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Goal rounds up 70 of the most interesting tidbits about the iconic former Argentina and Napoli star

Diego Maradona was an Argentine professional football player and coach, widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. In 2000, he was voted the FIFA Player of the Century, jointly with Pele. Maradona was known for his incredible dribbling skills, speed, and precise ball control, as well as his controversial off-field antics.

In 2005, Maradona was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame for his contributions to Italian football during his time with Napoli. In that same year, he was also inducted into the International Football Hall of Champions.

In 2008, Maradona became the head coach of the Argentine national football team, leading them to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup. However, his tenure was also marked by controversy, including a suspension for verbally abusing journalists and failing a drug test.

Throughout his career, Maradona won numerous awards and accolades, including two Serie A titles with Napoli, a World Cup championship with Argentina in 1986, and a Golden Ball award for being the best player at the 1986 World Cup. He passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60.

Born in Buenos Aires

Diego Armando Maradona was born on October 30, 1960, in the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesArgentina appearances

Maradona made 91 appearances for Argentina, scoring 34 goals.

Getty ImagesAppeared in four World Cups

He played in four World Cup tournaments for his country.

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Imago Images Club career

He helped Boca Juniors to the league championship in 1982 before making a move to Barcelona. But in 1984, he transferred to Napoli and helped them win their only two Serie A titles to date – in 1987 and 1990.

Wrexham fans are feeling relieved after seeing goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo get away with a fumble in a 1-1 draw with MK Dons.

Wrexham draw 1-1 at MK DonsOkonkwo in spotlight after fumbleFans react to controversial incidentGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Wrexham's 1-1 draw with MK Dons on Tuesday featured a moment of controversy surrounding goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo. The Arsenal loanee dropped a ball and then grabbed it back as it rolled along the goalline. MK Dons players were convinced it had gone in and they should have been awarded a goal. The protests even saw veteran Dean Lewington handed a red card for his conduct towards the referee.

AdvertisementWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

Wrexham fans on social media were left to thank their lucky stars that the goal was not given after believing it had probably crossed the line.

"I think we got away with one to be honest,😰😰," X account @jde_888 posted.

"Left hand side of the post is the ball don't think that is all over the line. Refs been horrendous either way and can't blame all 45 MK Don's fans for being fuming," added @Dancashire.

Meanwhile, @JoeEdws felt his team had certainly got lucky. "Could’ve won and we got away with that Okonkwo save hahahahaha Take that all day long."

And @stevewill26 joked: "Yes, it clearly went over the line,…er,…I mean, there’s no way that went over the line…obvs."

Fan account @Gav_Leaf was already preparing for the backlash: "Well, that's gonna be all the haters are talking about for the next 6 months."

WHAT THE PUNDITS ARE SAYING

Wrexham reporter Richard Williams also felt the visitors got away with one. He posted on X: "Let-off for Wrexham as Okonkwo spills Tomlinson shot but managed to grab it. Officials decide ball hadn't crossed the line."

Freelance reporter Matt Wright had the same opinion: "Seen a replay of that Tomlinson/Okonkwo moment, hmm pretty sure that was in. Not Pedro Mendes/Roy Carroll circa 2005 but just over the line."

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The incident came during a dramatic game and would have seen MK Dons go 2-1 up if it had been given. Instead the hosts were quickly reduced to 10 men due to Lewington's red card. They did manage to stay in the game with Will Boyle's subsequent sending off ensuring the match finished 10 apiece.

Jesse Ryder’s first century in the competition paved the way a 78-run victory for Essex over Hampshire in their NatWest Twenty20 Blast at Chelmsford

ECB/PA26-Jun-2015
ScorecardJesse Ryder struck his first T20 hundred in the NatWest Blast [file picture]•Getty ImagesJesse Ryder’s first century in the competition paved the way a 78-run victory for Essex over Hampshire in their NatWest Twenty20 Blast at Chelmsford.The New Zealander destroyed the visiting attack with an unbeaten 107 from just 55 deliveries, eight of which he smashed for six. The last of those carried him into three figures and he also scored eight fours in an exhibition that earned him a standing ovation as Essex finished on 212 for 5.Insights

Although Hampshire have still been winning matches their seam bowling has been a concern this season. Apart from Fidel Edwards, who is now playing in the CPL, none of their seamers have an economy rate of less than 8.73. In fact other than Yasir Arafat none of them have an economy rate of lower than 9.28. Spinners Danny Briggs and Will Smith have been carrying the attack. It was not until this match that they ran into an opposition batting order who punished the weakness – although Chris Wood did keep his figures intact. With Sean Ervine still out injured Hampshire should consider an emergency signing.

Sharing the limelight with Ryder was Mark Pettini as they put together an opening partnership of 126 in 14 overs. Pettini’s share of that was 74 in 45 balls as he helped himself to three sixes among his dozen boundaries before he was brilliantly caught at deep mid-wicket by a diving Gareth Berg to give spinner Will Smith his only wicket.No other batsman managed to reach double figures but that was of little consolation for Hampshire as Essex collected their sixth success in the competition to move level with Kent at the top of the South Group table.The only visiting bowler to escape the carnage was Chris Wood, his four overs costing 29 runs and earning him the wicket of James Foster.Hampshire began their reply needing to get off to a flying start to mount any sort of challenge but it was not to be.In the first three overs, they lost as many wickets, Reece Topley bowling James Vince and then having Michael Carberry caught on the square leg boundary for eight. In between, David Masters sent back Joe Gatting as Ryan tenDoeschate accepted a catch at deep mid-off.One-time Essex batsman Owais Shah did his best to repair the damage but having struck three fours and a six in making 26 from 20 balls, he was magnificently caught by ten Doeschate at wide mid-on after he dived to his right to pluck the ball an inch or so off the ground.After that, and with the score now 57 for 4, Hampshire were left with the task of trying to bring some sense of respectability to their challenge.When medium-pace man Ravi Bopara came into the attack he soon put Hampshire into even deeper trouble with three wickets in an over, those of Jimmy Adams, Smith and Berg to leave the scoreboard looking a sorry 66for 7.Bopara, who was appearing in his 100th domestic T20 match finished with 3 for 23 while Topley claimed 3 for 25 as Essex ended a sequence of six successive defeats against Hampshire, dismissed for only 134, in this competition

Soumya Sarkar picked up two crucial wickets and then struck 86 off 83 balls, as Bangladesh A gunned down 158 against Zimbabwe A in a rain-affected match in Fatullah, to level the series 1-1

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2014
ScorecardSoumya Sarkar scored 86 of Bangladesh A’s 158•ICC/GettySoumya Sarkar picked up two crucial wickets and then struck 86 off 83 balls, as Bangladesh A gunned down 158 against Zimbabwe A in a rain-affected match in Fatullah, to level the series 1-1.Set a revised revised target of 158 from 47 overs, Bangladesh A began the chase steadily, as the openers Sarkar and Litton Das added 80 in 17.3 overs to provide a solid platform. Sarkar hit 12 fours and a six during his knock, but the Zimbabwe A spinners Wellington Masakadza and Tafadzwa Kamungozi briefly pegged the hosts back with four quick wickets. However, at 139 for 4, most of the work was already done. Naeem Islam and Mosaddek Hossain ensured that Bangladesh A reached the target without any further casualties to complete the six-wicket win.Opting to bat, Zimbabwe A were restricted to 163 for 9 from their 50 overs. Their captain Vusi Sibanda top-scored with 74 amid a batting collapse, as Sarkar (2 for 23), Elias Sunny (2 for 29) and Jubair Hussain (2 for 28) dealt regular blows to keep the visitors from forging a threatening stand.

Chris Lynn equalled the record for the fastest BBL half-century as the Brisbane Heat ended the Hobart Hurricanes’ chances of reaching the knockout stages with an 18-run victory at the Gabba

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jan-2015
ScorecardChris Lynn hit 12 fours and three sixes in his 81•Getty ImagesChris Lynn equalled the record for the fastest BBL half-century as the Brisbane Heat ended the Hobart Hurricanes’ chances of reaching the knockout stages with an 18-run victory at the Gabba.Lynn reached his fifty from 18 balls to equal the mark set by Tim Ludeman for the Adelaide Strikers earlier this season. Overall, his 81 off 35 deliveries – which included five consecutive fours off Tim Bresnan in the third over – lifted the Heat to 6 for 198 to give the home support something cheer after what has been a disappointing campaign.Lynn, who missed out on a hundred when he found long-off, added 113 in 11 overs for the second wicket with Peter Forrest while Ben Cutting boosted the total with 24 off eight balls as 19 runs came off the 19th over.The Hurricanes were never in the hunt as Mark Steketee struck in his opening two overs and they slumped to 7 for 92. Only Shoaib Malik’s 42, Ben Hilfenhaus’ 38 and some late hitting from Cameron Boyce reduced the margin.

GOAL takes a look at why Fulham FC are called 'Fulhamerica' and the USMNT superstars who have graced Craven Cottage.

In the summer of 1997, Fulham was bought by an Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed. The Cottagers were languishing in the third division but their new owner promised that the club would ply their trade in the Premier League in the next five years despite no outlandish spending.

They started to rebuild themselves and turned their sights to the United States to scout cheap yet quality talent. In 1999, when they were promoted to the second division, it saw the arrival of Marcus Hahnemann from Colorado Rapids for just £80,000. And thus began the saga of Fulham and the United States of America…

Why are Fulham called "Fulhamerica'?

Although Hahnemann failed to find his feet at Craven Cottage, the club continued to monitor the American talent pool for recruitment. Eddie Lewis joined in 2000, who again turned out to be a disappointment as he could not prove his mettle in west London, making just 22 appearances, and his highlight was a winning goal against Derby County in the League Cup.

Nonetheless, the club kept their trust in American players and signed Carlos Bocanegra and Brian McBride in the winter transfer window of 2003-04. In no time, both of them became fan favourites for their commitment to the badge which initiated a golden era of "Fulhamerica'.

A couple of years later in 2006, Clint Dempsey, was roped in from New England Revolution for a whopping £2m. This made the most expensive American player to play in the Premier League. And with Dempsey's success, several others followed suit like Kasey Keller and Eddie Johnson.

Fulham not only had ample representatives of the United States in the dressing room but in 2013, an American businessman of Pakistani origin, Shahid Khan, purchased the club from Al Fayed. Khan, 72, continues to be the chairman of the club but his son, Tony Khan, is at the wheel as the Vice Chairman and Director of Football Operations.

Over the years, a total of 11 USMNT players have gone on to play for Fulham including Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson from the current squad.

GOAL takes a look at the most notable USMNT players who have adorned the Fulham shirt.

Marcus Hahnemann | (1999-02)

Marcus Hahnemann was the first American import by Fulham. However, he could not establish himself as the first-choice keeper ahead of Maik Taylor and was sent out on loan to Rochdale and Reading.

The signing of Edwin van der Sar further slipped him down the pecking order and was released at the end of the 2001-02 season.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesEddie Lewis | (2000-02)

Eddie Lewis was roped in 2000 but could not make an impact at Cavern Cottage. He made just 22 appearances in his three seasons and was sold to Preston North End where he became an important member of the squad.

Getty ImagesBrian McBride | (2004-08)

There was another USMNT player who played a crucial role in Fulham's escape, Brian McBride. Having joined Fulham in 2004 he went on to make over 154 appearances, scoring 40 goals including 12 in the 2006-07 season.

In the next season, McBride was awarded the armband for Fulham. He was a fan favourite for his movements inside the box and high work rate. With each passing season, his popularity soared and the club renamed a bar inside Craven Cottage, "McBride's", in June 2009 to commemorate his contributions to the club.

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Getty ImagesCarlos Bocanegra | (2004-08)

Carlos Bocanegra joined the club in 2004 and was soon rewarded with the moniker of the and the

He was a versatile player who played primarily as a centre-back, but also as a left-back and a holding midfielder. He was known for his aerial presence, his ability to read the game, and his tenacity in the tackle. In the 2006-07 season, he scored five goals to become Fulham's second-leading goalscorer behind McBride.

Trent Alexander-Arnold thought he had scored a superb free-kick against Fulham on Sunday but the strike has been chalked up as a Bernd Leno own goal.

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Alexander-Arnold sent brilliant free-kick at goalBall struck the crossbar before hitting LenoGoal not given to Alexander-ArnoldWHAT HAPPENED?

The right-back thought he had scored a genuinely fantastic free-kick, shooting at goal from around 30 yards and seeing it smash against the crossbar and cross the line. The ball then hit Bernd Leno, however, and went into the back of the net.

AdvertisementGettyTHE EXPLANATION

Because the ball struck the crossbar and then hit Leno, the goal has been taken away from Alexander-Arnold, with the goalkeeper's touch proving decisive. As a result, it will not be added to the right-back's haul for this season. For Fantasy Football players, though, the Liverpool man was at least awarded an assist.

DID YOU KNOW?

Alexander-Arnold has been in remarkable form this season and came into Sunday's game on the back of his goal in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City last time out. However, he has been robbed of the prospect of scoring twice in two successive games.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ALEXANDER-ARNOLD?

The right-back will have to stomach the fact that his goal will not count towards his tally. Liverpool are next in action in midweek against Sheffield United.

Harry Maguire is happy to stay back at Manchester United and fight for his place in Erik ten Hag's starting lineup.

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Maguire happy to stay back at Man UtdWest Ham wanted to sign the defender in the summerHas started in the club's last eight matchesWHAT HAPPENED?

Despite reported offers from West Ham to join them in the summer, Maguire decided to stay back at United and the defender now feels vindicated over his decision after starting in the Red Devils' last eight matches across all competitions.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 30-year-old became an outcast ever since Ten Hag joined the club last season, having appeared in 16 Premier League games and clocked just 759 minutes on the pitch. Yet the English international never gave up. Since Lisandro Martinez got ruled out of action at the end of September, Maguire has become a mainstay in the club's team sheet and he claimed that he is enjoying his football at the moment.

WHAT DID HARRY MAGUIRE SAY?

Speaking to , the former Leicester City player said, "I played a few games last year, 16 or 17 starts, and I felt like I performed really well in the games I played in, I just didn't play as many as I would have liked. On the other hand, Rapha [Raphael Varane] and Licha [Lisandro Martinez] were playing brilliantly and kept numerous clean sheets.

"I had to bide my time and be patient. I had two or three opportunities last season to get a run of games but I broke down with illness, I broke down with injuries twice, so I never got the rhythm and never got the run of games that I could prove myself to the manager. I have got that now. I am really enjoying my football and I really enjoy playing for this club. I was willing to stay and fight for my place and we have four or five top international centre-backs at this club and the competition for places is really high."

He added, "Working hard in training is the main thing and making sure you're ready. I started 16 or 17 games last year and felt like my form was there. There was a lot of talk about me because I wasn't playing games, but that is the way it is. I was playing well for my country, went to the World Cup and played well and always thought my form was there. But I am up against some top, top-level centre-backs and last year they were playing amazing, so I didn't get as many opportunities as I would have liked. This club demands competition for places and that is what we have in my position."

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The centre back will be next seen in action for the Three Lions as they take on Malta on November 17 in a Euro 2024 qualifying game.

Thierry Henry has claimed that Xavi's football knowledge is second only to Pep Guardiola, as he praised the soon-to-leave Barcelona boss.

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Henry backed Xavi to succeed in managementPraised beleaguered boss for 2022-23 title winClub legend due to step down at end of seasonWHAT HAPPENED?

Henry, Xavi's former teammate in Catalonia, praised the struggling coach's managerial skills amid a difficult season for the Blaugrana boss. After winning the league title last season, Barca find themselves in third, and eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid.

AdvertisementWHAT HENRY SAID ABOUT XAVI'S BARCELONA SUCCESS

Appearing on , Henry addressed Xavi during a live interview: "First and foremost I wanna start with… I've been impressed with the job that you've done there. I don't care what people say, you won the league. Be proud, and I know you are. I'm very proud that I shared the field with you. You taught me a lot going to Barcelona."

WHAT HENRY SAID ABOUT XAVI AND GUARDIOLA

Henry also compared Xavi to another Blaugrana legend, adding: "I hope you're gonna carry on because your brain, for me, is second to none. The only guy that I know that is up there with you is Pep in terms of how you see the game."

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Xavi and Henry played together for Barca from 2007-2010, including a starring role in Guardiola's 2008-9 side that captured a historic treble. The French forward left the club in 2010 having won four major trophies.

If there is anything disgruntled Yorkshiremen do not appreciate, it is empathy from a vaguely Lancastrian source. Nevertheless, after an inactive time in the Caribbean, they might have appreciated an old lyric from the cross-Pennines songstress Gracie Fie

Paul Edwards10-May-2015
ScorecardJonny Bairstow on a rare and largely pointless batting opportunity in the Caribbean•Getty ImagesIf there is anything disgruntled Yorkshiremen do not appreciate, it is empathy from a vaguely Lancastrian source. Nevertheless, as Adam Lyth carried the refreshments, edged the practice catches and fielded at short leg during England’s tour of the West Indies, it was tempting to remember the song once made famous by the Rochdale-born Gracie Fields: “I took my harp to the party but nobody asked me to play”. Nor was Lyth the only Yorkshireman unused in the Caribbean. Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett’s involvement was peripheral, leading to calls that one or more members of this cricketing string quartet should be allowed to play a melody or two for Yorkshire.It was expected that this game against Hampshire would see all four players selected by Yorkshire for the first time this season but Plunkett’s failure to appear for Saturday’s final practice resulted in him not even making the team sheet. Lyth and Bairstow, though, seized their opportunities with gusto, albeit that their tunes were sharply contrasting. Lyth, all careful exposition and cautious defence, made 53 off 112 balls in 150 minutes. He was nearly run out by his partner Alex Lees in the second over of the day and was dropped by the Hampshire debutant wicketkeeper Lewis McManus when hooking on 39.When he was third out twenty minutes after lunch, playing defensively to a good ball from Andre Adams, Lyth could return to the Headingley pavilion knowing that he had shown all the application expected of an England opener. This is fortunate given that next week that is almost certainly precisely what he will be. What is rather less wonderful is that despite being on two of England’s winter tours, Lyth has now played precisely six first-class innings since last September. It is hardly preparation for facing the New Zealand seamers on one of Lord’s freshest May pitches.By tea, however, not too many of Yorkshire’s supporters were talking about Lyth. That was because there were in the middle of seeing a quite outstandingly violent and effective innings from Jonny Bairstow, one of the more maverick members of the Headingley orchestra. Having arrived at the wicket when Lyth was dismissed and then watched as Andrew Gale became the admirable Adams’s second wicket, caught at point for 30 off the leading edge by Michael Carberry, Bairstow seemed to disregard any slowness in the Leeds wicket. There was to be no adagio for him.Instead, there were pulls and hooks, three of them going for six; there were delicious cuts, one or two of them brazenly late; there were punches through the covers, most of them crisply timed by a batsman at the peak of his form and confidence. In 32 overs Bairstow added 154 for the fifth wicket with Jack Leaning, who had the good sense not to try and copy his partner. Leaning seems a very astute young batsman.Bairstow was unbeaten on 88 at tea and reached his century off 104 balls with a clip through midwicket off Adams for two. A couple of balls later he was gone, not culpably but edging a fine ball from the 39-year-old New Zealander to McManus, thus giving the Hampshire wicketkeeper a second catch on his first-class debut.That wicket brought obvious relief to James Vince’s men and they capitalised on their success when Gareth Berg removed both Adil Rashid for a duck and Will Rhodes for only four. Rashid skied a catch to Fidel Edwards at mid on and Rhodes, who probably did not expect to be playing in this game on Saturday morning nicked a catch to Sean Ervine.That left Yorkshire on 279 for 7 and the game was more or less evenly poised. However, Tim Bresnan joined Leaning and the evening’s play assumed a more sedate tempo with both batsmen restraining their natural impulses to attack.Bresnan is an experienced cricketer and one would expect nothing less from him. Leaning, though, is just 21 and played only ten County Championship games in 2014. But he is mature beyond his years and has a quiet competence at the crease. His two fours off Tomlinson in the last hour of play were as good as anything we had seen. One was stroked through the covers and the other was driven straight and they were especially fine because they were played off Hampshire’s most accurate bowler, who finished his work with 2 for 61 from his 26 overs.Tomlinson, it was, who had made the first breakthroughs for the visitors in the morning session when he had Alex Lees lbw for a single playing no shot to the 13th ball of the match before returning to have Cheteshwar Pujara caught at slip by Sean Ervine for 18. These were important wickets and they reflected the contribution of Vince’s bowlers on a day which was liberally sprinkled with accomplished batting and canny bowling.Indeed, it was almost a relief that Yorkshire head coach Jason Gillespie had chosen to say nothing about reports linking him to the England job and the travails of the ECB. The Australian’s silence left one free to follow the dictum of that legendary cricket Yorkshire Post cricket correspondent JM Kilburn: “I am here to write about the cricket,” said Kilburn firmly. That great man would have enjoyed watching Bairstow bat on this balmy Sunday afternoon but he may have appreciated Leaning’s innings even more.