Diego Maradona would end up playing 91 full internationals for Argentina, netting 34 goals in the process, an outstanding return for a midfield player. For all his trials and tribulations off the pitch he represented his country for 17 long years and, although he may be best remembered for his remarkable solo performance to World Cup victory in 1986, this was by no means his only achievement in the light blue and white stripes of the Argentinian national colours.

He would make his international debut at the tender age of sweet sixteen against Hungary in February, 1977. Despite this he was deemed too young and inexperienced to feature in the World Cup squad that went on to win the trophy in 1978 on home soil.

Instead the little number ten would have to make do with a standout contribution the following year at the FIFA World Youth Championships in Japan. This was when the world first sat up and noticed this diminutive ball of energy, power and skill.
He played in all six games for his country, scoring six times, and although he did not find the net in a 3-1 win over the Soviet Union in the final, he produced yet another man of the match display.

There were no doubts over his age and ability by the time of the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where he had just relocated to following his transfer to Barcelona. He would play in all five games before the defending champions were knocked out of the tournament, never leaving the field to be replaced. Although Argentina failed to produce their form or results from four years previously, Maradona scored twice against Hungary in a group game and did enough to make him the most man-marked player in the tournament. A defeat to Italy in the second round was followed by a 3-1 loss to Brazil which ended their interest in the tournament. Maradona was sent off late in the physical game after a retaliatory foul against Batista.

Four years later he would produce his greatest moments on a football field, and most certainly for his country, in steering Argentina to World Cup glory, but Maradona’s World Cup story would not end there.

In 1990 he travelled to Italy to defend their world title. He failed to match his performances from four years previously – how could he? – and an ankle injury certainly hampered him throughout the tournament. Yet still he and his country made it to a second successive World Cup Final. In truth they had scraped through their group, before a canny Maradona assist set Claudio Caniggia up to score the only goal against Brazil in the last 16. After beating Yugoslavia on penalties in the quarter-finals, Italy succumbed to the same fate in the semi-final, with Maradona scoring the decisive winner in the shoot-out on his home club pitch in Naples.

It was the beginning of the end of his time in Italy and the pressures of being Maradona coupled with his growing off- field excesses made it a minor miracle that he returned to the international team in time for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. His tournament would last two games, a 2-1 win over Nigeria in which he assisted both goals, and a 4-0 win over Greece which saw Maradona score his last international goal and then produce a memorable, eye-bulging celebration as he ran towards a pitchside television camera.

In the post-match drugs test that players were randomly selected to take he proved positive for ephedrine doping and was expelled from the World Cup. Maradona protested his innocence, insisting that his American power drink was different to the Argentinian version he was used to consuming and this had the ephedrine in it, but his claims fell on deaf ears. His international career was over.

Once again it would be easy to focus on the negatives and the controversy but to play on 91 occasions for Argentina, to win a World Cup almost-singlehandedly, as well as the world youth cup, and play in another World Cup Final among four World Cup tournaments, makes this a career few, if any, can match.

And for almost all of it the fanatical fans of Argentina saw him simply as an icon of the nation.

An 18-year-old Maradona lines up in front of 62,000 fans before an International Challenge Match against Scotland at Hampden Park in June, 1979.

“In Argentine
football there is
a before and an
after Maradona.”

JULIO GRONDONA

Maradona listens to World Cup-winning Argentina coach, César Luis
Menotti.

Maradona celebrates with his teammates after captaining his country to victory in the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship in Japan, winning the Golden Ball award along the way as the outstanding player of the tournament.

“All my dreams were coming true, one after the other. I went on tour with the Argentinian first team. In Glasgow at Hampden Park on
2 June, 1979, I celebrated my first goal in the blue and white of the first team. We beat Scotland 3-1 and I felt I could beat the world.”

DIEGO MARADONA

Maradona moves between England players Phil Thompson (centre) and Ray Kennedy during a friendly match at Wembley Stadium on 13 May, 1980. 

Maradona (front row, third from left) with the Argentinian team in the lead up to the England match

Being introduced to Sir Stanley Rous before the game

Taking on England defender, Phil Neal.

A disappointed Maradona
swaps shirts with Kevin Keegan after the 3-1 defeat
against England at Wembley Stadium in May, 1980.

Action from the 1982 World Cup versus Belgium (top), Brazil (middle) and celebrating a goal against Hungary (bottom).

“Diego was
perhaps already
the best player
in the world in
’82 because of
the magic he
produced on
the pitch.”

OSVALDO ARDILES

Belgian defenders line-up to try and halt Argentina’s danger man during the 1982 World Cup group match on 13 June, 1982.

Maradona is consoled by Alberto
Tarantini (left) as his 1982 World Cup ends disappointingly
with a late red card in the 3-1 defeat against Brazil.

Maradona in action during a World Cup qualifying match against Peru on 23 June, 1985.

“Diego was
capable of
things no one
else could
match. The
things I could
do with a
football, he
could do with
an orange.”

MICHEL PLATINI

All eyes are on Maradona before a friendly match against Germany in December, 1987.

Maradona gets extra-close attention from Luis Reyna of Peru (top), demonstrates his acrobatic ability (middle) and races Russia’s Oleg Protasov for the ball (bottom).

“The best of the
lot, no question.
In my generation,
my era, he was
simply the best.
I saw Maradona
do things that
God himself
would doubt
were possible.”

ZICO

Maradona during the 1990 World Cup Group B match against USSR at the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy.

Cameroon’s Benjamin Massing is booked for a foul on Maradona in the opening match of the 1990 World Cup.

Maradona celebrates a goal with his teammates during a first round match against Romania in the 1990 World Cup.

Maradona drives the ball during the round of 16 match against Brazil at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. 

“A living legend, one of Argentina’s most important artists. A man who brought joy to the rest of the country like few others have.”

VICTOR HUGO MORALES

Taking on Sergei Aleinikov during a friendly match against Switzerland in 1989.

Wearing an opponent’s shirt, Maradona celebrates knocking Argentina’s fierce rivals Brazil out of the 1990 World Cup.

Maradona leads out Argentina for the 1990 World Cup semi-final against Italy.

“It was hard to sleep when you knew you were facing Maradona.”

FRANCO BARESI

Italian defender Franco Baresi (right) backs off as Maradona dribbles towards him, pursued by Paolo Maldini (left).

Controlling the ball under pressure from Giuseppe Bergomi

Dribbling between Franco Baresi
(left) and Luigi De Agostini

Celebrating Claudio Caniggia’s equalising goal which forced extra time.

Maradona scores his penalty in the shoot out which Argentina went on to win.

Maradona celebrates victory after beating the host nation Italy in the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup at the San Paolo stadium in Naples.

“Always, always, my pride and joy has been playing for the national team. Always, no many millions of dollars matter how I was paid at whatever club. Nothing compared to it, nothing. Because the value of the national squad can’t be measured in money, it can only be measured in glory.”

DIEGO MARADONA

Maradona (far right) lines up with the rest of the Argentinian team to observe the national anthems before the 1990 World Cup Final against West Germany.

Referee Edgardo Codesal Méndez tosses the coin as West German captain Lothar Matthäus stares down Maradona.

Maradona leaves Guido Buchwald on the ground as he carries the ball forward during the final.

Guido Buchwald (left) and Lothar Matthäus combine
to bring down Maradona during the 1990 World Cup Final.
Top Méndez shows Maradona the yellow card.

Maradona weeps after West Germany win the final 1-0.

Maradona playing against Nigeria in his fourth World Cup, in the USA in June, 1994.

“Maradona is 
Argentina! He’s
synonymous
 with the country
 whether you
 like it or not.”

DANIEL ARCUCCI

Maradona scores in the
4-0 victory against Greece in the first group match
of the 1994 World Cup, and celebrates with gusto.

Blowing a kiss during the 1994 World Cup match against Nigeria in Boston, USA.

Maradona is selected for a drugs test after the Nigeria match and escorted from the pitch by a medical nurse.

Maradona celebrates Claudio Caniggia’s winning goal against Nigeria, in what turned out to be his final international match for Argentina.

“Maradona is for
Argentina, first and
foremost, a God,
a legendary figure,
and enjoys the
same standing as
Gardel, Evita and
Che Guevara.”

JORGE VALDANO

Maradona captaining Argentina to a 4-0 victory over Greece in the 1994 World Cup in the USA, his fourth World Cup.