Maradona remembered – one year on: Goal of the century, World Cup glory and Napoli’s talisman – his five greatest achievements

It
is
a
year
since
the
Argentina
great
died
at
the
age
of
60
after
suffering
a
heart
attack.

While
his
career
was
not
shy
of
controversy,
at
his
best
Maradona
was
simply
unplayable,
and
enjoyed
success
in
South
America
and
Europe,
as
well
as
on
the
international
stage.

Stats
Perform
takes
a
look
at
his
five
greatest
achievements,
from
World
Cup
success
with
Argentina
to
an
era
of
Serie
A
glory
with
Napoli.

Bernabeu
ovation

It
takes
something
truly
magnificent
for
Real
Madrid
fans
to
contemplate
applauding
a
Barcelona
player.
Maradona
delivered
just
that
in
June
1983,
when
he
rounded
Los
Blancos
goalkeeper
Agustin
and
then,
with
the
goal
at
his
mercy,
opted
to
sit
the
back-pedalling
Juan
Jose
on
the
floor
before
tucking
the
ball
home.

Maradona
was
given
a
standing
ovation
when
he
was
later
substituted
–
something
that
would
not
be
repeated
for
a
Barcelona
player
in
that
ground
for
another
22
years,
when
Ronaldinho
was
similarly
honoured.

Goal
of
the
century

Maradona’s
greatest
goal
is
arguably
the
best
in
the
history
of
the
World
Cup.
He
made
the
extraordinary
seem
easy
as
a
matter
of
regularity
and,
on
June
22,
in
a
2-1
quarter-final
win
over
England,
he
did
just
that.

In
perhaps
a
summary
of
Maradona
the
man
–
and
the
player
–
his
moment
of
magic
followed
on
from
possibly
his
most
controversial
act
on
a
pitch:
the
‘Hand
of
God’ goal.

Four
minutes
after
inciting
uproar
in
the
England
ranks,
Maradona
embarked
on
a
mazy,
remarkable
run
through
the
heart
of
the
opposition
and,
within
seconds,
was
coolly
rounding
England
goalkeeper
Peter
Shilton
to
put
Argentina
into
an
unassailable
lead.

World
Cup
glory

Following
the
win
over
England,
25-year-old
captain
Maradona
led
Argentina
to
a
2-0
semi-final
victory
against
Belgium
–
scoring
both
goals
once
again
–
and
a
3-2
triumph
over
West
Germany
in
the
final,
as
his
country
clinched
their
second
World
Cup
crown.

Maradona
finished
the
tournament
in
Mexico
with
five
goals
and
a
further
five
assists
in
seven
games
–
no
other
player
has
done
that
since
at
a
single
edition
of
a
World
Cup.

He
went
on
to
captain
his
country
again
at
the
next
World
Cup,
Italia
1990,
before
featuring
twice
in
World
Cup
1994,
and
he
holds
the
Argentina
record
for
the
most
appearances
in
the
World
Cup,
with
21,
ahead
of
Javier
Mascherano
(20)
and
Lionel
Messi
(19).

Triumph
in
Napoli

When
Maradona
arrived
at
Napoli
in
1984,
the
club
had
not
won
a
Serie
A
title
in
their
61-year
history.
After
scoring
14
goals
to
help
Napoli
to
eighth
place
in
his
first
season,
and
netting
another
11
as
they
finished
third
in
his
second,
Maradona
was
the
catalyst
for
a
historic
performance
from
the
Partenopei
in
1986-87.

They
finished
the
season
as
champions,
three
points
clear
of
bitter
rivals
Juventus,
and
the
city
exploded
into
celebrations
that
included
an
informal
day
of
holiday
to
enjoy
the
moment.
The
triumph
was
by
no
means
down
to
Maradona
alone,
but
he
is
remembered
as
their
inspiration
and
star.

Last-gasp
joy
as
Albiceleste
boss

Maradona’s
career
as
a
head
coach
cut
a
stark
contrast
to
his
playing
days,
but
a
lack
of
success
at
the
helm
of
Textil
Mandiyu
and
Racing
Club
did
not
prevent
him
taking
charge
of
his
country
in
2008.

The
highlight
of
a
tumultuous
two-year
spell
came
in
October
2009,
when
Peru
came
to
Buenos
Aires
for
a
World
Cup
qualifier
Argentina
desperately
needed
to
win
to
revive
their
hopes
of
qualifying
for
South
Africa
2010.

Maradona’s
decision
to
play
Gonzalo
Higuain
ahead
of
Carlos
Tevez
and
Sergio
Aguero
proved
a
shrewd
one
as
the
striker
gave
Argentina
the
lead,
but
Peru
levelled
the
match
in
the
last
minute
through
Hernan
Rengifo.

The
moment
called
for
a
hero
and
Martin
Palermo,
recalled
to
the
national
team
by
Maradona
after
a
10-year
absence,
scored
the
winner
deep
into
injury
time
to
prompt
wild
celebrations
on
the
touchline
and
in
the
stands,
with
the
image
of
Maradona
sliding
along
the
rain-soaked
pitch
on
his
belly
etched
into
the
country’s
memory.