October 30, 2010. Copyright 2010, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Fiery Argentine striker regarded by many as the world's greatest soccer player, Diego Maradona turns 50
By Susan Shepherd

LONDON, October 30, Graphic News:  He came from the slums of Buenos Aires, was showing footballing potential as young as six and made his professional debut -- with his country's junior side -- while still only 15.  By the time he was 22 he had set a world record transfer fee of £5 million, joining the European superclub, Barcelona and had played in the first of four consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments. He reached the peak of his playing career in Italy, joining Napoli in 1986 -- the same year he lifted the Jules Rimet trophy for Argentina -- for another record sum. And when it was all over, marred by cocaine addiction, weight gain and a high-profile paternity suit, Diego Armando Maradona was still hailed player of the century -- an honour he shared, to his own disgust, with the great Brazilian champion 20 years his senior, Pele. "I'm not going to share the prize with anybody," is his recorded response.

In a sport which has long been compared to religion, El Diez -- or "the Ten", as Maradona is known, after the number on his player's strip -- is worshipped in his football-obsessed homeland. One group even founded a church bearing his name, which boasts tens of thousands of online members. For the 1986 England squad, the deification of Diego will always leave a particularly bad taste after the infamous "hand of God" goal which defeated keeper Peter Shilton and contributed to the team's quarter-final exit from that year's World Cup. It was nearly 20 years before Maradona would publicly admit to the illegal handball and subsequent goal, which the referee let stand.

Quarter-final defeat was to be Argentina's unexpected fate in 2010, with Maradona once again at the helm, this time as coach to the national side. Prior to the tournament, it was widely felt his legendary status and personal charisma would guarantee the title. Instead, a four-nil thrashing by Germany heralded the early termination of his contract, Maradona afterwards bitterly accusing the Argentine FA of "lies and betrayal".

As he turns 50, the survivor of heart disease, drug abuse and alcohol-related illness, who once fired an air rifle at journalists he felt were invading his privacy, wants nothing more than a game, for old times' sake, with his buddies back at Napoli, the club he steered to UEFA victory two decades ago. The new grandfather, who has two daughters by his ex-wife, Claudia Villafane, and a footballing son from an affair, Diego Jr., whom he now supports financially, has reportedly asked his former teammate Salvatore Bagni, to arrange a friendly at the San Paolo stadium on October 30. "I've had everything in life," he said in a recent interview, "a brilliant career and now, thank God, I don't need anything, not even money. My only desire is to return to Naples."

Any such celebration could be spoiled by Italian revenue officials, who are likely to be waiting for the indebted superstar. Maradona still owes the Italian government 37 million euros in unpaid tax from his seven years with Naples. While the time limit for prosecution has now lapsed, officers are entitled to seize valuables in reparation. Last time he visited, Maradona was forced to hand over a diamond ear stud which sold at auction earlier this year for 25,000 euros.
/ENDS