The prehistory of the “Goal of the Century”: Maradona, Wembley, 1980 and the wise advice of his brother

The legend of Maradona it was built in just 10.6 seconds. Under the suffocating heat of the Mexican midday, the Argentine made a reality what no one had ever been able to do: the perfect goal. One hundred and fourteen thousand people, installed in the stands of the Azteca stadium, witnessed the “Goal of the Century”, Diego’s goal against England in the 1986 World Cup with which it was renamed ‘D10s’ or ‘Cosmic Kite’. His greatest creation, though it was by no means an impromptu move. Few know, but six years ago he had already rehearsed it. In another scenario, but against the same rival.

“The goal can be called in many ways. It is the dream goal, but I want to call it “Thanks to the Turk”, for my little brother. I had made a very similar move at Wembley, when we lost 3-1 and I was playing for the first time with the senior team at Wembley and instead of hooking inside, I played the ball to the right, believing that I could finish calmly and it went out, by centimeters”narrated Maradona in 2005, during one of the special editions of La Noche del Diez, his TV program.

Wembley, also known as the “Cathedral of football”, the scene where Argentina and Italy will collide this Wednesday June 1 in “The Final”the match between the Copa América champion and the Eurocup champion, was the same one that saw Diego Armando Maradona make the first and only attempt at the “Goal of the Century”.

It was a Tuesday, May 13, 1980. At that time, “Pelusa” was 19 years old, he was still playing in Argentinos Juniors and you had that perfect curly hair that always characterized him. He had already played with the U20 and the senior team; in fact, he still harbored anger within himself for not having been summoned by César Menotti to the 1978 World Cup held in Argentina. But Maradona wanted to take on the world and he showed it in the only match he played at Wembley.

The match was friendly and ended in a 3-1 win for England thanks to a brace from Liverpool legend David Johnson and one from the extraordinary Kevin Keegan. Daniel Pasarella discounted for the South Americans. But everything was left aside because of the work of art made by the petiso who dominated the world as if he dominated the ball while warming up listening “Live is Live”.

The move and the wise advice of his seven-year-old brother!

Diego Maradona He received a pass from Juan Barbas in three quarters of the field and, in a circular dribbling, eluded four Englishmen. He then faced goalkeeper Ray Clemence, but instead of dribbling him, he decided to finish with a subtle touch with his left foot. Defeated goalkeeper, the ball skimmed the post while the Argentine watched intently.

“I had made a very similar play, but very similar (to the one in 1986 at the Azteca Stadium) and I defined it by touching it to the side when the goalkeeper came out. The ball went out for this, for nothing, when I was already shouting the goal”Maradona recalled in his book “I am El Diego of the people”.

The play was not crowned with the goal and Diego lamented. Obviously, nobody reproached him for anything until hours later he spoke on the phone with his family and on the other side the ‘Turco’, one of his younger brothers, who was only 7 years old at the time, reproached him .

“Boludo!, you shouldn’t have played (defined). You would have threatened him, if the goalkeeper was already shot”, Told him. Diego’s surprise was enormous and he answered: “Son of a b***! Why were you watching them on television?. But the response of his younger brother was lethal: “No, Pelu, if you threatened him, hooked him out and defined with the right, do you understand?”.

Although that magnificent maneuver did not end in a goal, it remained forever in the memory of all lovers of good football. Because Diego made an identical move that six years later, against the same rival, but in the Aztec stadium, he went on to immortality as the “Goal of the Century”. However, many maintain that this memorable action of May 13, 1980 is even superior (because of the explosion and speed to join rivals with the changed profile and in very few meters) to the masterpiece that the Argentine captain carried out during the Copa del World of Mexico 1986, in what was the best goal in the history of the World Cups.

That day, against the English, Diego made 24 dribbles, a huge figure if you only take into account that the World Cup record is 53 in seven games. He also received nine fouls. Six years later, at the Azteca, they made him one more. They still weren’t enough to stop him.