Showing posts with label Diego Maradona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diego Maradona. Show all posts
Thursday, 12 March 2026
Friday, 16 January 2026
Tuesday, 2 December 2025
Wednesday, 8 October 2025
Thursday, 28 August 2025
Monday, 21 April 2025
POPE FRANCIS WAS A CARD-CARRYING SOCCER FAN. AND A PROMOTER OF THE VALUES IN SPORTS
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| Vatican Obit Pope Francis FILE - Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona, left, greets Pope Francis in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Monday, Sept. 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) |
ROME (AP) — From meetings with Diego Maradona to the passion for his beloved Buenos Aires club, San Lorenzo, Pope Francis was an avid soccer fan. And a promoter of sports in general.
Francis died Monday at 88 and the soccer and sports world immediately paid homage.
All sports events scheduled for Monday in Italy were postponed to mourn Francis, including four top-flight soccer matches. A minute of silence will be observed before all sports events this week, the Italian Olympic Committee said.
“Italian soccer joins in the mourning of millions of people following the death of Pope Francis. He was a great example of Christian caring and dignity in the face of suffering and he was always attentive to the sports world and particularly soccer, of which he was a fan,” said Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina. “He will always remain in the hearts of the faithful and lovers of soccer.”
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| Vatican Obit Pope Francis FILE - Pope Francis twirls a soccer ball he was presented by a member of the Circus of Cuba, during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, file) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) |
Francis’ passion for soccer became known almost immediately after he was elected pope in 2013 when San Lorenzo tweeted a photo of him holding up the club’s crest. He was even a card-carrying member of the club, with San Lorenzo ID No. 88,235.
San Lorenzo is nicknamed “the Saints.”
In Italy, there were also suggestions that Francis supported Juventus since his family came from the Piedmont region where the Turin club is based. Francis' father, Mario Bergoglio, was a basketball player.
San Lorenzo, one of the oldest teams in the Argentine Football Association, performed well after Francis was elected as the 266th pope in March 2013. The team won a national title in 2013 and then claimed the South American Copa Libertadores for the first time a year later. Club officials traveled twice to the Vatican carrying trophies to thank Francis for his support.
A planned new San Lorenzo stadium is to be named for Francis.
During a meeting with the Argentina and Italy national teams shortly after he was elected, Francis noted the influence of athletes, especially on youth, and told the players to remember that, “for better or worse” they are role models. “Dear players, you are very popular. People follow you, and not just on the field but also off it,” he said. “That’s a social responsibility.”
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| Vatican Obit Pope Francis FILE - Pope Francis blesses faithfuls as he arrives to celebrate the Mass of Assumption of Mary at Daejeon World Cup stadium in Daejeon, South Korea, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, file) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) |
Francis met his fellow Argentine Maradona twice as pope. There was a special audience in connection with a charity soccer match in 2014 when Maradona presented the pontiff with a soccer jersey, emblazoned with the name “Francisco” — Spanish for Francis — and Maradona’s No. 10.
“I think we all now realize he’s a (star),” Maradona said after another meeting in 2015. “I’m Francis’ top fan.”
When Maradona died in 2020, Francis remembered the soccer great in his prayers.
Francis often hailed sports as a way to promote solidarity and inclusion, especially for young people.
During a global conference on faith and sport in 2016, Francis implored leaders to do a better job of keeping corruption off the playing field and said sports must be protected from manipulations and commercial abuse.
“Francis was a special pope, able to illuminate in his time like only the greatest can,” Gianluigi Buffon, the former captain of Italy’s national soccer team who met the pope on multiple occasions, said on Instagram. “He showed us the way with great courage and moved our souls. I will carry his example forever in my heart.”
- ANDREW DAMPF, AP Soccer
Thursday, 20 March 2025
ARGENTINA LEGEND AND WORLD CUP WINNER MAKES HIS STANCE CLEAR IN THE MESSI-MARADONA DEBATE
Mario Kempes, the legendary striker and 1978 World Cup champion with Argentina, offered his candid opinion on the heated debate between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
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| © Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesDiego Maradona conducts warm up exercises with forward Lionel Messi ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. |
Mario Alberto Kempes, one of the most iconic players in Argentina’s history, was instrumental in leading his country to its first-ever World Cup title in 1978. As a respected voice in Argentine soccer, Kempes’s opinions carry significant weight, especially when it comes to assessing the legacies of those who have donned the famous Albiceleste jersey, more specifically, the debate between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
In one of his most controversial statements, Kempes delivered a stinging comparison between the two Argentine legends. His comments, made during a 2021 interview with ESPN following Argentina’s Copa America triumph in Brazil, downplayed Messi’s achievements in favor of Maradona‘s legacy.
“If Messi wants to be better than Maradona, he won’t achieve it, even if he wins four World Cups in a row,” Kempes declared bluntly. “He’ll always fall short, just one step below Diego. That’s impossible to change”.
“No matter what Messi wins, he’ll never compare to what Diego accomplished,” he continued. “The Maradona loyalists will never allow Messi to surpass him. Messi will never be better than Maradona. Let’s face it, Messi’s time (to be better than Maradona) has come and gone”.
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| Diego Maradona gestures to Lionel Messi during to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Round of Sixteen match between Argentina and Mexico. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) |
However, just months after Kempes’s controversial remarks, Messi silenced critics by leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar. With many goals and standout performances throughout the tournament, Messi firmly etched his name into the history books, securing his status as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Messi vs. Maradona: The numbers behind the legends
Lionel Messi has played 191 matches for Argentina as of late 2024, scoring 112 goals to become the nation’s all-time leading scorer. His trophy cabinet is nothing short of extraordinary, boasting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, two Copa América titles (2021 and 2024), the 2022 Finalissima, the 2005 U20 World Cup, and the 2008 Olympic gold medal in Beijing.
In contrast, Diego Maradona played 91 matches for Argentina, scoring 34 goals. His silverware includes three titles with the national team: the 1979 U20 World Cup in Japan, the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, and the 1993 Artemio Franchi Cup.
While both players have achieved historic milestones for Argentina, the debate rages on, fueled by contrasting eras and the incomparable magic each brought to the pitch. For fans, the Messi-Maradona debate is more than statistics—it’s a clash of legends who transcended the sport.
- Gianni Taina
Friday, 24 January 2025
Wednesday, 6 November 2024
Saturday, 22 June 2024
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Friday, 21 June 2024
'I WANT TO PLAY FOR ARSENAL': WHEN DIEGO MARADONA ALMOST MOVED TO HIGHBURY
Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60. Worshipped like a God in Naples, fondly remembered in Barcelona and a hero in his native Argentina, he very nearly lit up Highbury too. Dan Mountney tells the tale of when one of the greatest to ever play the game
The year was 1979, and Arsenal boss Terry Neill was eyeing a teenage Argentine prodigy making waves in his homeland.
Jet black hair, a diminutive stature at just 5ft 5in but with legs built like tree trunks, a 19-year-old Diego Maradona was mesmerising the crowds at Argentinos Juniors with his quick feet, vision, close control and eye for goal.
After making his debut in 1976, the playmaker had netted 19 goals in 1977 Primera Division season, followed by 26 in both 1978 and 1979. Neill very much liked what he saw and made his move.
It would have been a major transfer coup for the Gunners with a number of clubs already monitoring the highly-rated teenager, but the club were clearly being ambitious having also lined up a move for Glenn Hoddle from rivals Tottenham.
Neither transfer would materialise.
"Hoddle rejected the chance to move to Highbury after having reservations about crossing the north London divide, while a move for Maradona fell through.
"When I was 19 they tried to buy me and another player from Argentinos Juniors – around the time Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles signed for Tottenham," said the Argentine in a 2008 interview.
"But it didn’t happen. I sometimes wonder what might have happened."
Neill wasn't done in his pursuit of the mercurial Maradona, and he would try his luck again three years later.
During the intervening years, Arsenal had hit a bump. 1980 saw the Gunners lose two finals in the space of four days as they lost to West Ham in the FA Cup final and then Valencia in the Cup Winners' Cup showpiece.
They also sold and then failed to replace Franck Stapleton and Liam Brady, with results taking a turn for the worst as Highbury attendances often fell below 20,000.
It was clear they needed a spark, so back they went for Maradona in March 1982.
As for the Argentine, he'd left Argentinos Juniors in 1980 after 116 goals in 166 games to join Boca Juniors, rejecting a host of offers in the process. 28 goals in 40 games followed for Buenos Aires-based giants, and so did attention from Europe.
Former Sheffield United boss Harry Haslam helped broker Arsenal's move. During his time as manager at Bramall Lane, Haslam had tried to sign Maradona as a 17-year-old in 1978 after spotting him on a scouting trip, but the Yorkshire club failed to stump up the £200,000 fee.
A £4m deal was agreed between The Gunners and Boca, but then the problems started.
Argentinos Juniors were still owed the first £1m instalment of Maradona's transfer to Boca. They took them to court to get it too, with a judge ruling Boca couldn't sell the player until the money had been paid.
Then the deal ran into problems in the House of Commons. Tom Lorney, Labour MP for Bradford, demanded Sports Minister Neil MacFarlane open an inquiry into the deal to help curb the 'excessive fees' being paid by football clubs.
Arsenal had found a way around this issue though, and planned to pay the transfer fee using sponsorship - much like they had planned to do in the 1970s when heavily linked with a move for Johan Cruyff.
The final blow to Arsenal's hopes of signing Maradona came from the FA who vowed to block any move.
A newspaper report from March 1982 read: "Diego Maradona, the £4million Argentina superstar admitted last night: 'I want to play for Arsenal'.
"Maradona, who is reported to earn a staggering £7,500 a week with Boca Juniors, broke his silence on a possible move to Highbury which had been set up by former Luton and Sheffield United manager Harry Haslam.
"Haslam has been acting as an Arsenal spy in South America but as he travelled back to London with his report the Football Association vowed to block any move by Arsenal to bring Maradona to England.
"League secretary Graham Kelly confirmed that the Management Committee didn't want foreign players from outside the EEC being granted a work permit for two years."
Sadly for Gooners, the move never happened. Vladimir Petrovic was signed from Red Star Belgrade instead and although he became a cult hero amongst the Highbury faithful, supporters can only dream of what Maradona would have done in the famous red and white.
If Arsenal's move had progressed any further it would have hit a further stumbling block, with the UK and Argentina going to war in the Falklands at the beginning of April 1982, just 11 days after the newspaper reports on his possible arrival.
Instead, Maradona would join Barcelona that summer in a world-record £5m deal and the rest is history. He would go onto to become one of the greatest of all-time, representing the likes of Napoli and Sevilla while also winning the 1986 World Cup with Argentina.
What can be said for certain is that for all his controversies and misdemeanours, Maradona was the star of his generation and will forever be remembered as one of football's greats. For some, he is even the greatest.
The thoughts of everyone at the Gooner Fanzine go out to Diego's family and friends at this difficult time.
Rest in peace, Diego Maradona. A true icon.
Monday, 10 June 2024
DI MARIA SCORES, MESSI COMES.OFF BENCH IN ARGENTINA'S COPA WARMUP
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| Lionel Messi came on for the final 40 minutes against Ecuador, subbing out Ángel Di María who delivered Argentina's winning goal in the first half. EPA/TRENT SPRAGUE |
Ángel Di María scored as Lionel Messi returned to the international stage for the first time in six months, helping Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in a Copa América warmup match on Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Messi was sidelined for the first half before replacing Di María in the 56th minute.
A right hamstring injury kept the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and Inter Miami star from participating in Argentina's previous two Copa América warmup matches against El Salvador and Costa Rica in March.
"With Leo [Messi], there is no need to risk him. Not just with him, but others like [Nicolas] Otamendi didn't play. Angel [Di María] only played some minutes, Julian [Alvarez] and Lautaro [Martinez] the same", said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.
"We want to take care of these players, and allow them to arrive in their best possible conditions to the tournament".
With Messi watching from the bench, Di María sent a reverse pass from Cristian Romero into the net to open the scoring in the 40th minute.
"We know Copa America will be complicated, you could see it today in the game. Players get into it, and there will be difficult games," Di María told TyC Sports. "I think today was a good game to demonstrate how we are. I think we're on a good path."
Di María's goal marked his second consecutive in an international match, also scoring against Costa Rica on March 26. With the 31st goal of his Argentina career, the 36-year-old midfielder is tied with Gonzalo Higuain for the fifth-most goals in the country's history and sits just four goals behind Diego Maradona at No. 4 on the leaderboard.
Scaloni's squad will wrap up its pre-Copa América slate in Washington D.C. on Friday with a warmup match against Guatemala before opening its group stage of the tournament against Canada on June 20.
"We need to get together, compete, add minutes and feel that sensation of putting on that jersey again. That's what we're after before a Copa América that will be very difficult," Scaloni added.
Ecuador will play two friendly matches, against Bolívia on Wednesday and Honduras on June 16, before its debut in Copa America against Venezuela on June 22.
ESPN's Lizzy Becherano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
- ESPN News Services
Sunday, 22 October 2023
LOTHAR MATTHEUS & DIEDO ARMANDO MARADONA | WORLD CUP 1990
Lothar Matthaeus and Diego Armando Maradona, two legendary captains for West Germany vs Argentina, World Cup Italia 1990 final match at Stadio Olimpico in Rome!! 🇩🇪🇦🇷
Saturday, 31 December 2022
Monday, 19 December 2022
Tuesday, 6 December 2022
Thursday, 26 November 2020
Tuesday, 12 December 2017
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