Diego Maradona

Part of me wondered whether this was worth it. So many words have been written in tribute to Diego Armando Maradona since the announcement of his death, and these pieces have been created by writers with a lot more talent than me. But I simply had to pen something about the greatest footballer I have ever seen.

Naturally my mind immediately rewinds back to 1986. When a man at the peak of his powers completely shapes a World Cup finals tournament in his image then it is hard not to start at this point. Undoubtedly the greatest player in the world at the time, Maradona decided to confirm this status at Mexico '86.

Argentina obviously had talented players. But in a team sport here was a demonstration of how one man alone can carry the team on his shoulders. Maradona single-handedly - literally at times - propelled Argentina to their second World Cup. Even as a ten-year-old boy who had been scarred by the actions of the little genius, I knew it had been a privilege to have witnessed this.

Let's deal with the elephant in the room: the Hand of God goal, that made me put the word 'CHEAT' across his chest in Blu-Tack on my World Cup wallchart, was hard to stomach. The injustice raged, and for years I felt bitter towards Maradona. Yet time has softened my anger.

Maradona was not the only man to blame. What was Steve Hodge playing at? Why did Peter Shilton jump like a man with bricks in his socks? What were the match officials doing? Yes, Maradona cheated, but he chanced his arm (or hand) and got away with it.

The second goal on that day is rightly viewed as one of the greatest seen. The turn at the start is often overlooked, as he leaves Peter Reid for dead. The way he goes past Butcher and Fenwick like they are not there is frightening. You have to say that's magnificent, as Barry Davies brilliantly said.

England had been warned of Maradona's brilliance six years before. The 19-year-old spun, dribbled and tore England's left-side apart at Wembley in a friendly in May 1980, in a eerily similar prequel to Mexico City. The only thing missing at Wembley was the finish, although like Pele's near things at the 1970 World Cup, the fact that Maradona failed to score does not take anything away from the moment.

After seeing off England at Mexico, more brilliance followed against Belgium, and it was fitting that a pass from Maradona allowed Jorge Burruchaga to win the World Cup final late on against West Germany. You don't have to be win the World Cup to be classed as a great player - Lionel Messi is proof of this - but Maradona lifting the trophy in the Azteca Stadium was an appropriate end to the tournament.

The World Cup owed him something. Four years earlier, Maradona showed glimpses of his talent, but was kicked from pillar to post in an era where defenders were allowed a few discretions before being cautioned. The treatment handed out by Italy's Claudio Gentile in the second round group match was a prime example of this.

It was little surprise that Maradona snapped in Argentina's final match against Brazil, the young man with the eyes of the world upon him stamping on Batista and seeing red. Even though he had failed to live up to the hype, Maradona still provided an iconic image of the 1980s against Belgium in the tournament opener. 

The unhappy times Maradona experienced at Spain '82 would be reflected towards the back end of his short stay at Barcelona. Transferred to the club for a world record £5 million, Maradona did help his new club win the Copa Del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup in 1983. Yet his final season would be a nightmare.

Suffering a broken ankle after a horrendous tackle by Andoni Goikoetxea (the Butcher of Bilbao) in September 1983, Maradona ended his spell at Barcelona in violent scenes after the 1984 Copa Del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona and Maradona decided to go their separate ways.

His next move was a marriage made in heaven. Leading Napoli to their first league title in 1986/87 - the first time a mainland southern club had won the Scudetto - Maradona would claim another title in 1989/90 as well at the 1987 Italian Cup and the 1989 UEFA Cup for a club that would eventually retire his number ten shirt. It is little wonder that the great man is so reverred in Naples.

This blog does not usually drift into the 1990s. But it is impossible not to acknowledge Italia '90 and the barely believable run of pantomime villains Argentina to the final of that tournament. Rightfully, Maradona will forever be linked with Mexico '86. Yet the tale of 1990 is just as gripping.

The opening loss against Cameroon; Maradona punching one off the line against the USSR, a match in which keeper Pumpido broke his leg; the smash and grab against Brazil, including a remarkable assist from Maradona; tugging on the heart strings of the Neopolitans before the semi-final against Italy in Naples; two sent off in the final; Maradona's tears at the end of the final.

But you always end up back in 1986. Three of his World Cup tournaments ended in disappointment; a red card, tears and a drugs-related ban. Mexico stands out as the shining light in his career, although I'm sure Napoli fans may dispute this.

Some Englishmen have not forgiven him, and possibly never will. Captaining a Rest of the World team against a Football League side at Wembley in August 1987 - part of the Football League centenary celebrations - Maradona was booed throughout. It would have been water off a ducks back, though, especially as reports circulated that he was picking up £100,000 for his 90 minutes in London.

Even if you cannot bring yourself to forgive him, you have to admit that Diego Maradona was magnificent, keeping the theme of Barry Davies' commentary in mind. I never got to see Pele play, but in my opinion Maradona is the greatest ever. In an era of poor pitches and uncompromising defenders, the small man stood tall, and carried a nation to glory.