Diego Maradona: Little-Known Facts About a Football Legend

Diego Maradona is one of the most extraordinary figures in the history of sport. Three decades after his peak, his name still stops conversations in every football country on earth. But beyond the Hand of God and the Goal of the Century, there's a life full of lesser-known details that make his story even more remarkable.

Before the Legend: Early Life in Buenos Aires

Maradona grew up in Villa Fiorito, one of the poorest neighborhoods on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. He received his first football as a gift at age three and reportedly slept with it. By eight he was already performing tricks that had local coaches taking notice. His early technical mastery wasn't coached into him — it was compulsive. He played constantly, everywhere, on any surface.

The Number 10 Jersey

Maradona didn't always wear 10. He was handed the number by happenstance at Argentinos Juniors as a teenager — and went on to make it the most iconic number in football history. When Napoli retired his shirt after his death, they retired the number 10 permanently. No Napoli player will ever wear it again.

What Happened to the Hand of God Ball

The ball used in the infamous 1986 quarter-final against England — the one Maradona punched into the net — is one of the most sought-after pieces of football memorabilia ever created. The Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser kept it after the match. It sold at auction in 2023 for over £2 million. The "Goal of the Century" — scored in the same match — is consistently voted the greatest goal in World Cup history by FIFA voters.

Maradona and Naples

When Maradona arrived at Napoli in 1984, the club had never won the Serie A title. In seven years, he delivered two. For Neapolitans — who historically felt looked down upon by the wealthy north — Maradona became something more than a footballer. He was a symbol of pride and defiance. After his death in 2020, Napoli renamed the Stadio San Paolo in his honor. It is now the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The TV Host

In 2005, Maradona hosted his own Argentine talk show called La Noche del 10 — "The Night of the 10." He interviewed Pelé, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, and Zinedine Zidane. He also danced tango on air. It ran for one season and was watched by millions. A footballer-turned-host who could carry a prime-time show — only Maradona.

Olympic Torch Bearer

In 2000, Maradona was chosen as one of Argentina's Olympic torch bearers during the Sydney relay. For a man born in poverty in a Buenos Aires slum, carrying the torch represented not just his own journey but the journey of every Argentine who grew up dreaming of something larger.

Collect the Legend: Minix Diego Maradona Figurines

The Minix Diego Maradona Football Legends collection at SportGearPlus captures five of the most iconic phases of his career in officially licensed 12cm format:

• Argentina national team — the kit he wore in Mexico 1986
• Napoli — the club he made legendary in Serie A
• Boca Juniors — where his career began and briefly returned
• Goal of the Century edition — commemorating the greatest individual World Cup goal ever scored
• Blaugrana — his time at Barcelona before Italy called

Every figurine is officially licensed. Real inventory. Ships same day before noon EST.

Shop the full Minix Football Legends collection at SportGearPlus.com