RIP Diego.
For people of my generation, Diego Maradona is perhaps better known for his flaws than his footballing prowess. The Hand of God goal was the first thing I learned of Maradona – how he had cheated England out of a World Cup semi-final in 1986, and that he should be reviled, not revered.
But the more I learned about the man, I discovered that he was not a genius in spite of his imperfections, but because of them. The two sides of Maradona fed into one another. His flaws added to the legend.
Nothing better encapsulates this than the brilliant documentary film made about his time in Napoli by Asif Kapadia, or this beautiful piece written by Nooruddean Choudry.
This week’s pub quiz goes out to El Diego. Rest in peace.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
