Diego Maradona at the 1990 World Cup: The tragic journey of a lonely genius.
From legs worn down by injury to heart-wrenching tears in Rome, the 1990 World Cup was a haunting final chapter in Diego Maradona's illustrious career.
In the endless flow of football history, the 1990 World Cup is remembered as a great theatrical stage. There, Diego Maradona embodied the struggle between genius and suffering, between ultimate glory and profound pain. No longer the graceful dance moves of Mexico '86, the "Golden Boy's" journey in Italy was a battle for survival through willpower and cunning.
The patron saint of Naples and the pressure from the North
Before the tournament began, Maradona was at the height of his fame. He had revolutionized football in Naples, transforming a poor provincial club in the South into a force that broke the dominance of Northern giants like Juventus and AC Milan. To the people of Naples, Maradona was not just a player; he was a living saint.
However, behind the glamour lay a body beginning to crack. The beatings on the pitch and the constant pressure of confronting the world had worn him down. Argentina entered the tournament as the defending champions, but as a depleted team, missing many key players.
The beginning of a nightmare and a declaration of war at San Siro.
Worse than the personnel issues, Maradona himself suffered a serious injury to his toe and a swollen ankle. The opening match at San Siro against Cameroon turned into a major shock as Argentina succumbed 0-1 to the rough play of the African side.
This defeat sparked a media war. Maradona unleashed a scathing tirade directed at the Milanese crowd – who had always looked down on his Napoli team. He declared that it was thanks to him that the people of Milan had stopped being racist and were now supporting... his rivals. This was Maradona's moment of establishing his position: a direct opponent of the host nation on their own soil.
The cunning of survival in Naples
The match against the Soviet Union in Naples became a life-or-death battle. When their number one goalkeeper, Nery Pumpido, broke his leg, Argentina were pushed to the brink. In that critical moment, "The Hand of God" reappeared, but this time in a defensive situation. Maradona used his hand to block a header right on the goal line, unseen by the referee.
At the age of 29, when he no longer had the physical strength to overcome all obstacles on foot, he was willing to use every trick in the book to keep Argentina in the tournament. The 2-0 victory against the Soviet Union opened the way for a dramatic progression for the Albiceleste.
The moment of genius that eliminated the Brazilians.
The knockout round witnessed a classic clash with Brazil. For 80 minutes, Brazil completely dominated, hitting the post and crossbar three times. Argentina played like a defeated team, retreating deep into their own half in a weary defense. However, with only 10 minutes remaining, genius emerged.
Receiving the ball in the center circle, Maradona glided past three Brazilian midfielders, drawing the entire opposing defense before unleashing a devastating pass that ripped through space for Claudio Caniggia to score. It was the perfect finishing blow from a boxer exhausted but still knowing how to deliver the decisive punch.
The psychological warfare is dividing Italy.
Advancing to the semi-finals, Maradona faced his toughest challenge: meeting host nation Italy in Naples. He launched an unprecedented psychological attack, appealing to the people of Naples to support him instead of the national team, exploiting the deep-seated discrimination suffered by Southern Italy.
This tactic caused a deep division in Italy. In the strange atmosphere at the San Paolo stadium, the match went to a penalty shootout. Maradona successfully converted his penalty in the fourth round, setting the stage for goalkeeper Goycochea to save Aldo Serena's final shot, sending Argentina to the final to the astonishment of the whole world.
Tears in Rome and the end of an era
The tragic journey ended in Rome in a controversial final against West Germany. Argentina, without Caniggia due to suspension, were reduced to a lifeless shell trying to force the game into a penalty shootout. A questionable penalty in the 85th minute by Andreas Brehmer dashed all of Argentina's hopes.
When the final whistle blew, the world witnessed a shocking scene: Diego Maradona stood in the middle of the field, sobbing like a child. He wept for the injustice, but more profoundly, because he realized his magic had run out. The 1990 World Cup marked the end of football's shift towards pragmatism, closing a romantic era in which Maradona was the most brilliant final chapter.
