On June 22, 1986, in a World Cup quarter-final against England, Diego Maradona punched the ball past Peter Shilton and ran off to celebrate as if he had scored the goal of his life. The referee gave it. Maradona called it the Hand of God. England called it cheating.
In the same game he scored the Goal of the Century, which complicates the picture somewhat.
Why is Maradona only third?
Because the talent is so large that it sits right beside everything else. He took Napoli to their first Serie A title, and he was probably the most gifted footballer who ever lived. Trouble followed him from Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors to Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, and the Hand of God turned out to be only the start:
- a 15-month ban in 1991 for cocaine use while playing for Napoli
- a failed drug test at the 1994 World Cup, after which he was sent home in disgrace
- in 1994, shots fired from an air rifle at journalists outside his Buenos Aires home
In Argentina and in Naples he is still worshipped all the same. Cheating, drugs and scandal chased the Argentine through his career, and whole cities forgave him every time. That is the flawed genius at number three.
The Hand of God and what followed
Tomorrow: number two.
