Football has the power to capture the imagination of anyone who watches it. There have been several great players who manage to enthrall the minds of the millions who are lucky enough to watch them. Argentinian forward Diego Maradona was the best of these players.
The late FC Barcelona star was the greatest player in the world during his heyday and his biggest achievements came with his nation. Maradona managed to single-handedly carry his nation to the World Cup trophy in 1986, scoring several beautiful goals, along with a few controversial ones.
His performances in the World Cup earned him the Best Player of the Tournament award as he scored five goals. Maradona also managed to win the Ballon d’Or in 1986 and repeated this feat in 1990. However, his career spiraled downwards after that point.
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Javier Mascherano discusses Maradona’s legacy
Regardless of how it all ended, Maradona inspired millions of people, especially in Argentina. Former FC Barcelona and Argentina defender Javier Mascherano spoke about the legend in an interview with FIFA before the World Cup in Qatar.
Mascherano talked about the legendary superstar’s legacy and revealed that it was ultimately his love for the game that triumphed over everything else.
“His legacy to football is his love for the game. Diego was a source of inspiration for many generations, for ours as well. In the end, that is his legacy,” Mascherano said.
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Diego Maradona didn’t let anything keep him away from Football
Mascherano also addressed the numerous controversies that Maradona found himself in, and yet, he kept football in his life. The late Argentinian footballer fought through all the inconveniences in his life and encouraged every person to fall in love with football.
“The love for the ball, for this sport, beyond all the inconveniences he may have had in his life. A lot of things happened to him, but he never gave up on that, he always inspired and encouraged everyone to love this sport,” he added.
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His memory lives on stronger, even after his death, as football will never forget the diminutive man who managed to unite everyone in paying respects to his greatness.
