The Magic, Glory and Relentless Loyalty of Ricardo Bochini, the Best One-Club Man You Never Heard Of

June 25th, 1986. Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. A Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina had ripped Belgium apart for the past 85 minutes, the 2-0 scoreline not quite reflective of El Pelusa’s masterclass. La Albiceleste had all but confirmed their qualification to a third World Cup final.

Manager Carlos Bilardo then lines up a substitution, seemingly an innocuous one, intended to waste time. Jorge Burruchaga, Maradona’s sidekick who assisted his first goal, made way for a short, skinny, balding figure wearing the number 3.

As he greets Burruchaga and makes his way on the pitch, Maradona approaches him and whispers, “Come in, Master. We’ve been expecting you.”

It was Ricardo Enrique Bochini’s debut at a World Cup, aged 29. And those would be his only five minutes at the world stage.