Diego Maradona, born on 30 October 1960 in Lanús, Buenos Aires. A footballing icon. A football lover through and through, but there was always controversy too. The question always comes up: who is greater, Maradona or Messi? For Argentines, this isn't even a question; there's no discussion. Maradona is the greatest. In this blog, we'll focus on his time in Buenos Aires, where he played for both Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors. Let's dive into the early years of the life of the world's greatest footballer.
The discovery of Maradona's talent
Diego Maradona grew up in the streets of Buenos Aires, where he started playing for the local neighbourhood club: Estrella Roja. From there he moved to Los Cebollitas, after which he was soon spotted by a scout from Argentinos Juniors, a club in the La Paternal neighbourhood. He thrived at Argentinos Juniors. To survive in Argentine football, a club needs a strong youth academy, and Argentinos Juniors' youth system also produced the likes of Redondo and Riquelme.
Maradona's talents were, of course, unmistakable. When Maradona was 12, the club decided on something remarkable: during half-time of the first team's matches, he was allowed to show off his skills. It seemed as though the club wanted to keep supporters entertained so they'd stay for the rest of the first-team match. Eventually, at the age of 15, he made his debut in the match against Talleres de Córdoba. His hairstyle and nimble footwork earned him the nickname 'Pluisje' ('Fluffy').
He ultimately played for Argentinos Juniors from 1976 to 1981. In today's football, this would be unthinkable, but there were several reasons he stayed relatively long at Argentinos Juniors. He felt at home at the club and felt respected by the people there. The club provided a good house for the Maradona family to live in. On top of that, the big Argentine clubs were too poor to afford him. And an important reason: with the 1978 World Cup approaching, he wasn't allowed to be transferred abroad.
Recommended: pay a visit to Argentinos Juniors
A visit to the Argentinos Juniors stadium is an absolute must. In the La Paternal neighbourhood, you'll find numerous murals of Maradona. The exterior of the stadium itself is also covered in Maradona murals – a truly impressive sight. While you're there, take a stadium tour. You'll naturally visit the museum inside the stadium. It's fairly small but very special, as everything in the museum has been donated by supporters or former players of the club. And these aren't just any former players – alongside Maradona, the famous names include Riquelme, Redondo, Coloccini and, of course, MacAllister. The final part of the museum is entirely dedicated to the greatest of all: Diego Armando Maradona. After visiting the museum, you're taken across the pitch to the other long side of the stadium, where the club has set up a chapel for their folk hero Maradona. You won't find anything more special than this.
The move to Boca Juniors
Argentinos Juniors wasn't a big club, and since he still wanted to win a trophy in Argentina before heading to Europe, he first wanted to join an Argentine top club. He eventually chose Boca Juniors, originally a working-class club that suited Maradona well. Boca Juniors couldn't afford him, so it was agreed that he would first join on loan. After one year, the transfer fee of £1 million would be paid. That year, Maradona became champion with Boca Juniors, but because the club couldn't meet its payment obligation, Maradona had to leave Boca Juniors after just one year. He went on to play for FC Barcelona, who paid the £1 million. This money was transferred to Argentinos Juniors.
After Maradona's departure to Boca, Argentinos Juniors only narrowly avoided relegation, at San Lorenzo's expense. But once the club received the transfer money for Maradona, it became wealthy. Argentinos Juniors invested this money wisely and bought a number of good players. This paid off, and a year later the club became national champions. A year after that, they even won the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
He became a symbol of the working class, a source of pride for the Argentine people and an inspiration for generations of footballers who came after him. His love for the game and his indomitable spirit made him a hero in Buenos Aires and far beyond. His achievements at Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors have cemented his legacy as the greatest player of all time.
Football trips to Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors
Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors are clubs that really shouldn't be missed when you're in Buenos Aires. For football trips to Boca Juniors, you've come to the right place – you'll find them here. For a visit to Argentinos Juniors, you can book through our Vamos Boca package.
