5 legends who have played and managed at the FIFA World Cup

#4 Diego Maradona

Maradona’s skills as a player are unquestionnable with many considering him to be the best football player of all time. He played in 4 FIFA World Cups with Argentina. After a poor performance in the 1982 World Cup, he captained his side during the 1986 World Cup where he played a crucial role with 5 goals and 5 assists. In the final, he provided the crucial pass for Jorge Burruchaga to score the winner for Argentina in a tight game against West Germany. He won the Golden Ball for Best Player of the tournament.

He led them to the final again in 1990 but this time Argentina lost 1-0 to West Germany. In the1994 World Cup, he played only two games as he was sent home for failing a drug test. He was also named FIFA’s Player of The Century along with Brazilian legend Pele.

He coached Argentina from 2008-2010. Maradona was criticized for his off the field antics which earned him a two-month ban and for the team’s losses. This however didn’t affect Maradona as he led his side to victory in all their group stage matches in the 2010 World Cup. Argentina then beat Mexico 3-1 in the knock out stages but were eliminated following a 4-0 thumping by Germany in the quarter-finals.

The AFA didn’t renew his contract in 2010 and thus he was forced to leave. He later burst out saying that AFA President Julio Grondona had lied to and betrayed him.