The Argentine star never won the trophy when he was a player, as in his best moments it was not awarded to South American players. But he still received a reward, the end of which was unexpected.
Lionel Messi wins his eighth Ballon d’Or and Argentina achieves a new feat in the history of world football. However, the coveted trophy owes a historic debt to one of the greatest footballers in history: Diego Armando Maradona.
Although it’s hard to believe, The one born in Lanús never won the prize issued by the gala magazine France Football. Yes, you read correctly, the trans-Andean “10” has never had the honor of being consecrated during the ceremony which has taken place since 1956 and for a very particular reason: Until the mid-90s, only European players were rewarded and they ignored the great campaigns of footballers who were not born on the Old Continent.
For the same reason, when Maradona achieved global glory in 1986 or during his great performances in Naples until 1990, he simply could not be rewarded. Actually, In 1986, Ukrainian Igor Belanov took it and after receiving it he admitted that he did not deserve it. “I was the best in Europe. “Maradona, the best in the world,” he commented a day later.
Despite this, Pelusa still got the Ballon d’Or for being the best player in the universal party. Further away, flight Provincial Bank from Naples he snatched it and although he tried to get it back, he could not. “It wasn’t possible because they had already melted it. I also sent a sum of 15 million lire there, but they returned it to me because the trophy had already disappeared,” one of the mafia bosses told the Italian prosecutor.
A real curse
But the firm policy of Gabriel Hanot, then director of the French magazine, changed in 1995 and even if the main distinction goes to George Weah, Diego Armando received his prize from the equally legendary Alfredo Di Stéfano.
Furthermore, the coin bathed in precious metal would not stay in their hands either. A fire would destroy all material possessions in Maradona’s father’s house in July 2014 and also take away the decoration. which his son kept as one of his most precious treasures.
Something that, according to the legendary player’s entourage, would have greatly hurt the eternal captain of the Albiceleste, which is why he would contact France Football to try to get a reply. However, several versions of the international press claim that The publication delayed its delivery due to the high cost of manufacturing one of these trophies. almost three thousand euros, or a little more than 2.8 million pesos.
But the last thing we knew was that they had agreed to make it in the workshop where six goldsmiths work and that they would have it delivered within an undetermined time frame. But unfortunately, for The Argentine star and for the whole world, death had other plans. Diego Armando Maradona died on November 25, 2020 and the Ballon d’Or that he so wanted to have in his hands never returned.
Follow in El Deportivo:
Source: Latercera
I am David Jack and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. As an experienced journalist, I specialize in covering sports news with a focus on golf. My articles have been published by some of the most respected publications in the world including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.
