Diego Armando Maradona is by many regarded as the greatest player in the history of the game. At 16 he was Argentina’s youngest-ever international when he played against Hungary. Two years later he captained the World Youth Cup winners and was transferred to Boca Juniors. The success continued and he was voted South American Player of the Year in 1979 and 1980. In 1982, he joined Barcelona for a world record transfer fee of £5,000,000. The same year the World Cup was held in Spain and Maradona made his debut on his new homeground Estadio Nou Camp. The tournament didn’t end as Maradona had hoped and he was sent off against Brazil in the second phase.

In his first season for “Barca” he helped them win the league, leaguecup and the Super Cup. Two years later, another world record fee of £69,00,000 took him to success-starved Napoli, and in 1987 they won a league and cup double. A year earlier he had captained Argentina to a second World Cup triumph. It was a World Cup that forever will be synonymous with Maradona. He scored 5 goals, including two against England.

Both are among the most controversal in WC history. The first was the infamous “Hand of God” and the second probably the greatest goal ever scored in a World Cup game, as he ran from his own half showing magic displays and leaving seven English players for dead.

Success continued with Napoli as Maradona again steered them to a league title and in 1989 even a triumph in the UEFA cup.