He was instead surrounded by an awful lot of the worst influences, not least literal organised crime. Maradona was after all not surrounded by super-talent disproportionate to most opposition, in the way that Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are. That goes beyond the usual arguments about bad pitches, rules that favoured bad fouls and a tactical era that favoured defensive football, not to mention the lack of super-clubs. ![]() Maradona had to deal with more problems than most stars, which the film suggests is why he didn’t win everything.Īgainst the hermetically sealed world of today’s stars, he operated in near-total chaos. ![]() “When you’re on the pitch, life goes away. There’s a poignant quote from the present-day Maradona, that is pointedly played at the start and end of the film. It is made even clearer to you that, because of such ball control, almost everything else in Maradona’s life was entirely out of control. That just gives rise to another contrast, and the most important of all. That control is organic, making the ball a natural extension of his body that doesn’t so much bend to his will as flow with it. It’s made so clear to you that this was a player with unmatched control of a football. This, after all, was really why he was considered the greatest. It is a record that truly perplexes when the film relays footage of Maradona’s perfect football ability. The prestige of Mexico 1986 aside, that is a record that pales next to Leo Messi’s extended excellence of 10 Spanish titles in 15 years, and four Champions Leagues. It was in that period he won five of a mere eight career trophies, and all of his major ones - a World Cup, his only two domestic titles, one Uefa Cup and the Italian Cup. That is suggested by the fact the film really only focuses on five years of his career, at Napoli, between 19. In doing so, it also puts forward an explanation as to why Maradona may not have actually fulfilled that talent, at least by the modern game’s standards of hyper-excellence. It is thereby close to a tragedy, which spares the man himself more specific scrutiny of his own actions. Kapadia offers a hugely sympathetic view of his subject, presenting him as a humble victim of extreme circumstances - and exceptional talent. Maradona himself is said to reject that thesis, but it’s difficult to see how he could reject much else in the film. He probably spent as much time with the player as anyone, so it is an informed idea eagerly picked up on by Kapadia. This split-personality thesis, and those quotes, come from Fernando Signorini, the fitness trainer charged with getting Maradona fit for both the 19 World Cups. That is also the point when “Diego” - that “wonderful boy with insecurities” - fully becomes “Maradona”, a personality created “to face all the demands” of his life, who “couldn’t show any weakness”. He leaves Napoli alone, having arrived to crowds of 86,000 and relentless, suffocating attention. The genius footballer proclaimed the greatest ever finally becomes an outcast who tests positive for cocaine. The “god” - to quote pretty much all of Napoli during most of his time there - becomes “the devil”, or “lucifer”, to quote the Italian media after the controversial 1990 World Cup semi-final. ![]() ![]() The doting father meanwhile gives way to the uncaring philanderer, unwilling to recognise his son, Diego, but whose own frightened daughters barely recognise him when he comes home as high as the Azteca Stadium. Most visibly, the fairly lithe and athletic sportsman - a certain scrawniness symbolised by a scraggy beard - very quickly gives way to a bloated figure with a double chin. That’s also the turning point, when so many of the other contrasts become apparent. The revelation of that routine is one of many extreme contrasts that director Asif Kapadia concentrates on in his enthralling new documentary, ‘Diego Maradona’, and it pointedly comes at around the half-way point of the film. Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening, with our free daily newsletter.Įnter email address This field is required Sign Up Daily Headlines & Evening Telegraph Newsletter
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