Maradona: Number 10 Jersey – To Retire Or Not To Retire?

Oladipupo Mojeed Sports 15/12/2020

The football world was thrown into mourning on November 25 with the death of football icon, Diego Armando Maradona.

Eulogies and condolence messages flooded in from all over the world to honour and celebrate the life of the 1986 world cup winner.

Maradona’s legendary skills brought Napoli the two Serie A titles they have ever won. Following his death, the Stadio San Paolo has been renamed Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Fans pay their last respect to late Diego Maradona (Image: Reuters)

Recently Olympique Marseille coach, Andre Villas-Boas urged FIFA to retire the number 10 shirt from all teams in every competition in honour of the man whose ‘hand of God’ denied England any hope of progression in the 1986 World Cup.

After the retirement of the maestro from international football, Argentina initially retired the number 10 jersey. However, FIFA told them not to do so.

Since then, Ariel Ortega and Juan Roma Riquelme have had the privilege of playing in the iconic number, but neither was able to fill the shoes of the legend.

Maradona won two Serie A titles and UEFA Cup with Napoli (Image: Twitter/Napoli)

Maradona: turbulent personal life

Undoubtedly, Maradona deserves to be treated as a national treasure for his contribution to Argentine football.

But issues that surround his personal lifestyle leave much to be desired. There are already reports of rifts over his persona fortune, estimated at about 37m Euros.

To add to the problem, some individuals have also turned up claiming to be children of the late footballer.

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There is also the controversial issue of alleged domestic violence. Maradona denied the accusations and no charges were brought against him.

However Spanish female league footballer, Paula Dapena recently refused to take part in a minute’s silence for Maradona as a protest against domestic violence.

Maradona’s football career was blighted by his involvement with the Mafia, drugs and alcohol abuse. However, he created indelible memories for all who knew him.