Diego Maradona celebrated Argentina’s World Cup victory at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City in 1986.
John Fink
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
John Fink
Diego Maradona celebrated Argentina’s World Cup victory at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City in 1986.
John Fink
I got to know Diego Armando Maradona for the first time in September 1993, when I was watching the qualifying match between Argentina and Colombia for the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Even though I was a little kid at the time, I knew Maradona, the Argentina superstar, was something special. His vision, the way he was bypassing his opponents – was respected and loved not only in his own country, but throughout Latin America and the world.
Maradona, who rose from the slums of Buenos Aires to lead the Argentine national team to victory in the 1986 World Cup, died Wednesday at the age of 60, according to media reports. He reportedly suffered a heart attack at his home in a suburb of Buenos Aires.
Upon learning of his death, I asked some of his NPR Latins to share their memories of Maradona. For us, in our region, we take football as seriously as religion – and as such, we all have to experience Maradona from our country in our own way.
Here is a selection of reviews from NPR employees. These have been edited for length and clarity.
Maradona in San Salvador, El Salvador, 2006.
Lisette Lemus
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
Lisette Lemus
Maradona in San Salvador, El Salvador, 2006.
Lisette Lemus
Maradona, midfielder, celebrates with his team-mates after winning a match.
Olsport UK / Getty Images
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
Olsport UK / Getty Images
Maradona, midfielder, celebrates with his team-mates after winning a match.
Olsport UK / Getty Images
Maradona in his local football stadium, where he first played in Argentina, 1983.
Allsport UK / Allsport / Getty Images
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
Allsport UK / Allsport / Getty Images
Maradona in his local football stadium, where he first played in Argentina, 1983.
Allsport UK / Allsport / Getty Images
Maradona, 16, in Buenos Aires. He was born on October 30, 1960 in Villa Fiorito, one of the poorest suburbs of Buenos Aires.
Agence France-Presse via Getty Images
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
Agence France-Presse via Getty Images
Maradona, 16, in Buenos Aires. He was born on October 30, 1960 in Villa Fiorito, one of the poorest suburbs of Buenos Aires.
Agence France-Presse via Getty Images
The scoreboard shows Maradona’s result in the 1981 match.
Olsport UK / Getty Images
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
Olsport UK / Getty Images
The scoreboard shows Maradona’s result in the 1981 match.
Olsport UK / Getty Images
Pope Francis meets Maradona in Rome, 2014.
Pierre Marco Taca / Getty Images
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
Pierre Marco Taca / Getty Images
Pope Francis meets Maradona in Rome, 2014.
Pierre Marco Taca / Getty Images
Santa Maradona
Since I was born in the US, my first intimate exposure to the passion about fútbol was through my friend, colleague, and former Latino host Jasmin Garsd. In fact, the first episode of Alt.Latino 10 years ago was a collection of songs about football from Latin America and from all over the world.
But the one that made her eyes sparkle with excitement and reflect more than a little nostalgia was “Santa Maradona” by Spanish rock pioneer Manu Negra. The recording includes the vocal excitement that she said she could hear every weekend while living near a soccer stadium in Buenos Aires. Playing this frequently to remember Maradona is as good as watching his game on YouTube frequently. – Felix Contreras, co-founder and host Latino alternative
Black Hand – Santa Maradona
Youtube
Maradona, coach of Jimnasia and Isgerma La Plata, before a match in Mar del Plata, Argentina, 2019.
Marcus Brindisi / Getty Images
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
Marcus Brindisi / Getty Images
Maradona, coach of Jimnasia and Isgerma La Plata, before a match in Mar del Plata, Argentina, 2019.
Marcus Brindisi / Getty Images
Latin ambassador for the game
I love walking by Diego Maradona’s mural outside the Naples Pasta Bar in Washington, D.C. I always get vibes from it and love seeing a Latino displayed on a mural in the nation’s capital. He loved it in one of his recent years, working as a coach for the second-tier soccer team in Sinaloa, Mexico, and nearly led them to promotion. It shows that he was really interested in the sport and was a Latin ambassador for the game. – Gustavo Contreras, Co-Producer, All things considered
Maradona, midfielder, dribbles three English defenders during the World Cup quarter-final soccer match in Mexico City, 1986.
Agence France-Presse via Getty Images
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
Agence France-Presse via Getty Images
Maradona, midfielder, dribbles three English defenders during the World Cup quarter-final soccer match in Mexico City, 1986.
Agence France-Presse via Getty Images
Candles are placed next to a picture of Maradona outside the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy.
Alessandra Tarantino / AP
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
Alessandra Tarantino / AP
Candles are placed next to a picture of Maradona outside the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy.
Alessandra Tarantino / AP
“When Argentina won … we all got in strong.”
As a Morinita Mexican-Colombian kid who grew up in surfing-centered Southern California, seeing Maradona beat West Germany in Mexico City was huge. I had never met my family from South America and I was always aware that I was different from the rest of my extended Mexican family, but when Argentina won, none of that mattered and we all participated strongly. This goal of the Hand of God against the British was something that every colonial nation dreamed of. – Nadia Grenier, Traffic Coordinator
Maradona beats England goalkeeper Peter Shelton to score his “Hand of God” goal as England’s defenders look at the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico City.
Getty Images
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
Getty Images
Maradona beats England goalkeeper Peter Shelton to score his “Hand of God” goal as England’s defenders look at the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico City.
Getty Images
Argentina shirt and black ribbon hang on the balcony after news of Maradona’s death in Buenos Aires.
Thomas Cuesta / Getty Images
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
Thomas Cuesta / Getty Images
Argentina shirt and black ribbon hang on the balcony after news of Maradona’s death in Buenos Aires.
Thomas Cuesta / Getty Images
Diego Maradona celebrates Argentina’s World Cup victory at Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, World Cup 1986.
John Fink
Hide the caption
Toggle caption
John Fink
Diego Maradona celebrates Argentina’s World Cup victory at Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, World Cup 1986.
John Fink
Zombie specialist. Friendly twitter guru. Internet buff. Organizer. Coffee trailblazer. Lifelong problem solver. Certified travel enthusiast. Alcohol geek.