Saturday, November 25, marked three years since the death of Diego Maradona, and FIFA paid tribute to the so-called “El Pibe D’Oro” with a major feature.

>> AFP: Maradona’s death – “Rebel. Hero. Crook. God” – Controversy never stopped

What you need to know about Diego Maradona

• Diego Maradona is the only person in history who broke his own world record for the amount of transfers. Barcelona paid £3 million to Boca Juniors in 1982 for bl El Pibe de Oro to become the most expensive footballer of all time, surpassing the £1.75m Juventus paid Vicenza for Paolo Rossi in 1976. Two years later, Napoli spent £5m on Maradona, a record that stood until Ruud Gullit joined AC Milan from PSV for £6. million in three years.

• After an outstanding performance in 1983, Maradona became the first Barcelona player to receive a standing ovation from Real Madrid fans at the Bernabeu.

• When Maradona arrived at Napoli in 1984, the team had won just one major title in its 58-year history: the 1961/62 Coppa Italia. During the seven years spent there, I Parthenopei they won two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italia and the 1988/89 UEFA Cup, in which Maradona inspired a 5-4 aggregate victory in the final against Jurgen Klinsmann’s Stuttgart.

• Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi are the only players to have won the Ballon d’Or at the Under-20 World Cup and the World Cup.

• Maradona holds the record for most fouls at the World Cup (53 in Mexico 1986) and most fouls in one match (23 against Italy in Spain 1982). In total, he scored 152 free kicks at the World Cup, second only to Jairzinho (64).

• Both of Diego’s younger brothers were football players. Hugo played in the top leagues of Italy and Spain, while Raul represented Boca Juniors and Granada.

• Maradona became the fourth person to participate in five World Cups as a player or head coach when he led Argentina to the championship in South Africa (2010). He followed Mario Zagallo, Franz Beckenbauer and Berti Vogts.

• Maradona is the only person to score five goals and five assists in one World Cup. He was directly involved in 71% of Argentina’s goals in Mexico 1986 – the second best figure for the triumphant side behind David Villa (75% for Spain in 2010). No player in the history of the competition has created more chances than He is Fluffy (66).

Diego Maradona – “Goal of the Century” and “Hand of God”

On June 22, 1986, Argentina won the match against England (2-1) in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico. In front of 114,580 spectators at Estadio Azteca, two phases took place that are still widely talked about: “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century”.

Diego Maradona was the main actor in both, being alternately a demon and an angel.

In the 51st minute, a small player (1.65 meters) scored a header from goalkeeper Peter Shilton. On the replays, it can be seen that Diego scored with his hand, and the well-founded protests of the British remained fruitless – referee Ali Bin Nasser (Tunisia) approved the execution.

“Maradona’s on the ball now,” commentator Victor Hugo Morales told millions of listeners when the Argentine number 10 took the ball in the 55th minute of Mexico’s 1986 quarter-final against England.

“Two closes. Maradona rolls the ball with his foot and breaks out from the right, a genius of world football. The third passes, looking for Burruchag. Maradona forever! genius! genius! genius! Still in progress… Goooooo! Sorry, I want to cry! God! Long live football! What a gap! Maradona’s memorable performance. The most spectacular race of all time. Cosmic serpent, what planet did you come from?’

It ended with a score of 2:1 in favor of the Argentines (Maradona 51′, 55′ – Lineker 81′), and the Cougars advanced to the semi-finals (they will win this edition of the World Cup).

Famous quotes about Diego Maradona

Michel Platini: “What Zidane could do with a ball, Maradona could do with an orange.”

Say: “I saw Maradona do things that God himself doubted were possible.”

Gary Lineker: “When Diego scored our second goal, I wanted to applaud. It was impossible to score such a beautiful goal. He is the best player of all time – without a doubt. A real phenomenon.”

Jorge Valdano: “The ball has existed for centuries. She was happiest when she was on Diego’s left leg.”