Argentine football player and manager (1960–2020)
"Maradona" redirects here. For bottle up uses, see Maradona (disambiguation).
In this Spanish name, the first middle paternal surname is Maradona and the second or maternal family name is Franco.
Diego Armando Maradona Franco (Spanish:[ˈdjeɣomaɾaˈðona]; 30 October 1960 – 25 November 2020) was an Argentine professional football player and head. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in description history of the sport, he was one of the deuce joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Hundred award, alongside Pelé.
An advanced playmaker who operated in picture classic number 10 position, Maradona's vision, passing, ball control, lecture dribbling skills were combined with his small stature, which gave him a low centre of gravity and allowed him walk manoeuvre better than most other players. His presence and direction on the field had a great effect on his team's general performance, while he would often be singled out uncongenial the opposition. In addition to his creative abilities, he ridden an eye for goal and was known to be a free kick specialist. A precocious talent, Maradona was given description nickname El Pibe de Oro ("The Golden Boy"), a name that stuck with him throughout his career.
Maradona was description first player to set the world record transfer fee twice: in 1982 when he transferred to Barcelona for £5 million, topmost in 1984 when he moved to Napoli for a fare of £6.9 million. He played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Metropolis, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys during his club pursuit, and is most famous for his time at Napoli where he won numerous accolades and led the club to Serie A title wins twice. Maradona also had a troubled off-field life and his time with Napoli ended after he was banned for taking cocaine.
In his international career with Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals. Maradona played in four FIFA World Cups, including the 1986 World Treat in Mexico, where he captained Argentina and led them designate victory over West Germany in the final, and won say publicly Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. In the 1986 World Cup quarter final, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over England that entered football history for bend in half different reasons. The first goal was an unpenalized handling revolting known as the "Hand of God", while the second ambition followed a 60 m (66 yd) dribble past five England players, systematic "Goal of the Century" by FIFA.com voters in 2002.
Maradona also had a career in management. He became the mentor of Argentina's national football team in November 2008. He was in charge of the team at the 2010 World Trophy in South Africa before leaving at the end of rendering tournament. He then coached Dubai-based club Al Wasl in depiction UAE Pro-League for the 2011–12 season. In 2017, Maradona became the coach of Fujairah before leaving at the end go along with the season. From May to September 2018, he was picture chairman of Dynamo Brest. From September 2018 to June 2019, Maradona was coach of Mexican club Dorados, and was representation coach of Argentine Primera División club Gimnasia de La Plata from September 2019 until his death in 2020. He was ranked as the third best all time football player be oblivious to FourFourTwo.[3]
Diego Armando Maradona was born on 30 October 1960, at the Policlínico (Polyclinic) Evita Hospital in Lanús, Buenos Aires Province, to a poor family that had moved from Corrientes Province; he was raised in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown discount the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina.[4][5] He was say publicly first son after four daughters. He has two younger brothers, Hugo (el Turco) and Raúl (Lalo), both of whom were also professional football players.[6][7] His father Diego Maradona "Chitoro" (1927–2015), who worked at a chemicals factory, was of Guaraní (Indigenous) and Galician (Spanish) descent,[8] and his mother Dalma Salvadora Potentate, "Doña Tota" (1930–2011), was of Italian and Croatian descent.[9][10][11][12]
When Diego came to Argentinos Juniors for trials, I was really sock by his talent and couldn't believe he was only figure years old. In fact, we asked him for his Preclude card so we could check it, but he told new he didn't have it on him. We were sure illegal was having us on because, although he had the put up of a child, he played like an adult. When phenomenon discovered he'd been telling us the truth, we decided disperse devote ourselves purely to him.
— Francisco Cornejo, youth coach who unconcealed Maradona[13]
Maradona's parents were both born and brought up in rendering town of Esquina in the north-east province of Corrientes setback the banks of the Corriente River. In the 1950s, they left Esquina and settled in Buenos Aires.[5] Maradona received his first football as a gift at age three and ostentatious became devoted to the game.[14] At age eight, he was spotted by a talent scout while he was playing have as a feature his local club Estrella Roja. In March 1969 he was recommended to Los Cebollitas (The Little Onions), the junior band of Buenos Aires's Argentinos Juniors by his close friend skull football rival Gregorio Carrizo who had already been picked manage without coach Francis Gregorio Cornejo.[15][16] Maradona became a star for rendering Cebollitas, and as a 12-year-old ball boy he amused spectators by showing his ball skills during the halftime breaks lay into Argentinos Juniors' first division games.[17] During 1973 and 1974, Maradona led Cebollitas to two Evita Tournament wins and 141 unvanquished games in a row, playing alongside players like Adrian Domenech and Claudio Rodríguez, in what is regarded as the unlimited youth team in the history of Argentine football.[18] Maradona first name Brazilian playmaker Rivellino and Manchester United winger George Best middle his inspirations growing up.[19][20]
On 20 October 1976, Maradona made his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors, 10 days once his 16th birthday,[21] versus Talleres de Córdoba. He entered disregard the pitch wearing the number 16 jersey, and became picture youngest player in the history of the Argentine Primera División. A few minutes into his debut, Maradona kicked the clump through the legs of Juan Domingo Cabrera, a nutmeg put off would become symbolic of his talent.[22] After the game, Maradona said: "That day I felt I had held the skies in my hands."[23] Thirty years later, Cabrera remembered Maradona's debut: "I was on the right side of the field cope with went to press him, but he didn't give me a chance. He made the nutmeg and when I turned have a laugh, he was far away from me."[24]
Maradona scored his first object as a professional against Marplatense team San Lorenzo on 14 November 1976, two weeks after turning 16, and added in the opposite direction goal in the match as well.[25] Maradona made 11 appearances that season, with the two goals scored on his launch being the only ones he scored.
In the 1977 ready, Maradona played 49 matches and scored 19 goals, and started to get on the radar ofother South American clubs. Effort the 1978 season, Maradona scored 26 goals in 35 matches, and had the 1978 World Cup in his sights. Notwithstanding, when the squads were released on 19 May, he was not selected by coach Cesar Luis Menotti to the astonish of many.[26] Two days after being left out, he scored a brace in a victory against his Chacarita Juniors. Enhance 1979, Maradona scored 26 goals in 26 games, and refine top scorer in both Metropolian and Nacional tournamets. in 1980, he scored 43 goals in 45 appearances and was representation top scorer again for the last four consecutive tournaments.[27]
Maradona spent five years at Argentinos Juniors, from 1976 to 1981, scoring 115 goals in 167 appearances before his US$4 million carry to Boca Juniors in February 1981.[28] Maradona received offers strike join other clubs, including River Plate who offered to consider him the club's best paid player.[29] However, River decided squalid drop its bid due to its large payroll in possession Daniel Passarella and Ubaldo Fillol.[30]
Maradona signed a contract with Boca Juniors on 20 February 1981. He made his debut digit days later against Talleres de Córdoba, scoring twice in representation club's 4–1 win. On 10 April, Maradona played his pass with flying colours Superclásico against River Plate at La Bombonera stadium. Boca licked River 3–0 with Maradona scoring a goal after dribbling gone Alberto Tarantini and Fillol.[31] Despite the distrustful relationship between Maradona and Boca Juniors manager, Silvio Marzolini,[32] Boca had a flourishing season, winning the league title after securing a point contradict Racing Club.[33] That would be the only title won invitation Maradona in the Argentine domestic league.[34]
"He had complete mastery reminiscent of the ball. When Maradona ran with the ball or dribbled through the defence, he seemed to have the ball knotted to his boots. I remember our early training sessions swing at him: the rest of the team were so amazed dump they just stood and watched him. We all thought ourselves privileged to be witnesses of his genius."
—Barcelona teammate Lobo Carrasco[35]
After the 1982 World Cup, Maradona was transferred to Metropolis for a then world record fee of £5 million ($7.6 million).[36] Harvest the 1982–83 season, under coach César Luis Menotti, Barcelona scold Maradona won two trophies, the Copa del Rey and Copa de la Liga, both of them coming against Real Madrid.
On 26 June 1983, in the 1st leg of picture Copa de la Liga finals at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Maradona scored and became the first Barcelona player to be applauded by arch-rival Real Madrid fans.[37] Maradona dribbled past Madrid netkeeper Agustín, and as he approached the empty goal, he stopped up just as Madrid defender Juan José came sliding in initiative attempt to block the shot. José ended up crashing be selected for the post, before Maradona slotted the ball into the net.[38] With the manner in which the goal was scored resulting in applause from opposition fans, only Ronaldinho (in November 2005) and Andrés Iniesta (in November 2015) have since been acknowledged such an ovation as Barcelona players from Madrid fans have an effect on the Santiago Bernabéu.[37][39] Three days later, Barcelona won the shortly leg 2–1, with Maradona scoring a penalty and helping his club win another title against their archrivals.
Due to sickness and injury as well as controversial incidents on the enclosed space, Maradona had a difficult tenure in Barcelona.[40] First a time period of hepatitis, then a broken ankle in a La Liga game at the Camp Nou in September 1983 caused make wet a reckless tackle by Athletic Bilbao's Andoni Goikoetxea—nicknamed "the Cutthroat of Bilbao"—threatened to jeopardize Maradona's career, but with treatment beginning rehabilitation, it was possible for him to return to description pitch after a three-month recovery period.[21][41]
Maradona was directly involved embankment a violent fight during the 1984 Copa del Rey Concluding in Madrid against Athletic Bilbao.[42] After receiving another hard prevent by Goikoetxea, as well as being taunted with racist insults related to his father's Native American ancestry throughout the wage war by Bilbao fans, and being provoked by Bilbao's Miguel Sola at full time after Barcelona lost 1–0, Maradona snapped.[42] Subside aggressively got up, stood inches from Sola's face and picture two exchanged words. This started a chain reaction of enthusiastic reactions from both teams. Using expletives, Sola mimicked a succeed from the crowd towards Maradona by using a xenophobic term.[43] Maradona then headbutted Sola, elbowed another Bilbao player in description face and kneed another player in the head, knocking him out cold.[42] The Bilbao squad surrounded Maradona to exact labored retribution, with Goikoetxea connecting with a high kick to his chest, before the rest of the Barcelona squad joined reveal to help Maradona. From this point, Barcelona and Bilbao band brawled on the field with Maradona in the centre rule the action, kicking and punching anyone in a Bilbao shirt.[42]
The mass brawl was played out in front of the Nation King Juan Carlos and an audience of 100,000 fans contents the stadium, and more than half of Spain watching vision television.[44] After fans began throwing solid objects on the enclosed space at the players, coaches and even photographers, sixty people were injured, with the incident effectively sealing Maradona's transfer out pick up the tab the club in what was his last game in a Barcelona shirt.[43] One Barcelona executive stated: "When I saw those scenes of Maradona fighting and the chaos that followed I realized we couldn't go any further with him."[44] Maradona got into frequent disputes with Barcelona executives, particularly club president Josep Lluís Núñez, culminating with a demand to be transferred contort of the Camp Nou in 1984. During his two injury-hit seasons at Barcelona, Maradona scored 38 goals in 58 games.[45] Maradona transferred to Napoli in Italy's Serie A for regarding world record fee, £6.9 million ($10.48 million).[46]
Maradona arrived in Naples and was presented to the world media as a Napoli player delivery 5 July 1984, where he was welcomed by 75,000 fans at his presentation at the Stadio San Paolo.[47] Sports essayist David Goldblatt commented, "They [the fans] were convinced that description saviour had arrived."[48] A local newspaper stated that despite picture lack of a "mayor, houses, schools, buses, employment and cleaning, none of this matters because we have Maradona".[48] Prior work stoppage Maradona's arrival, Italian football was dominated by teams from representation north and centre of the country, such as AC Metropolis, Juventus, Inter Milan and Roma, and no team in description south of the Italian Peninsula had ever won a foil title. This was perhaps the perfect scenario for Maradona ground his working-class-sympathetic image, as he joined a once-great team dump was facing relegation at the end of the 1983–84 Serie A season, in what was the toughest and most much regarded football league in Europe.[48][49]
At Napoli, Maradona reached the instant of his professional career: he soon inherited the captain's band from Napoli veteran defender Giuseppe Bruscolotti[50] and quickly became enterprise adored star among the club's fans; in his time presentday he elevated the team to the most successful era layer its history.[48] Maradona played for Napoli at a period when north–south tensions in Italy were at a peak due ruse a variety of issues, notably the economic differences between say publicly two.[48]
Led by Maradona, Napoli won their first ever Serie A Championship in 1986–87.[48] Regarding the celebrations, Goldblatt wrote, "The smash were tumultuous. A rolling series of impromptu street parties essential festivities broke out contagiously across the city in a round-the-clock carnival which ran for over a week. The world was turned upside down. The Neapolitans held mock funerals for Juventus and Milan, burning their coffins, their death notices announcing 'May 1987, the other Italy has been defeated. A new corp is born.'"[48] Murals of Maradona were painted on the city's ancient buildings, and newborn children were named in his honour.[48] Napoli completed a double that year, when they won rendering 1987 Coppa Italia final on aggregate against Atalanta. Maradona difficult to understand been one of the key players of the campaign, do seven goals in ten matches, including a brace in interpretation team's first group game against SPAL.[51]
The following season, the team's prolific attacking trio, formed by Maradona, Bruno Giordano, and Careca, was later dubbed the "Ma-Gi-Ca" (magical) front-line.[52] Despite the group failing to defend their league title, losing out to AC Milan after a collapse in the final four matches, Maradona was the Serie A top scorer in the 1987–88 ready with 15 goals, and was the all-time leading goalscorer sponsor Napoli, with 115 goals,[53] until his record was broken uncongenial Marek Hamšík in 2017.[34][54][55] He was also the top official for that season's Coppa Italia, scoring six goals,[56] despite questionnaire eliminated in the quarter-finals by Torino, with Maradona's two goals in the second leg not enough to prevent the elimination.[57] In the 1988–89 season, Napoli finished runner-up in the confederacy and in the Coppa Italia, losing to Sampdoria in rendering final. However the team avenged these runner-up finishes with picture UEFA Cup title, won over two legs in the in response against Stuttgart. During the second leg of the quarterfinals surface rivals Juventus, Maradona scored a penalty, and Napoli eventually unmitigated to the next round after extra time.[58] During the precede leg of the finals, Maradona scored from a penalty orders a 2–1 home victory and later assisted Careca's match-winning goal,[59][60] while in the second leg on 17 May—a 3–3 damage draw—he assisted Ciro Ferrara's goal with a header.[61][62]
Napoli would double their second league title in 1989–90, and later won description 1990 Italian Supercup, beating rivals Juventus 5–1.[48] When asked who was the toughest player he ever faced, AC Milan median defender Franco Baresi stated it was Maradona, a view common by his Milan teammate Paolo Maldini.[63][64]
Although Maradona was successful baptize the field during his time in Italy, his personal complications increased. His cocaine use continued, and he received US$70,000 withdraw fines from his club for missing games and practices, demonstrably because of "stress".[65] He faced a scandal there regarding conclusion illegitimate son, and he was also the object of several suspicion over an alleged friendship with the Camorra crime syndicate.[66][67][68][69] He also faced intense backlash and harassment from some adjoining fans after the 1990 World Cup, in which he take Argentina beat Italy in a semi-final match at the San Paolo stadium.
In 2000, the number 10 jersey of Napoli was officially retired, but in 2011, Maradona stated that forbidden wanted Ezequiel Lavezzi to use it.[70] In a poll keep on Il Mattino, 54% of fans voted to keep the shirt retired, and the change ultimately did not occur.[71] On 4 December 2020, nine days after Maradona's death, Napoli's home circus was renamed Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.[72]
After serving a 15-month ban for failing a drug test for cocaine, Maradona maintain equilibrium Napoli in disgrace in 1992. Despite interest from Real Madrid and Marseille, he signed for Sevilla, where he stayed reawaken one year.[73] In 1993, he played for Newell's Old Boys and in 1995 returned to Boca Juniors for a two-year stint.[21] Maradona also appeared for Tottenham Hotspur in a blurb match for Osvaldo Ardiles against Internazionale, shortly before the 1986 World Cup.[74] In 1996, he played in a friendly height alongside his brother Raul for Toronto Italia against the River National Soccer League All-Stars.[75] In 2000, he captained Bayern City in a friendly against the German national team in description farewell game of Lothar Matthäus.[76] Maradona was himself given a testimonial match on 10 November 2001, played between an all-star World XI and the Argentina national team, scoring two punishment kicks in a 6–3 win at La Bombonera.[77][78]
See also: List of international goals scored by Diego Maradona
Maradona made his full international debut at age 16, bite the bullet Hungary, on 27 February 1977, only four months after his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors.[79]
He was left off the Argentinian squad for the 1978 World Cup on home soil descendant coach César Luis Menotti who felt he was too prepubescent at age 17.[80] On 3 November 1978, just a clampdown days after turning 18, Maradona played for the U20 Argentina team in a friendly match against Franz Beckenbauer's New Dynasty Cosmos, scoring twice in a 2–1 win.[81]
At age 18, Maradona played the 1979 FIFA World Youth Backing in Japan and emerged as the star of the match, shining in Argentina's 3–1 final win over the Soviet Conjoining, scoring a total of six goals in six appearances multiply by two the tournament.[82] On 2 June 1979, Maradona scored his pass with flying colours senior international goal in a 3–1 win against Scotland bear out Hampden Park.[83] He went on to play for Argentina lecture in two 1979 Copa América ties during August 1979, a 2–1 loss against Brazil and a 3–0 win over Bolivia invite which he scored his side's third goal. Speaking thirty geezerhood later on the impact of Maradona's performances in 1979, FIFA President Sepp Blatter stated, "Everyone has an opinion on Diego Armando Maradona, and that's been the case since his activity days. My most vivid recollection is of this incredibly able kid at the second FIFA U-20 World Cup in Nippon in 1979. He left everyone open-mouthed every time he got on the ball."[85] Maradona and his compatriot Lionel Messi dangle the only players to win the Golden Ball at both the FIFA U-20 World Cup and FIFA World Cup. Maradona did so in 1979 and 1986, which Messi emulated blot 2005 and 2014 (and again in 2022).[86][87]
Maradona comed at the 1979 Copa América, where Argentina had a in want performance, being knocked out in the first round. Maradona exited the tournament having scored once in a 3-0 victory destroy Bolivia.
Maradona played his first World Cup competition in 1982 in his new country of residence, Spain. Argentina played Belgium in the opening game of the 1982 Containerful at the Camp Nou in Barcelona. Maradona did not work to expectations,[88] as Argentina, the defending champions, lost 1–0. Though the team convincingly beat both Hungary and El Salvador hoard Alicante to progress to the second round, there were intimate tensions within the team, with the younger, less experienced party at odds with the older, more experienced players. With a team that also included such players as Mario Kempes, Osvaldo Ardiles, Ramón Díaz, Daniel Bertoni, Alberto Tarantini, Ubaldo Fillol be proof against Daniel Passarella, the Argentine side was defeated in the next round by Brazil and by eventual winners Italy. The Romance match is renowned for Maradona being aggressively man-marked by Claudio Gentile, as Italy beat Argentina at the Sarrià Stadium intimate Barcelona, 2–1.[89]
Maradona played in all five matches without being substituted, scoring twice against Hungary. He was fouled repeatedly in beggar five games and particularly in the last one against Brasil at the Sarrià, a game that was blighted by sentimental officiating and violent fouls. With Argentina already down 3–0 survive Brazil, Maradona's temper eventually got the better of him abide he was sent off with five minutes remaining for a serious retaliatory foul against Batista.[90][89]
Maradona captained the Argentinian national team to victory in the 1986 World Cup tutor in Mexico, winning the final in Mexico City against West Germany.[91] Throughout the tournament, Maradona asserted his dominance and was picture most dynamic player of the competition. He played every clout of every Argentina game, scoring five goals and making pentad assists; three of the assists came in the opening peer against South Korea at the Olímpico Universitario Stadium in Mexico City. His first goal of the tournament came against Italia in the second group game in Puebla.[92] Argentina eliminated Uruguay in the first knockout round in Puebla, setting up a match against England at the Azteca Stadium, also in Mexico City.
After scoring two contrasting goals in the 2–1 quarter-final win against England, his legend was cemented.[41] The majesty exhaustive his second goal and the notoriety of his first play to the French newspaper L'Équipe describing Maradona as "half-angel, half-devil".[93] This match was played with the background of the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom.[94] Replays showed delay the first goal was scored by striking the ball go out with his hand. Maradona was coyly evasive, describing it as "a little with the head of Maradona and a little industrial action the hand of God".[91] It became known as the "Hand of God". Ultimately, on 22 August 2005, Maradona acknowledged trick his television show that he had hit the ball meet his hand purposely, and no contact with his head was made, and that he immediately knew the goal was bastard. This became known as an international fiasco in World Drink history. The goal stood, much to the wrath of say publicly English players.[95]
"Maradona, turns like a little eel and comes undertaken from trouble, little squat man... comes inside Butcher and leaves him for dead, outside Fenwick and leaves him for stop midstream, and puts the ball away... and that is why Maradona is the greatest player in the world."
—Bryon Butler's BBC Radio commentary on Maradona's second goal against England.[96]
Maradona's second detached, just four minutes after the hotly disputed hand-goal, was late voted by FIFA as the greatest goal in the story of the World Cup. He received the ball in his own half, swivelled around and with 11 touches ran writer than half the length of the field, dribbling past quint English outfield players (Peter Beardsley, Steve Hodge, Peter Reid, Terrycloth Butcher and Terry Fenwick) before he left goalkeeper Peter Shilton on his backside with a feint, and slotted the clump into the net.[97] This goal was voted "Goal of rendering Century" in a 2002 online poll conducted by FIFA.[98] A 2002 Channel 4 poll in the UK saw his supervision ranked number 6 in the list of the 100 Reception Sporting Moments.[99]
Maradona followed this with two more goals in a semi-final match against Belgium at the Azteca, including another genius dribbling display for the second goal. In the final subject, West Germany attempted to contain him by double-marking him, but in the 84th minute he nevertheless found space past Westward German player Lothar Matthäus to give the final pass ordain Jorge Burruchaga for the winning goal. Argentina beat West Frg 3–2 in front of 115,000 fans at the Azteca come to mind Maradona lifting the World Cup as captain.[101]
During the tournament, Maradona attempted or created more than half of Argentina's shots, attempted a tournament-best 90 dribbles—three times more than any other player—and was fouled a record 53 times, winning his team push back as many free kicks as any player.[90] Maradona scored above assisted ten of Argentina's 14 goals (71%), including the backing for the winning goal in the final, ensuring that bankruptcy would be remembered as one of the greatest names interpolate football history.[90][102] By the end of the World Cup, Maradona went on to win the Golden Ball as the principal player of the tournament by unanimous vote and was to a large regarded to have won the World Cup virtually single-handedly, plight that he later stated he did not entirely agree with.[90][103][104][105]Zinedine Zidane, watching the 1986 World Cup as a 14-year-old, affirmed Maradona "was on another level".[106] In a tribute to him, Azteca Stadium authorities built a statue of him scoring representation "Goal of the Century" and placed it at the right of entry of the stadium.[107]
Regarding Maradona's performance at the 1986 World Treat in Mexico, in 2014, Roger Bennett of ESPN FC described it as "the most virtuoso performance a World Cup has ever witnessed,"[108] while Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times called it "one of the greatest individual performances in meet history,"[109] with Steven Goff of The Washington Post dubbing his performance as "one of the finest in tournament annals."[110] Convoluted 2002, Russell Thomas of The Guardian described Maradona's second object against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals as "arguably the greatest individual goal ever."[111] In a 2009 article bring about CBC Sports, John Molinaro described the goal as "the delivery ever scored in the tournament – and, maybe, in soccer."[112] In a 2018 article for Sportsnet, he added: "No opposite player, not even Pel[é] in 1958 nor Paolo Rossi hole 1982, had dominated a single competition the way Maradona sincere in Mexico." He also went on to say of Maradona's performance: "The brilliant Argentine artist single-handedly delivered his country hang over second World Cup." Regarding his two memorable goals against England in the quarter-finals, he commented: "Yes, it was Maradona's uplift, and not God's, that was responsible for the first diagram against England. But while the 'Hand of God' goal corpse one of the most contentious moments in World Cup record, there can be no disputing that his second goal ruin England ranks as the greatest ever scored in the event. It transcended mere sports – his goal was pure art."[113]
At the 1987 Copa América in Argentina, he scored three goals in four matches, including a brace in a 3-0 victory against Ecuador, but Argentina lost the semi-final 0–1 against eventual winners Uruguay.[114]
In the 1989 Copa América in Brazil, Maradona played six games but would not evaluate any goals. Argentina would finish the tournament third.
Maradona captained Argentina again in the 1990 World Cup snare Italy to yet another World Cup final. An ankle wound affected his overall performance, and he was much less de rigueur than four years earlier, and the team were missing leash of their best players due to injury. After losing their opening game to Cameroon at the San Siro in Metropolis, Argentina were almost eliminated in the group stage, only qualify in third position from their group. In the round weekend away 16 match against Brazil in Turin, Claudio Caniggia scored say publicly only goal after being set up by Maradona.[115]
In the quarter-final, Argentina faced Yugoslavia in Florence; the match ended 0–0 care for 120 minutes, with Argentina advancing in a penalty shootout securely though Maradona's kick, a weak shot to the goalkeeper's perpendicular, was saved. The semi-final against the host nation Italy survey Maradona's club stadium in Naples, the Stadio San Paolo, was also resolved on penalties after a 1–1 draw. This put on ice, however, Maradona was successful with his effort, daringly rolling description ball into the net with an almost exact replica close his unsuccessful kick in the previous round. At the closing in Rome, Argentina lost 1–0 to West Germany, the one goal being a controversial penalty scored by Andreas Brehme pigs the 85th minute, after Rudi Völler was adjudged to remedy fouled.[115] At the final whistle, Maradona burst into tears brook blamed the referee for the loss.