Here I break down Maradona’s career to attempt to prove that yes he is amazing and an undisputed Top 5 player ever but is not the 2nd best player and ever and was arguably never even the greatest player ever.
I’ll talk about him as a player, his international career, his club career, and lastly debunk his biggest X-Factor the 1986 WC.
A. Maradona the Player: Strengths. -Left footed -Short and string, great balance -Greatest First Touch Ever? -Top 5 dribbler ever -Strong shot -Can score with finesse -Top Tier finisher and mid range shooter -Top 10 free kick taker ever -One of the best PK takers -Greatest drawer of fouls (limited flopping) -Clutch -Vision -Can make any pass in the final 3rd -Controlled the game in the final 3rd by not poaching in the box but limited his goal scoring opportunities by playmaking -Booty Shorts
Weaknesses: -Poor in the air -Hot headed -Not a great leader -Not known to press or drop back -Long range passing and crossing was limited as he played high up and central
Summary of Play Style: All Maradona wanted to do was advance the ball of the ball from the half line into the PK spot. He often received the ball I his own half to avoid his man marker(s) then would dribble anyone and everyone in his way to advance to final third. Where most of the best dribbler ever play in the wings isolating defenders 1v1 to get into the box or send crosses, Maradona would routinely go 1v3 in the midfield. The extra attention would leave teammates unmarked in open space where he would then find. He had incredible instincts and vision to know where his teammates and opponents were at all times. The only way to stop him was extensive man markings and fouling which never really stopped him because his strength man’s balance and touch kept him dribbling even through the harshest challenges and could finish his or cross his free kicks like a true maestro.
Although his weaknesses would all come from his head. Maradona was short and would avoid poaching in the box which limited heading but also tap in opportunities to score. He would rather shoot from distance that demand for one-two with the wing to receive a cross. He also would lose his temper starting fights with opponents and refs receiving many cards and giving him tunnel vision. He often tried to do too much on his own especially for Argentina.
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B. International Career: 1978 he was eligible and not chosen for the WC Xi
Played poor at WC 1982, he really only had one game where he scored a brace in the group stage vs Hungary that he had a real impact. In his other matches he was heavily marked and had very few chances. In the round of 16 vs Italy he was completely taken out of the game by violent but effective man marking by Gentile. The last match was against Brazil where he played okay in the first half and played very good in the 2nd but was facing a superior side. The hype was Zico vs Maradona and Zico outplayed him with a goal and fantastic assist. Maradona lost his cool in the final minutes seeing yellow and being pulled and booed.
Played amazing at WC 1986 but only scored 5 goals. One was the goal of the century, one was the hand of God vs favorite England. Lineker won the golden boot with 6 goals and the equalizer against Argentina. Maradona win golden ball.
1990 made the WC Final playing great but scored zero goals.
1994 Bautista and Maradona were the favorites to win the WC and Maradona failed a drug test.
Other international success includes a 3rd place finish against Brazil in the Copa America. A 1993 Finalissa in his late career (not in his prime), and a U-20 WC Gold and U-20 South American Cup Silver which is did carry in but doesn’t really matter.
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C. Club Career:
In his Argentina days Maradona scored the majority of his goals with Argentinos Juniors but never winning anything trophies. In a loan spell to powerhouse Boca Juniors he helped bring one league title.
World Record transfer fee to powerhouse Barcelona where he spent his time fighting with the president and sitting the sideline with hepatitis and injury. Barca won won Copa Del Ray with him his first year against Real Madrid (didn’t score tho). 2nd year he was the reason they lost the final starting a fight and seeing red vs Bilbao. Then Barca sold him for twice what they bought him for.
Italy was regarded as the best league in the world at the time but Napoli was terrible barely avoiding relegation and every winning a trophy before Maradona. What he did there was amazing winning the league twice, win 2nd twice, one golden boot once, a Coppa Italia, and UEFA Cup. We would have definitely won the ballon d’Or in 1986 and 1987. He also a strong argument for 1988 and 1989 but Van Basten had supremely fantastic years as well and would have been two of the closest races in history if he was eligible.
D. 1986 WC Debunked:
The last thing I will mention to attempt to prove Maradona’s overratedness is to talk about the long forgotten Garrincha. Maradona is most known for 1986 where he carried Argentina in his back room a WC. This WC is treated like an abnormality as if it’s never been done before. But in fact that is false. Most recent memory will tell you Messi has down it twice.
2022 Messi contributed to every single goal Argentina scored in before the Final. In total Messi won the Golden Ball and shared the Golden Boot with MBappe with 7 goals (xG 6.6). He also had tied for the most assists with 3. He was also first in passes into the box (18), and first in key passes (21). Messi had the most shots on target (13) and 2nd most shots (27). Best averaged match rating. Messi was 2nd in touches in the PK box. Messi was third in successful dribbles. He also never missed a PK in a shootout or regular time.
Lineker was just inches away from possibly doing the same thing Maradona did. 6 goals in 6 games Lineker is regarded by many polls and pundits as the best English striker in an English jersey and maybe ever. They were favorites to win the WC and if they had Lineker would damn well have won the golden boot with 6+ goals, the golden ball, and the ballon d’Or. What would we regard him if the Hand of God never happened or if England just fouled Maradona before scoring the goal of the century? Would Lineker be top 25? Top 10?
1962 Garrincha carried Brazil to their 2nd consecutive WC. He is often the unsung hero of 1958 overshadowed by the 16 year old Pele who scored 5 goals in the semis and Final but many regard Garrincha as the best or at worst co best player of that World Cup and he was only 21 in Sweden.
-In 1962 Pele was already regarded as the worlds best and suffered a tournament ending muscle injury in their 2nd group stage game against Czechoslovakia. Garrincha would step up and even put his showboating nature to side to carry Brazil to a WC. -Round 16 vs Spain he is remembered for splitting two defender in his RW and sending a cross to Armadillo to make it 2-1. -In the quarters Garrincha single handily destroyed a stowing England team boasting the likes of Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Bob Robson, and Jimmy Greaves. Garrincha scored an insane hat trick with a header, FK, and an insane top bin shot from outside the box. And let’s never forget his insane dribbling that always creates so many opportunities for himself and others. -In the semis all he did was score a brace and assist the third goal against host Chile while being man marked by one of the best defenders in the world at the time. He was actually sent off with a red in the TJ al minutes and Chilean fan hit him in the head with a rock on his walk out! After an appeal from Brazil Garrincha was allowed to play in the Final and in a Jorden-esch move before Jordan was even playing Garrincha played the final with a fever hyped up on aspirin. They would beat Czechoslovakia the same team who hurt Pele and tied them in the grip stage earlier.
-Garrincha would ofc win the golden boot and golden ball that tournament.
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E. Conclusion: Maradona is amazing. A world beater and a legend. But with a short prime riddled with drugs, sex, and controversy as well as a mix bag if results for both club and country I have come to the conclusion that Maradona was the greatest player of his generation in the 80s but was never the best player of all time even for short time. That currently is held by Messi and will be held by him for a long time. But Maradona never surpassed Pele and arguably is not as great or successful player as Di Stefano and Cristiano Ronaldo. Imo he never quite separated himself from his rivals like Van Basten, Platini, and Zico like Pele, Di Stefano, and Messi did from Garrincha and Ronaldo. Also noticed that I didn’t mention many daunting stats for Maradona like number of goals. I was not hiding them from you he doesn’t have them. He was winning golden boots with less than 20 goals he does not dominate any statistic except maybe dribbles which wasn’t tracked until recently.