final, the opposing West German side attempted to contain him by double-marking, but he nevertheless found the space to give the final pass to Jorge Burruchaga for the winning goal. Argentina beat West Germany 3–2 in front of 115,000 spectators at the Azteca Stadium.

During the course of the tournament, Maradona attempted or created more than half of Argentina's shots, embarked on 90 dribbles some three times more than any other player and was fouled 53 times winning his team twice as many free kicks as any player.^[23][24] Maradona also scored or assisted 10 of Argentina's 14 goals and despite being heavily marked during the final played a crucial part in all three winning goals ensuring that he would be remembered as one of the greatest names in football history.^[25][26][27]

By the end of the tournament, Maradona went on winning the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament by a unanimous vote and was widely regarded to have won the World Cup virtually single-handedly.^{[28][29][30][31]} In a tribute to him, the Azteca Stadium authorities also built a statue of him scoring the "goal of the century" and placed it at the entrance of the stadium.^[32]

1990 World Cup[link]

Maradona captained Argentina again in the 1990 FIFA World Cup to yet another World Cup Final. An ankle injury affected his overall performance, and he was much less dominant than four years earlier. Argentina was almost eliminated in the first round, only qualifying in third position from their group. In the round of 16 match against Brazil, Claudio Caniggia scored the only goal after being set up by Maradona.

In the quarter final, Argentina faced Yugoslavia, the match ending 0–0 after 120 minutes, and Argentina advancing on penalty kicks, despite Maradona missing one of the penalties in the shootout with a weak shot at the centre of the goal. The semifinal against the host nation Italy was also resolved on penalties after a 1–1 draw; this time, Maradona was successful with his effort, daringly placing the ball at exactly the same spot as his missed penalty in the previous round. In the final, Argentina lost 1–0 to West Germany, the only goal being a penalty by Andreas Brehme in the 85th minute after a controversial foul on Rudi Völler.

1994 World Cup[link]

At the 1994 FIFA World Cup Maradona played in only two games, scoring one goal against Greece, before being sent home after failing a drug test for ephedrine doping. In his autobiography, Maradona argued that the test result was due to his personal trainer giving him the power drink Rip Fuel. His claim was that the U.S. version, unlike the Argentine one, contained the chemical and that, having run out of his Argentine dosage, his trainer unwittingly bought the U.S. formula. FIFA expelled him from USA '94 and Argentina were subsequently eliminated in the second round. Maradona has also separately claimed that he had an agreement with FIFA, on which the organization reneged, to allow him to use the drug for weight loss before the competition in order to be able to play.^[33] According to Maradona, this was so that the World Cup would not lose prestige because of his absence. This allegation has never been proven.

His failed drugs test at the 1994 World Cup signaled the end of his international career, which had lasted 17 years and yielded 34 goals from 91 games.

Playing style[link]

Maradona had a compact physique and could withstand physical pressure well. His strong legs and low center of gravity gave him an advantage in short sprints. His physical strengths were illustrated by his two goals against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup. Maradona was a strategist and a team player, as well as highly technical with the ball. He could manage himself effectively in limited spaces, and would attract defenders only to quickly dash out of the melee (as in the second 1986 goal against England),^[34] or give an assist to a free teammate. Being short, but strong, he could hold the ball long enough with a defender on his back to wait for a teammate making a run or to find a gap for a quick shot.

One of Maradona's trademark moves was dribbling full-speed on the right wing, and on reaching the opponent's goal line, delivering accurate passes to his teammates. Another trademark was the Rabona, a reverse-cross pass shot behind the leg that holds all the weight. This maneuver led to several assists, such as the powerful cross for Ramón Díaz's header in the 1980 friendly against Switzerland. He was also a dangerous free kick taker.

Maradona was dominantly left-footed, often using his left foot even when the ball was positioned more suitably for a right-footed connection. His first goal against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup semi-final is a worthy indicator of such; he had run into the inside right channel to receive a pass but let the ball travel across to his left foot, requiring more technical ability. During his run past several England players in the previous round for the "Goal of the Century", he did not use his right foot once, despite spending the whole movement on the right-hand side of the pitch. In the 1990 World Cup second round tie against Brazil, he did use his right foot to set up the winning goal for Caniggia due to two Brazilian markers forcing him into a position that made use of his left foot less practical.

Retirement and honours[link]

Diego Maradona's blaugrana shirt at display in FC Barcelona Museum.

Hounded for years by the press, Maradona once fired a compressed-air rifle at reporters who he claimed were invading his privacy. This quote from former teammate Jorge Valdano summarizes the feelings of many:

He is someone many people want to emulate, a controversial figure, loved, hated, who stirs great upheaval, especially in Argentina... Stressing his personal life is a mistake. Maradona has no peers inside the pitch, but he has turned his life into a show, and is now living a personal ordeal that should not be imitated. ^[35]

In 2000, Maradona published his autobiography Yo Soy El Diego ("I am The Diego"), which became an instant bestseller^[36] in his home country. Two years later, Maradona donated the Cuban royalties of his book to "the Cuban people and Fidel."^[37]

In 1999, 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 by wide margins, garnering 53.6% of the votes against 18.53% for Pelé. In spite of this, and shortly before the ceremony, FIFA unexpectedly decided to add 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. Maradona also came fifth in the vote of IFFHS(International Federation of Football History and Statistics).^[38]

Maradona at the Soccer Aid friendly match in 2006, after losing weight

In 2001, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) asked FIFA for authorization to retire the jersey number 10 for Maradona. FIFA did not grant the request, even though Argentine officials have maintained that FIFA hinted that it would.^[39]

Maradona has won other fan polls, including a 2002 FIFA poll in which his second goal against England was chosen as the best goal ever scored in a World Cup; he also won the most votes in a poll to determine the All-Time Ultimate World Cup Team.

Argentinos Juniors named its stadium after Maradona on 26 December 2003.

In 2003, Maradona was employed by the Libyan footballer Al-Saadi Gaddafi, the third son of Colonel Gaddafi, as a "technical consultant", while Al-Saadi was playing for the Italian club, Perugia Calcio, which was in Serie A at the time. ^[40]

On 22 June 2005, it was announced that Maradona would return to Boca Juniors as a sports vice president in charge of managing the First Division roster (after a disappointing 2004–05 season, which coincided with Boca's centenary).^[41] His contract began 1 August 2005, and one of his first recommendations proved to be very effective: he was the one who decided to hire Alfio Basile as the new coach. With Maradona fostering a close relationship with the players, Boca went on to win the 2005 Apertura title, the 2006 Clausura title, the 2005 Copa Sudamericana and the 2005 Recopa Sudamericana.

On 15 August 2005, Maradona made his debut as host of a talk-variety show on Argentine television, La Noche del 10 ("The Night of the no. 10"). His main guest on opening night was Pelé; the two had a friendly chat, showing no signs of past differences. However, the show also included a cartoon villain with a clear physical resemblance to Pelé. In subsequent evenings, he led the ratings on all occasions but one. Most guests were drawn from the worlds of football and show business, including Zidane, Ronaldo and Hernán Crespo, but also included interviews with other notable personalities such as Fidel Castro and Mike Tyson.

On 26 August 2006, it was announced that Maradona was quitting his position in the club Boca Juniors because of disagreements with the AFA, who selected Basile to be the new coach of the Argentina national football team.^[42]

The award-winning Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica made a documentary about Maradona's life, entitled Maradona.

In May 2006, Maradona agreed to take part in UK's Soccer Aid (a program to raise money for Unicef).^[43] In September 2006, Maradona, in his famous blue and white number 10, was the captain for Argentina in a three-day World Cup of Indoor Football tournament in Spain.

Also in 2006, Diego Maradona was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador of IIMSAM the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition.^[44]

On 22 March 2010, Maradona was chosen number 1 in The Greatest 10 World Cup players of all time by The Times,^[45] a London based newspaper.

Managerial career[link]

Club management[link]

He attempted to work as a coach alongside former Argentinos Juniors midfield team mate Carlos Fren. The pair led Mandiyú of Corrientes (1994) and Racing Club (1995), but with little success. In May 2011 he became manager of Dubai club Al Wasl FC in the United Arab Emirates Pro-League.^[46]

International management[link]

After the resignation of Argentina national football team coach Alfio Basile in 2008, Diego Maradona immediately proposed his candidacy for the vacant role. According to several press sources, his major challengers included Diego Simeone, Carlos Bianchi, Miguel Ángel Russo and Sergio Batista.

On 29 October 2008, AFA chairman Julio Grondona confirmed that Maradona would be the head coach of the national side from December 2008. On 19 November 2008, Diego Maradona managed Argentina for the first time when Argentina played against Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow which Argentina won 1–0.^[47]

After winning his first three matches in charge of the national team, he oversaw a 6–1 defeat to Bolivia, equalling 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.^[48][49]

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".^[50] FIFA responded with a two month ban on all footballing activity, which expired on 15 January 2010, and a CHF 25,000 fine, with a warning as to his future conduct.^[51] The friendly match scheduled to take place at home to the Czech Republic on 15 December, during the period of the ban, was cancelled. The only match Argentina played during Maradona's ban was a friendly away to Catalonia, which Argentina lost 4–2.

At the World Cup finals in June 2010, Argentina started by winning 1–0 against Nigeria, and then defeated South Korea by 4–1, with a hat-trick from Gonzalo Higuain.^[52][53] In the final match of the group stage Argentina won 2–0 against Greece to win their the group and advance to a second round meeting with Mexico.^[54] After defeating Mexico 3–1, Argentina was in turn routed by Germany, 4–0 in the quarter finals to go out of the competition.^[55] Argentina was ranked 5th in the tournament. After the defeat to Germany Maradona admitted that he was considering his future as Argentina coach, "I may leave tomorrow," he said.^[56] On 15 July 2010, the Argentine Football Association said that he would be offered a new 4 year deal that would keep him in charge through to the summer of 2014 when Brazil stages the World Cup,^[57] however on 27 July the AFA announced that its board had unanimously decided not to renew his contract.^[58] Afterwards on 29 July 2010, Maradona claimed that AFA president Julio Grondona and director of national teams Carlos Bilardo had "lied to" and "betrayed" and effectively sacked him from the role. Saying "they wanted me to continue, but seven of my staff should not go on, if he told me that, it meant he did not want me to keep working".^[59]

Personal life[link]

Family[link]

His parents are Diego Maradona Snr and Dalma Salvadore Franco. His father is of Native American extraction.^[60][61] Maradona married long-time fiancée Claudia Villafañe on 7 November 1984 in Buenos Aires, and they had two daughters, Dalma Nerea (born on 2 April 1987) and Giannina Dinorah (born on 16 May 1989), by whom he became a grandfather in 2009.^[62] In his autobiography, Maradona admits he was not always faithful to Claudia, even though he refers to her as the love of his life.

Maradona and Villafañe divorced in 2004. Daughter Dalma has since asserted that the divorce was the best solution for all, as her parents remained on friendly terms. They travelled together to Napoli for a series of homages in June 2005^[63] and were seen together on many other occasions, including the Argentina matches during 2006 FIFA World Cup.

During the divorce proceedings, Maradona admitted he was the father of Diego Sinagra (born in Naples on 20 September 1986). The Italian courts had already so ruled in 1993, after Maradona refused to undergo DNA tests for proving or disproving his paternity. Diego Jr. met Maradona for the first time in May 2003 after tricking his way onto a golf course in Italy where Maradona was playing.^[64] Diego Sinagra is now a footballer playing in Italy.^[65]

After the divorce, Claudia embarked on a career as a theatre producer, and Dalma was seeking an acting career; she had expressed her desire to attend the Actor's Studio in Los Angeles.^[66][67]

His younger daughter, Giannina, is currently married to Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero, with whom she has a son, Benjamin, born in Madrid on 19 February 2009.

His mother, Dalma, died on 19 November 2011. Diego 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.

Drug abuse and health issues[link]

Maradona after gaining weight, March 2005

From the mid-1980s until 2004 Diego Maradona was addicted to cocaine. He allegedly began using the drug in Barcelona in 1983.^[68] By the time he was playing for Napoli he had a regular addiction, which began to interfere with his ability to play football.^[69]

Over the years following his retirement his health seriously deteriorated. On 4 January 2000, while vacationing in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Maradona had to be rushed to the emergency room of a local clinic. In a press conference, doctors stated that it was detected heart muscle damage due to "an underlying health issue". It was later known that traces of cocaine were found in his blood and Maradona had to explain the circumstances to the police. After this he left Argentina and went to Cuba in order to follow a drug rehab plan.

On 18 April 2004, doctors reported that Maradona had suffered a major myocardial infarction following a cocaine overdose; he was admitted to intensive care in a Buenos Aires hospital. Scores of fans gathered around the clinic. He was taken off the respirator on 23 April and remained in intensive care for several days before being discharged on 29 April. He tried to return to Cuba, where he had spent most of his time in the years leading up to the heart attack, but his family opposed, having filed a judicial petition to exercise his legal guardianship.

Maradona had a tendency to put on weight, and suffered increasingly from obesity from the end of his playing career until undergoing gastric bypass surgery in a clinic in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia on 6 March 2005.^[70] His surgeon said that Maradona would follow a liquid diet for three months in order to return back his normal weight.^[71] When Maradona resumed public appearances shortly thereafter, he displayed a notably thinner figure.^[72]

On 29 March 2007, Maradona was readmitted to a hospital in Buenos Aires. He was treated for hepatitis and effects of alcohol abuse, and was released on 11 April, but re-admitted two days later.^[73] In the following days there were constant rumors about his health, including three false claims of his death within a month.^[74] After transfer to a psychiatric clinic specialising in alcohol-related problems, he was discharged on 7 May.^[75]

On 8 May 2007, Maradona appeared on Argentine television and stated that he had quit drinking and had not used drugs in two and a half years.^[76]

Political views[link]

Only in recent years, Maradona has shown sympathy to left-wing ideologies. Before that he had been vocal in his support of neoliberal Argentina President Carlos Menem, and especially of his Harvard University-educated economist Domingo Cavallo. He became friends with Cuban leader Fidel Castro while receiving treatment on the island. He also has a portrait of Fidel Castro tattooed on his left leg and one of Fidel's second in command, fellow Argentine Che Guevara on his right arm.^[77] In his autobiography 'El Diego' he dedicated the book to several people and groups of people including Fidel Castro, he wrote "To Fidel Castro and, through him, all the Cuban people".^[78]

Maradona is also a supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. In 2005 he visited Venezuela with the specific aim of meeting Chávez, who received him in Miraflores. After this meeting Maradona claimed that he had come with the aim of meeting a "great man" ("un grande" in Spanish) but he had met instead a gigantic man ("un gigante" in Spanish, meaning he was more than great).

"I believe in Chávez, I am Chavista. Everything Fidel does, everything Chávez does, for me is the best."^[79]

He has declared his opposition to what he identifies as imperialism, notably during the 2005 Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, Argentina. There he protested George W. Bush's presence in Argentina, wearing a T-shirt labeled "STOP BUSH" (with the "s" in "Bush" being replaced with a swastika) and referring to Bush as "human garbage".^[80][81]

In August 2007, Maradona went further, making an appearance on Chávez's weekly television show and saying: "I hate everything that comes from the United States. I hate it with all my strength." ^[82]

In December 2007, Maradona presented a signed shirt with a message of support to the people of Iran: it is to be displayed in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' museum.^[83]

Financial problems[link]

In March 2009 Italian officials announced that Maradona still owed the Italian government €37 million in taxes; €23.5 million of which was accrued interest on his original debt. They reported that thus far, Maradona has paid only €42,000, two luxury watches and a set of earrings.^[84][85]

In popular culture[link]

Religious display of Maradona in Naples

The American newspaper The Houston Chronicle wrote about Maradona:

To understand the gargantuan shadow Maradona casts over his soccer-mad homeland, one has to conjure up the athleticism of Michael Jordan, the power of Babe Ruth – and the human fallibility of Mike Tyson. Lump them together in a single barrel-chested man with shaggy black hair and you have El Diego, idol to the millions who call him D10S, a mashup of his playing number and the Spanish word for God.^[86]

In Argentina, Maradona is considered a sports hero to many. He is idolized, receiving the name of “God”. About this idolatry that exists in Argentina over Maradona, his former teammate Jorge Valdano said: "At the time that Maradona retired from active football, left traumatized Argentina. Maradona was more than just a great footballer. It was a special compensation factor for a country that in a few years lived several military dictatorships and social frustrations of all kinds". Valdano added that "Maradona offered to the Argentines way out of their collective frustration, and that's why people love him. There is a divine figure."

Ever since 1986, it is common for Argentines abroad to hear Maradona's name as a token of recognition, even in remote places.^[10] The Tartan Army sing a version of the Hokey Cokey in honour of the Hand of God goal against England.^[87] In Argentina, Maradona is often talked about in terms reserved for legends. In the Argentine film El Hijo de la Novia ("Son of the Bride"), somebody who impersonates a Catholic priest says to a bar patron: "they idolized him and then crucified him". When a friend scolds him for taking the prank too far, the fake priest retorts: "But I was talking about Maradona". He's the subject of the film El Camino de San Diego, though he himself only appears in archive footage.

Maradona was included in many cameos in the Argentine comic book El Cazador de Aventuras. After the closing of it, the authors started a new short-lived comic book titled "El Die", using Maradona as the main character.

In Rosario, Argentina, locals organized the parody religion of the "Church of Maradona". The organization reformulates many elements from Christian tradition, such as Christmas or prayers, reflecting instead details from Maradona. It had 200 founding members, tens of thousands more^[88] have become members via the church's official web site.

Many Argentine artists performed songs in tribute to Diego, like: "Maradó" by El Potro Rodrigo, "Maradona" by Andrés Calamaro, "Para siempre Diego" (Diego forever) by Los Ratones Paranoicos, "Para verte gambetear" (For seeing you dribble) by La Guardia Hereje, "Francotirador" (Sniper) by Attaque 77, "Dale Diez" (C'mon Diez) by Julio Lacarra, "Maradona blues" by Charly García, "Santa Maradona" (Saint Maradona) by Mano Negra, "Si yo fuera Maradona" (If I Were Maradona) by Manu Chao, among others.

And many films, like: Maradona, La Mano de Dios (Maradona, the Hand of God), El Camino de San Diego (Saint Diego's Road), Amando a Maradona (Loving Maradona), Maradona by Kusturica, etc.

A television commercial^[89] for Brazilian soft drink Guaraná Antarctica portrayed Maradona as a member of the Brazilian national football team, including wearing the yellow jersey and singing the Brazilian national anthem with Brazilian caps Kaká and Ronaldo. Later on in the commercial he wakes up realizing it was a nightmare after having drunk too much of the Brazilian soft drink. This generated some controversy in the Argentine media after its release (although the commercial was not supposed to air on the Argentine market, fans could see it via internet). Maradona replied that he has no problem in wearing the Brazilian national squad jersey, but that he would refuse to wear the shirt of River Plate, Boca Juniors' traditional rival.^[90]

Career statistics[link]

Club[link]

• His overall average of goals scored per match in domestic club competitions is 0.526.

International[link]

• Started in 21 consecutive matches for Argentina in four World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994)
• Appeared 16 times as captain of the national team, a World Cup-record.
• Scored 8 goals and made 8 assists in 21 World Cup appearances, including 5 goals and 5 assists in 1986
• Tied for highest goal-scorer from Argentina in World Cup finals (equaled Guillermo Stábile's mark in 1994; surpassed by Gabriel Batistuta in 1998)

Statistics[link]

Player[link]

^[91]

• Other - League Cup (Spain) & Super Cup (Italy)

^[92]