Former soccer great Diego Maradona who died at 60 on Wednesday will be remembered as one of the game’s greatest all time players (AP News Photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The legendary Argentinian-born soccer player, Diego Armando Maradona is dead at 60 years of age. Maradona was recently rehabbing from a recent surgery for a brain hematoma, a blood clot to the brain. He died of a heart attack after his release from the rehab-center.

He had an addiction to alcohol and drugs for years, often going in and out of rehab facilities.. An icon in Argentina as well as one of the most famous names in sports all over the world. Maradona was so good he made his professional debut at the age of 15 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the team Argentinos Juniors.

Maradona as well as the legendary Brazilian player Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé are ranked among the best soccer players ever. I had the privilege of interviewing both of them when some of the matches for World Cup ’94 were held in the Bay Area (San José) to be exact, while I was covering sports for Telemundo Bay Area.

The FIFA 1994 World Cup was the only time the United States hosted what it is considered the greatest sporting event in the world. They both came as FIFA Ambassadors.

Maradona who also came to the Bay Area to play a friendly game with the Italian Club Juventus, had a turbulent relationship with the press in his native Argentina as well as around the world, he was not an easy interview. A great international player, he was also a manager and occasionally a soccer commentator. He had great passion for the game, born in a country were Fútbol/Soccer is more than a sport, but like a religion.

Maradona will always be remember for the game against England during World Cup ’86 in Mexico City, a quarterfinals match, were he scored two goals against England. The first called (although protested by the English team) as the goal “Mano de Dios”(God’s Hand) because he used his hands, something that is illegal in this sport.

Maradona himself said after the game “it was part with my head and part with the Hand of God”. Since then the international soccer press baptized the goal as “Mano de Dios”. The second goal was not controversial but was named “Gol del Siglo” (Goal of the Century) as his team Argentina beat England 2-1.

Maradona, at 25-years of age was the captain of that team, who later beat Germany 3-2 in the finals, to win the World Cup. That was the second FIFA World Cup title for Argentina and last one.

Maradona played 490 official club games during his 21-year professional career. Scoring 259 goals. For Argentina he played total of 91 games and scored 34 goals.

An Internet poll conducted by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association named Maradona the top player of the 20th century.

Note: The last FIFA World Cup was held in Moscow, Russia in 2018 and France won the title. The next FIFA World Cup will take place in 2022 in the country of Qatar, first time an Arabic country will host the worldwide event.

Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez did Soccer coverage on Telemundo TV and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com