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With Argentina 1-0 ahead of England in a quarter-final match in Mexico’s World Cup in 1986, Diego took hold of the ball in the midfield and evaded five English players to make the greatest goal ever scored in the history of world football. |
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Pelussa, as his town friends used to call him, has been regarded by many people as the best player in the history of world football. For 20 years, he has displayed incomparable moves and scores in stadiums all over the world, from the grounds in Villa Fiorito to the last official match he played for Boca on October 25, 1997. The “10” has captivated Argentine people ever since the times he played in the junior team Las Cebollitas. During that time, he amazed spectators with his extraordinary juggling of the ball during the halftimes of the matches he played for La Paternal-based team, Argentino Juniors. It was precisely in that team where he made his debut a few days before his 16th birthday – on October, 20, 1976 – and since then, he always played in First Division. With creativity and unexpected moves, he was the top goalscorer in five championships - four of them succesive - between 1978 and 1980. When he was only 18, he went through one of the worst frustrations of his life when head coach Cesar Luis Menotti failed to call him for the 1978 World Cup. But a year later, under the guidance of this same trainer, he took revenge in the World Youth Championship in 1979. In that tournament, he dazzled not only Argentine people but people from all over the world, conquering with his team-mates the first youth championship for the country. With worldwide recognition, his long-awaited transfer to Boca Juniors took place, further fostering in Diego a special devotion for the yellow and blue shirt which still remains today. However, his first season with the xeneixe team did not last long - his expensive reputation caused the Argentine club to negotiate his transfer to the Barcelona for $8 million on June 4, 1982. In the Catalan team, he suffered an injury which forced him to be out of play for a long time. However, Diego returned. In the Napoli, who has removed the shirt number 10 in his honour, he enjoyed the most brilliant period of his career, accomplishing several triumphs, local as well as European. As part of the national team, he raised his game to dazzling heights in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. He was not only the top goalscorer and captain of the team headed by Carlos Bilardo, but he was also considered by many as the best playmaker of the world. Likewise, the second goal he scored against the English team was chosen as the greatest goal ever scored in World Cup history. His gifted football and his love for the Argentinean shirt has given rise to a romance with people that has gone beyond all frontiers. “Diego of the people” - as he has defined himself - is and will be for many people the best of all players. There are not enough adjectives to define him. We simply want to pay him this tribute. |
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