The Diego Diaries – Introduction
The Diego Diaries
The 30th of October 1960 for some is merely an insignificant date plucked from history but for the people of Naples and vast swathes of the population of Argentina it is the day El Dios entered the world.
It would have been impossible for his parents to imagine the impact this infant would go on to have in his life.
Diego Armando Maradona today celebrates his 60th birthday.
For many he is a genius, perhaps the greatest to ever play the game, but a flawed genius.
His six decades on the planet have seen him reach the highest of highs but also fall to the lowest of lows.
He has lead a life of excess which has taken a toll on his health and he will celebrate this milestone birthday in far more sober circumstances than he is accustomed to – sheltered in self-isolation from the coronavirus.
Much has been said about Diego and his actions, one thing that is undeniable is he is captivating, his every action to this day still garners column inches around the world.
In celebration of his 60th birthday Marking The Spot is proud to launch a new series that will explore how a boy who grew up in the shantytown Villa Fiorito on the outskirts of Buenos Aires rose to the top of the game and how he fell from grace.
The Diego Diaries will celebrate his many achievements in the game but also delve into the dark corners of his life – both on and off the field.
I hope this series will help you to understand why Diego is the way he is.
A character as complex as Diego Maradona cannot be dissected in a single post so as a result the tale of his life to date will be explored in chapters released every month over the course of the next year.
For now though, all that is left to say in this introduction is Happy birthday Diego!
Mark
30/10/2020
