Arguably the best footballer of all time, He was in a class of His own,
Name:
Diego Armando Maradona.
Nicknames: El Diez, Pelusa, El Pibe de Oro, El Diego
Nationality:
Argentinian
Date and Place of Birth:
October 30, 1960 at Villa Fiorito, Argentina
Club Career Appearances and Goals:
1976-1981 Argentinos Juniors - 166 appearances, 116 goals.
1981-1982 Boca Juniors - 42 appearances, 28 goals.
1982-1984 FC Barcelona - 58 appearances, 38 goals.
1984-1991 SSC Napoli - 259 appearances, 115 goals.
1992-1993 Sevilla FC - 29 appearances, 7 goals.
1993 Newell's Old Boys - 5 appearances, 0 goals.
1995-1997 Boca Juniors - 29 appearances, 7 goals.
1976-1997 TOTAL: 588 appearances, 311 goals.
International Career:
1977-94 Argentina - 91 appearances, 34 goals
Club Honours:
1981 Argentine league (Boca Juniors).
1983 Copa del Rey (FC Barcelona).
1987 Serie A champions (SSC Napoli).
1987 Italian Cup (SSC Napoli).
1988 Italian top-scorer (SSC Napoli).
1989 UEFA Cup (SSC Napoli).
1990 Serie A champions (SSC Napoli).
1991 Italian Super Cup (SSC Napoli) .
International Honours:
1979 FIFA World Youth Championship: Winner.
1982 FIFA World Cup: Second round (11th place).
1986 FIFA World Cup: Winner.
1990 FIFA World Cup: Runner-up.
1993 Artemio Franchi Trophy: Winner.
1994 FIFA World Cup: Second round (10th place)
Personal Honours - during his career:
1979–1981, 1986 Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year1979, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992 South American Footballer of the Year (El Mundo, Caracas).
1986 Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Year.
1986 Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA World Cup.
1986–1987 Best Footballer in the World (Once).
1986 World Player of the Year (World Soccer Magazine)
Personal Honours - after his retirement:
1996 Golden Ball for services to football (France Football).
1999 Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Century.
2000 "FIFA best football player of the century", people's choice.
2002 "FIFA Goal of the Century" (1986 (2–1) v. England; second goal).
2005 Argentine Senate "Domingo Faustino Sarmiento" recognition for lifetime achievement.
About Diego Maradona:
Born in 1960 in Villa Fiorito, Argentina, Diego Armando Maradona went single-handedly lead his country to one World Cup Final victory in 1986 and then back to the Final, four years later where they were beaten by West Germany. As well as leading unfashionable Napoli to two Italian League titles and breaking the world record transfer fee when he joined Barcelona in 1982, Maradona went on to be regarded as perhaps the greatest footballer who ever played the game.
With such great talent on the pitch came a similar talent for attracting trouble to himself off it. His sublime second goal against England in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico is often overlooked as it followed his infamous “Hand of God” opener where Maradona blatantly punched the ball past Peter Shilton in the England goal and helped Argentina to a 2-1 victory on their way to winning the tournament.
A 15 month suspension from football in 1992 for cocaine led to his departure from his beloved Napoli and two years later he was sent home from the 1994 World Cup in the USA having tested positive in a drugs test for ephedrine doping.
Diego claimed that he has been given the backing of FIFA to take the drug for weight loss purposes so that the World Cup wouldn't lose appeal without him in it only to see them renege on their promise and have him sent home in further disgrace.
This claim has obviously been vigorously denied by FIFA.
Scandal continues to follow him in Naples where he was embroiled in an illegitimate child row where he refused DNA tests to ascertain paternity and further questions were asked about his friendships with members of the Naples mafia.
Diego Maradona maintains his position as one of world football's most brilliant and troubled enigmas.
He belonged to the exclusive lists of players that played in two consecutive world cup finals, and perhaphs the only player to win the most valuable player at both junior and senior world cups and emerging as winners.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
GERMAN BOMBER
GERD MUELLER, the name many past goaltender at the world cup will hate to remember,he was a terror to many defenders and keepers at the 1970 and 1974 world cup,where he scored 14 goals,an all time goal scoring record that lasted for 32 years before Ronaldo of brazil broke the record at germany 2006,playing in group 4 of the mexico 1970 world cup, MUELLER started his goal scoring feat with the winning goal against african champions, Morocco after Uwe seeler equalized a first half goal by atlas lion Mohammed jarir.
3 goals against bulgaria,his first hattrick at the mundial and another hattrick within 20 minutes against peru made him the second player to score two hattricks in two consecutive matches at the global fiesta. The first being sandor kocsis of hungary on 17 june 1954 against korea and 3 days later against germany on 20 june 1954,Hungary won both matches by 9-0 and 8-3 respectively,
An extra time winner against England and 2 goals in a 4-3 loss to ITALY gave him the golden shoe at mexico 70 world cup.
At Germany 74 world cup, He scored a goal against australia in a 3- 0 bashing, a goal against yugoslavia in a 2-0 win, another goal against poland,and a goal against holland in the final not only ensured that mueller became a world champion but also made him the highest goal scorer of all time for 32 years before RONALDO, broke that record incidentally at GERMANY 2006 world cup.
GERD MUELLER belong to the exclusive class of players that scored more goals than the number of international games they played. 68 goals in 62 games for Germany made him the highest or rather the leading goal scorer for the german machine till date. Also one of few european players to win gold medal at the world cup and the european championship, winning the highest goal scorer in both tournament,scored a total of eleven goals at the european championship of 1970-1972 scoring against all the teams he played against,most remarkably he scored against turkey,albania and poland in all the away matches to beat the teams in their backyard even when the german team could not beat them in germany during the qualifying stages, 6 goals in six matches in the qualifier,and 5 goals in 3 matches in the final made him the highest goal scorer and an exceptional player to have played the round leather game.
Little wonder goals was made his middle name,Duff your hat for the goal king of our generation. GERD GOALS MUELLER.
3 goals against bulgaria,his first hattrick at the mundial and another hattrick within 20 minutes against peru made him the second player to score two hattricks in two consecutive matches at the global fiesta. The first being sandor kocsis of hungary on 17 june 1954 against korea and 3 days later against germany on 20 june 1954,Hungary won both matches by 9-0 and 8-3 respectively,
An extra time winner against England and 2 goals in a 4-3 loss to ITALY gave him the golden shoe at mexico 70 world cup.
At Germany 74 world cup, He scored a goal against australia in a 3- 0 bashing, a goal against yugoslavia in a 2-0 win, another goal against poland,and a goal against holland in the final not only ensured that mueller became a world champion but also made him the highest goal scorer of all time for 32 years before RONALDO, broke that record incidentally at GERMANY 2006 world cup.
GERD MUELLER belong to the exclusive class of players that scored more goals than the number of international games they played. 68 goals in 62 games for Germany made him the highest or rather the leading goal scorer for the german machine till date. Also one of few european players to win gold medal at the world cup and the european championship, winning the highest goal scorer in both tournament,scored a total of eleven goals at the european championship of 1970-1972 scoring against all the teams he played against,most remarkably he scored against turkey,albania and poland in all the away matches to beat the teams in their backyard even when the german team could not beat them in germany during the qualifying stages, 6 goals in six matches in the qualifier,and 5 goals in 3 matches in the final made him the highest goal scorer and an exceptional player to have played the round leather game.
Little wonder goals was made his middle name,Duff your hat for the goal king of our generation. GERD GOALS MUELLER.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
THE PHENOMENON
His scoring rate is simply amazing,dwarfing the achievements of those before him at the global fiesta, none till today has score more goals than RONALDO, He was at 1994 world cup as an understudy of the great ROMARIO DE SOUZA FARIAS,he won the cup without playing a match, four years later, he was ripe enough to lead the brazilian attack,He scored 4 goals at france 98 world cup, 12 goals at 2002 world cup, and 3 goals at 2006 world cup in germany,bringing his goal aggregate to 15, to top the all time scorers chart, winning two gold medals and one silver along the way.In the final at 2002,he made oliver kahn look stupid,scoring twice against arguably the world best keeper.
His 8 goals was the best in recent times after 1970 feet by german bomber GERD MULLER,who scored 10 goals.
His 8 goals was the best in recent times after 1970 feet by german bomber GERD MULLER,who scored 10 goals.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
SUPER HERO
At espana 1982 world cup,One man rose from world cup obscurity to leave his footprints on the sand of soccer time,it was an indellible print that many will hate to remember especially two super powers of world football,The selecao and the Machines.
PAOLO ROSSI was considered as a failure based on the three matches played at the first group stage and manyITALIANS would have been cursing coach ENZO BEARZOT for lining up Rossi against argentina in the first match of the second group stage,when he was substituted in the 80th minute,many would have thought he will be confined to the reserve bench against the super power from south america in the next match.
Rossi was again thrown into action against Brazil by an undettered bearzot, 5 minutes into the match Rossi justified the confidence reposed in him by the coach with a super strike and went on to score two more in a 3-2 win, He punished poland with two goals in the semi final before silencing the german machine with a goal in the final, with six goals in the last three matches he played at espana 82,ROSSI became the first man to win the GOLDEN BOOT and the newly introduced GOLDEN BALL,an honour that only one person after him was able to IMMITATE till now, another ITALIAN, Salvatore schillaci.
However ROSSI's achievement is more unique because he won the cup and gold medal while schillaci only won a bronze medal without the cup.
A giant,super hero and a legend.
PAOLO ROSSI was considered as a failure based on the three matches played at the first group stage and manyITALIANS would have been cursing coach ENZO BEARZOT for lining up Rossi against argentina in the first match of the second group stage,when he was substituted in the 80th minute,many would have thought he will be confined to the reserve bench against the super power from south america in the next match.
Rossi was again thrown into action against Brazil by an undettered bearzot, 5 minutes into the match Rossi justified the confidence reposed in him by the coach with a super strike and went on to score two more in a 3-2 win, He punished poland with two goals in the semi final before silencing the german machine with a goal in the final, with six goals in the last three matches he played at espana 82,ROSSI became the first man to win the GOLDEN BOOT and the newly introduced GOLDEN BALL,an honour that only one person after him was able to IMMITATE till now, another ITALIAN, Salvatore schillaci.
However ROSSI's achievement is more unique because he won the cup and gold medal while schillaci only won a bronze medal without the cup.
A giant,super hero and a legend.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
TWO OF A KIND
Eusebio Da Silva Ferreira and Just Fontaine.
both were at the world cup in 1966 and1958 respectively,born in africa, Eusebio from lourenquo marques in mozambique, Fontaine from marrakesh in morocco,they won the golden boot for the best goal scorer in 1958 and 1966 for their adopted countries,In swedeen in 1958 Fontaine scored an amazing 13 goals in 6 games to set a record which is yet to be equalled by any world cup player in one single tournament, Fontaine played for france and scored
3 goals against paraguay in a 7-3 win
2 goals against yugoslavia in a 3-2 loss
1 goal against scotland in a 2-1 win
2 goals against ireland in a 4-0 win
1 goal against brazil in a 5-2 loss
4 goals against germany in a 6-3 win crowned him as the goleador at sweden, while france won the bronze medal .
Eusebio scored 9 goals in 1966 for portugal
1 goal against bulgaria in a 3-0 win
2 goals against brazil in a 3-1 win
4 goals against korea dpr in a 5-3 win
1 goal against england in a 2-1 loss
1 goal against ussr in a 2-1 win crowned him as the goleador in england, while portugal won the bronze medal.
the two african born stars lost at the semi finals to the eventual champions,
the two never played in the final,
the two never returned for the next edition nor any other one as a player,
the two scored four goals in one match,
the two represented Europe,
the two won individual honours and national honours at the global fiesta,
they won golden boots and bronze medals,
the two played against pele,arguably the greatest player of all time.
the two played six games in one tournament,
the two never sat on the bench for any match,
they were never injured or out of the field for the entire tournament
they were products of the colonial era.
they were soccer superstars and giants.
they were the best in their adopted countries for the past 50 years.
both were at the world cup in 1966 and1958 respectively,born in africa, Eusebio from lourenquo marques in mozambique, Fontaine from marrakesh in morocco,they won the golden boot for the best goal scorer in 1958 and
3 goals against paraguay in a 7-3 win
2 goals against yugoslavia in a 3-2 loss
1 goal against scotland in a 2-1 win
2 goals against ireland in a 4-0 win
1 goal against brazil in a 5-2 loss
4 goals against germany in a 6-3 win crowned him as the goleador at sweden, while france won the bronze medal .
Eusebio scored 9 goals in 1966 for portugal
1 goal against bulgaria in a 3-0 win
2 goals against brazil in a 3-1 win
4 goals against korea dpr in a 5-3 win
1 goal against england in a 2-1 loss
1 goal against ussr in a 2-1 win crowned him as the goleador in england, while portugal won the bronze medal.
the two african born stars lost at the semi finals to the eventual champions,
the two never played in the final,
the two never returned for the next edition nor any other one as a player,
the two scored four goals in one match,
the two represented Europe,
the two won individual honours and national honours at the global fiesta,
they won golden boots and bronze medals,
the two played against pele,arguably the greatest player of all time.
the two played six games in one tournament,
the two never sat on the bench for any match,
they were never injured or out of the field for the entire tournament
they were products of the colonial era.
they were soccer superstars and giants.
they were the best in their adopted countries for the past 50 years.
Friday, July 27, 2007
GOLEADOR
Golden Shoe
STABILE Guillermo of Argentina won the golden boot,he was outstanding throughout the tournament scoring pleasant and decisive goals for the albiceleste.
Was on the bench for the first match alongside fernando paternoster,carlos peucelle,No wonder Argentina were almost held to a standstill by france who lost by a lone goal,the second match saw stabille stabbing mexico three times in a 6-3 scoreline, making him the first hattrick scorer in the global fiesta,In the next match against chile,2 goals in two minutes by stabile produced a classic for the 1000 spectators at the centenario stadium in July 22 1930 in a 3-1 win, stabile increasing his goals to five out of the 10 goals scored by his country in the group stage.
Two goals against U.S.A and one against champions URUGUAY in the final crowned stabile with the Golden shoe as the best scorer in the first FIFA world cup. 8 goals by a man not considered good enough for the 1st group match.
A legend,giant and superstar of world football,scored in all the matches he played at the 1930 world cup.
STABILE Guillermo of Argentina won the golden boot,he was outstanding throughout the tournament scoring pleasant and decisive goals for the albiceleste.
Was on the bench for the first match alongside fernando paternoster,carlos peucelle,No wonder Argentina were almost held to a standstill by france who lost by a lone goal,the second match saw stabille stabbing mexico three times in a 6-3 scoreline, making him the first hattrick scorer in the global fiesta,In the next match against chile,2 goals in two minutes by stabile produced a classic for the 1000 spectators at the centenario stadium in July 22 1930 in a 3-1 win, stabile increasing his goals to five out of the 10 goals scored by his country in the group stage.
Two goals against U.S.A and one against champions URUGUAY in the final crowned stabile with the Golden shoe as the best scorer in the first FIFA world cup. 8 goals by a man not considered good enough for the 1st group match.
A legend,giant and superstar of world football,scored in all the matches he played at the 1930 world cup.
FIFA WORLD CUP
On 26 May 1928 in Amsterdam, the FIFA congress voted that a new tournament was to be organised in 1930 which was to be open to all member nations. On 18 May 1929, the Barcelona congress voted that Uruguay should be the first nation to host a FIFA World Cup.
Two months before the tournament was due to commence not a single European country had entered the competition. Thanks to Rimet's personal efforts, at least four delegations, Belgium, France, Yugoslavia and Romania, set sail on 21 June 1930 from Villefranche-Sur-Mer with the liner "Conte Verde" reaching Rio de Janeiro on 29 June, where they picked up the Brazilian squad and arrived in Montevideo on 4 July.
A tremendous sporting success.
The first FIFA World Cup only attracted 13 nations, including four Europeans, eight from South America and a representative team from the United States. On the field of play however, the quality of football produced was of the highest standard. And whilst the public had expected to see a South American domination, the four teams from Europe did more than hold their own as typified by the French team, beating Mexico 4 - 1 and going down narrowly to Argentina 1 - 0 in an epic struggle. The referee, who had blown the final whistle six minutes early, finally - after fierce protests - recalled the players to the field, some of whom were already in the shower!
First final, first legend.
A few days later in the colossal Centenario stadium (100,000 capacity), the atmosphere was electric as spectators were awaiting the South American final between Uruguay and Argentina. At half-time, Uruguay were down 2-1, but fought back bravely and put three second half goals passed the stunned Argentinans, ending the game with a 4-2 victory. The FIFA President Jules Rimet presented the " Victoire aux Ailes d'Or " trophy, a statuette 30cm high, made of gold and weighing 4 kg, to the Uruguayan captain José Nazassi. Celebrations in Montevideo went on for several days and nights and the day after the famous victory, the 31 July, was proclaimed a national holiday. The ball had begun to roll for football's most prestigious prize and the universal nature of the game had been officially proclaimed!
Two months before the tournament was due to commence not a single European country had entered the competition. Thanks to Rimet's personal efforts, at least four delegations, Belgium, France, Yugoslavia and Romania, set sail on 21 June 1930 from Villefranche-Sur-Mer with the liner "Conte Verde" reaching Rio de Janeiro on 29 June, where they picked up the Brazilian squad and arrived in Montevideo on 4 July.
A tremendous sporting success.
The first FIFA World Cup only attracted 13 nations, including four Europeans, eight from South America and a representative team from the United States. On the field of play however, the quality of football produced was of the highest standard. And whilst the public had expected to see a South American domination, the four teams from Europe did more than hold their own as typified by the French team, beating Mexico 4 - 1 and going down narrowly to Argentina 1 - 0 in an epic struggle. The referee, who had blown the final whistle six minutes early, finally - after fierce protests - recalled the players to the field, some of whom were already in the shower!
First final, first legend.
A few days later in the colossal Centenario stadium (100,000 capacity), the atmosphere was electric as spectators were awaiting the South American final between Uruguay and Argentina. At half-time, Uruguay were down 2-1, but fought back bravely and put three second half goals passed the stunned Argentinans, ending the game with a 4-2 victory. The FIFA President Jules Rimet presented the " Victoire aux Ailes d'Or " trophy, a statuette 30cm high, made of gold and weighing 4 kg, to the Uruguayan captain José Nazassi. Celebrations in Montevideo went on for several days and nights and the day after the famous victory, the 31 July, was proclaimed a national holiday. The ball had begun to roll for football's most prestigious prize and the universal nature of the game had been officially proclaimed!
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