Diego Armando Maradona: Argentina’s Golden Boy
There’s a Shakespeare quote that says “when this body contained a soul, an entire kingdom was too small to hold it. But now two paces of wretched earth is plenty of room”. Five years ago, we lost an icon in the game of football, one Diego Armando Maradona. Loved not only by his fellow Argentines but the world, in some quarters you may hear comparisons to God.
This blasphemy was only a means of showing how much people thought of him and how much they admired him. Many will remember him as a legend of the sport for his talismanic performances with both Argentina and Napoli, he was truly a genius with a ball at his feet. But he was so much more, he was soulful and spirited. He had his ups and downs which are well documented but he was also outspoken and bullish when it comes to his opinions.
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For me he was the definition of resilience, for every time he faltered he would rise again whether it be on the field of play or his much publicized life. He was an enigmatic figure, who would do what his heart desired despite the criticism he would later face. He himself would admit that he made a lot of mistakes, and in the end he made peace with those he had wronged. He was an artist on the field and a man in charge of destiny off the field.
There’s so much going on in today’s world that is beyond our control, and sometimes it can feel overwhelming. Here we see a perfect example of a man who fought his hardest to change what he could while he could. Sure, a lot of the things he did weren’t the correct way, and he himself would admit this, but we could always see that his heart was in the right place. There are very few figures today of his standing that are so relatable in the way that they have strong opinions and make mistakes similarly to how the rest of us do in our daily lives.
Hence, it is why he is such an inspiration to many to remain authentic, to live, love, and laugh each chance you get. And this is apparent in the various videos and pictures that are circulating the internet that show how much life he had. He always wore his heart on his sleeve and a smile on his face. He was friendly and welcoming while maintaining shades of the dark at the same time.
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He was the true definition of duality because while he was so perfect at the same time, he wasn’t. He represented the course of life, showing us the highs and the lows. A man who contained so much light but also spent some time in the dark, he showed us we are not our mistakes but instead we are who we choose to be each day. When his body contained a spirit, this world truly could not hold him.
By: Jahvon Barrett / @JahvonBarrett
Featured Image: Stefano Montesi – Corbis / Corbis Sport