32 years since Maradona’s last World Cup goal: this was the goal and the scream that became unforgettable

Home News 32 years since Maradona’s last World Cup goal: this was the goal and the scream that became unforgettable
32 years since Maradona’s last World Cup goal: this was the goal and the scream that became unforgettable

This June 21 marks 32 years since the last goal that Diego Armando Maradona scored in a World Cup. The goal came in Argentina’s victory over Greece during the 1994 World Cup in the United States and was recorded as one of the most remembered moments of his career with the Albiceleste.

The score occurred in the second half, when Argentina was already winning 2-0 thanks to a double from Gabriel Batistuta. After a combination with Fernando Redondo and Claudio Caniggia, Maradona hit a powerful left foot shot that ended up in the corner of the Greek goal.

The subsequent celebration became an iconic image. Maradona ran towards a television camera and screamed with fury and emotion, in a scene that still remains among the most emblematic in World Cup history.

A few days later, a positive doping test after the match against Nigeria ended his participation in the tournament. That goal against Greece ended up being Maradona’s last in a World Cup.

Years later, Maradona explained the meaning of that scream in his book “Mexico 86. My World Cup. My truth. This is how we won the Cup”. El Diez assured that he arrived at the 1994 World Cup “clean as ever” and that that celebration was a form of personal relief.

“I didn’t need drugs to take revenge and to shout my happiness to the world”Maradona said when remembering the goal against Greece. For him, that goal represented the opportunity to show his daughters that he was still a soccer player and that he could still shine with the Argentine shirt.

The celebration also reflected the turbulent years he had experienced before the tournament, marked by a suspension for doping, his departure from Napoli, his time at Sevilla and his return to the national team in the playoff against Australia.

Source