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“Everyone has an opinion on Diego Armando Maradona, and that’s been the
case since his playing days. His magnificent performances and extraordinary
goals at Mexico 86 will live forever in the memories of all football lovers,
myself included. My most vivid recollection is of this incredibly gifted
kid at the second FIFA U-20 World Cup in Japan in 1979. He left everyone
open-mouthed every time he got on the ball. And at the age of 50 he still
has many years in which to keep showing us his talent.”
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter.
“I asked myself, ‘Who is this man? Who is this footballing magician, this
Sex Pistol of international football, this cocaine victim who kicked the
habit, looked like Falstaff and was as weak as spaghetti?’ If Andy Warhol
had still been alive, he would have definitely put Maradona alongside
Marilyn Monroe and Mao Tse-Tung. I’m convinced that if he hadn’t been a
footballer, he’d've become a revolutionary.”
Emir Kusturica, musician, film director and the maker of a documentary on
the life of Maradona.
“Diego is great friend and very noble too. There’s also no question he’s
a wonderful athlete and has maintained a friendship with Cuba to no material
gain of his own.”
Fidel Castro, former leader of Cuba.
“Even if I played for a million years, I’d never come close to Maradona.
Not that I’d want to anyway. He’s the greatest there’s ever been.”
Lionel Messi, Argentinian footballer.
“What Zidane could do with a ball, Maradona could do with an orange.”
Michel Platini, UEFA President.
“To my generation he was the greatest we’d ever seen.”
Pep Guardiola, Barcelona coach.
“Pele’s my idol but I saw Maradona play. There’s no question in my mind
that he’s the number one. He might have had his faults but he’s shown on
the pitch what real football is all about. My dream is to play with him one
day, if only for a few minutes. I learned a lot just by watching him play.”
Roberto Carlos, Brazilian footballer.
“The greatest player I’ve ever seen, way ahead of everyone else, including
[Michel] Platini, [Karl-Heinz] Rummenigge and the rest. Maradona was a cut
above.”
Paolo Maldini, former Italy international.
“Diego has always been my idol. I remember when he invited me to his house
for a game. It was a surprise and a dream for me. I never imagined we’d be
kicking a ball around together.”
Ronaldinho, Brazilian footballer.
“He’s given us a lot of entertainment, to me personally and to everyone
who loves good football. I’m a fan of Maradona’s and I’ll remain one till
the end of time.”
Carlos Valderrama, former Colombia international.
“He was my footballing hero. When I was young I tried to do the moves and
score the goals he scored at Mexico 86. I’ve never admired any player as
much as him.”
Raul Gonzalez, Spanish footballer.
“He’s always been an idol. I wanted to emulate him when I started playing
because of everything he did and conveyed out on the pitch. There’s never
been anyone better than him.”
Luis Figo, former Portugal international.
“Diego apologised to me after he scored the second goal against England. He
could see me unmarked at the far post the whole way but he couldn’t find a
gap to get the ball to me. The fact is I felt offended. It was an insult to
my profession. I mean, even on a run like that he still has the time to
look up and see me. As a player I was nothing compared to him. He was
incredible.”
Jorge Valdano, former Argentina international and a team-mate of Maradona’s
at Mexico 1986. |
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