Diego Maradona

Diego Armando Maradona, nicknamed El Diez{{Inote|ESPN Eportes 28 July 2005|ESPNEportes20050728}}, Pelusa, El Diego and Dios (born October 30, 1960), is a former Argentine football (soccer) player.

Football style

Short and stocky, Maradona had a very strong physique and could withstand physical pressure better than most players. His strong legs and low centre of gravity gave him additional advantage in short sprints. This is illustrated by his two goals against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was also a wizard with the ball and could manage himself in limited spaces, attracting defenders only to quickly dash out of the melee (as in the second goal against England), or pass to a free teammate who would take the ball and score, like Burruchaga did to secure the 1986 World Cup.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Maradona could convert fragile possessions into goals. His goal against Italy in the 1986 World Cup demonstrated this. In Maradona's time defenses became more athletic, so both dribbling and securing possession of the ball required additional speed and the ability to think under stress.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One of Maradona's trademark moves was dribbling full-speed as a left wing, and on reaching the opponent's goal line, delivering accurate passes to his teammates that many times proved lethal.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Maradona's kicking had a mixture of precision and power that enabled him to score many free kicks. Since he seldom used his right foot for any decisive action, defenders were confounded the few times he did.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~