6 now-forgotten games which showed just how good Maradona really was ▶️

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Diego Maradona died on the 25^th November 2020, suffering several health problems in his later years. Although his legacy will always be overshadowed by the failed drug test at the 1994 World Cup, and his mixed performances as a coach, Maradona was perhaps the best exponent of dribbling that the football world has ever seen. While his greatest games are well-known to most, it is some of his lesser-known performances which show just how consistently good Maradona was for a period spanning the whole of the 1980’s. Here are 6 of Maradona‘s best games which you probably didn’t know about.

Argentinos Juniors v Boca Juniors, 1980, Campeonato Nacional

Maradona was famously a Boca Juniors fan as a child and would go on to play with the blue-and-yellows from 1980 to 1982. Before he did so, he put 4 past them while playing for Argentinos Juniors at the tender age of 18. These goals included a Panenka-esque penalty, a free kick from an outrageously tight angle out on the right touchline, an insolent chest-down and chip with the outside of the boot, and another perfect free kick. The Boca goalkeeper had described Maradona as an ‘overhyped little fatty’ before the game. They later became close friends, but this would not be the first time that Diego proved his doubters wrong.

Argentina v Hungary, 1982, World Cup

Defending world champions Argentina entered the 1982 World Cup as firm favourites to retain their title. But their opener against Belgium was a disaster – Maradona was tightly marked and barely got a sniff of a chance, with his team losing to a single goal from Vandenbergh. Next up was a high tension game against the Magyars, who had thrashed El Salvador 10-1 in their first match. Maradona showed the world his full range of skills in Alicante in a 4-1 defeat of Hungary, with the little man grabbing two goals. The first showed his never-say-die spirit, heading home a rebound from knee-height, and his second was a wonderful combination with Kempes, before rifling the ball past Ferenc Mészáros.

Napoli v Lazio, 1985, Serie A

After leaving Boca for Europe, Maradona had an unhappy spell at Barcelona, before switching to Italian giants Napoli for a then-world record transfer fee. He immediately felt at home on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, scoring goals for fun in his first season in the notoriously low-scoring Serie A. This rich goal-scoring form culminated in a hat-trick against Lazio in Naples. The first showed his consummate goal-poaching abilities in the six-yard box, reacting fastest to a loose header from the opposing defence. The second also came as a result of a defensive mistake, but this time Maradona reacted by chipping the goalie from well outside the box, landing on his behind as he did so, showing amazing technique and awareness of where the goal was located. And the third? That came direct from one of his trademark in-swinging corner kicks. As well as these incredible goals, Maradona treated the watching world to a feast of overhead-kicked crosses, flicks, keepy-ups, and dribbles. There was no longer any doubt that he was back in business.

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Argentina v Bulgaria, 1986, World Cup

We all know by now how Maradona single-handedly won the 1986 World Cup. There was the goal of the century (and hand of God) against England in the last eight, his slalom run through the Belgian defence in the semis, and a delicious assist for Burruchaga to score the winner against West Germany in the final. But the group game against Bulgaria showed just how critical Maradona was to this decidedly average Argentina squad. While the hapless Bulgarians gifted Valdano the first goal, the remaining 85 minutes were dominated by Maradona’s dribbling skills and incredible passing range. Valdano’s second – supplied by Maradona’s sublime reverse pass – was ruled offside, but Argentina’s No. 10 made sure of the points with lung-bursting run and pinpoint cross for Burruchaga to head home from 6 yards out. This was the game that installed Argentina as new favourites to win the World Cup.