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By AFP
BUENOS AIRES: Argentine legend Diego Maradona is a controversial idol, venerated as a god for his World Cup exploits but whose life of excess has left a tormented public between veneration and
The 57-year-old made headlines in Russia this week when he was filmed doing fingertip gestures with both hands during Argentina's win against Nigeria in their last group match. "He thinks that the love Argentinians lavish on him is so great that when he behaves badly, we will look in the other direction," he said. Bruno Carollo, 56, agreed that Maradona "is not an example, at least not for me and for most of my friends and my family, no."
"There are things that are not acceptable, but hey, he's like that," adds Carballo.
Other South Americans tend to perceive Argentines as arrogant, and Maradona's anguish and public arrogance seem to personify the suffering of a nation. "He's arrogant, he's getting out of control because of arrogance," Sollner said.
Maradona was worshiped for his goals against England at the 1986 World Cup, cheating goal that he scored with his hand – he called it "Hand of God "- and another, when he danced five English players to score what is widely recognized as one of the greatest goals of all time.
In Buenos Aires that day, he became a god. It was almost like he had avenged with football the painful defeat of Argentina in the Falklands war against Britain four years ago.
Idol of a new generation
Irreverent, charismatic and provocative, Maradona remains an idol in Argentina, "even for a generation too young to have seen play, when his name is become synonymous with football genius.
Paula Garcia Paz, teacher, was six when Maradona lifted the world cup in 1986.
Never forget, this goal against England is something so memorable for the Argentines, "she said. 19659003 "Sollner said:" We love him because he resisted the powerful, because on the ground he never gave up.
"This dedication to a football fan is vital, what is called sweating the shirt," he added.
The antics of the World Cup have been fun and disturbing in turn, but for the Argentineans a sideshow distracting at the main event on the field.
Carried away from his seat in the VIP box after the match, he was forced to deny the rumors that he had been hospitalized, declaring the next day that he was "very alive."
"In Russia, it caused a sensation, it is a guy who retired decades ago and who won things 30 years ago, but he sneezes. we are all on hot coals, meanwhile. It's unique. That's Maradona, "says Sollner
– Diego, Ninth Degree –
Those who know Maradona describe him as having an explosive personality while keeping his feet on the ground, even if they've reached a sports Olympus
"Diego was a kid in the shantytown, with a kite, on which he wrote the name of Maradona.He started running and the kite took off, but he stayed on the ground, "explains the biographer Guillermo Blanco.
Blanco says Maradona" as everyone has good, bad, ego, solidarity … it does something, it does not matter. is not like the others who are considered "balanced." He does this to the Nth degree. "
Angry at his daughters, in a legal battle with his ex-wife, defrauded by a relative or banned for doping the 1994 World Cup, Maradona's turbulent front page life makes him a They still mock him for have shown off his friendships with Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, leaders of the left of the end of the war.
He insists that he no longer takes cocaine. apogee with the Italian team Napoli, but his behavior during the match of Nigeria has raised some concerns.
"He needs to continue to attract attention as before, but giving an even worse example," said Laura Orsi. "He is an icon of another time, but he has erased all the glory with his behavior: drugs, alcohol and fame have gone to his head," said the badyst. 56-year systems.
More than Messi
There are inevitably comparisons between Maradona and Lionel Messi, but unti "The Messi is a phenomenon, but the world of football, until now, n? did not see a player like Maradona ", his former teammate Claudia Caniggia. said recently.
Another contemporary, Julio Olarticoechea, was in agreement: "To see him, not only in the games, but in the training, was something else … Diego was magical. the word. "
" Messi has still not been able to give us the happiness that Diego has done, "said Garcia Paz, the teacher.
"He thought that he was a god and made a lot of mistakes, but I know the day he will leave this world, Argentina will be paralyzed."
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