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.

Reputation

Ever since 1986, it is common for Argentines abroad to hear Maradona's name as a token of recognition, even in remote places. In Argentina, Maradona is often talked about in terms reserved for legends. In the Argentine film Son of the Bride (El Hijo de la Novia), an actor who impersonates a Catholic priest says to a bar patron: "they idolized him and then crucified him". When scolded by a friend for taking the prank too far (by elaborating on the passion of Jesus), the fake priest retorts: "But I was talking about Maradona".

Related Topics:
Catholic - Priest - Passion - Jesus

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There is a Church of Maradona, where "believers" re-enact the Hand of God goal, and partake in food and wine that bear his likeness. The "rituals" of this "church" have been filmed by several sports programmes and broadcast in many countries. The church does not take itself too seriously, even though its members have been involved in several community initiatives.

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Commentators in Argentina have often compared Maradona to Esteban Laureano Maradona (1895–1995), a physician who helped indigenous communities achieve better health standards, and was the recipient of the 1987 UN Medicine for Peace prize. Dr. Maradona was renowned for his modesty, and worked until he turned ninety, so the comparison was often unfavorable to the footballer. Broadcaster Alejandro Dolina was the first to denounce the unfairness of this treatment.

Related Topics:
Esteban Laureano Maradona - 1895 - 1995 - Physician - UN - Alejandro Dolina

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Hounded for years by yellow journalism, Maradona even fired a compressed-air rifle against reporters who, so he claimed, invaded his privacy. This quote from former teammate Jorge Valdano summarizes the feelings of many:

Related Topics:
Yellow journalism - Compressed-air rifle - Jorge Valdano

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:He is someone many people want to emulate, a controversial figure, loved, hated, who stirs great upheaval, especially in Argentina... Stressing his personal life is a mistake. Maradona has no peers inside the pitch, but he has turned his life into a show, and is now living a personal ordeal that should not be imitated. http://www.el-mundo.es/larevista/num103/textos/valdano1.html

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