FIVE CAREER-DEFINING GOALS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL

DIEGO MARADONA was a lot of things and a scorer of obscene goals was just one of them. From his haul of 312 at club level and 34 for Argentina, here are his top five...

5 NOVEMBER 1985 v JUVENTUS

WITH 20 minutes to play, Napoli were given an indirect free-kick 14 yards out. The Juventus wall had crept no more than six or so yards from the ball, leaving no obvious room to get it up and down. After Eraldo Pecci had a touch, Maradona somehow found the only arc to goal. It became known as The Divine Free-kick.

4 OCTOBER 1985 v VERONA

A CLASSIC of vision and execution. Controlling a punt forward, the Napoli attacker effectively killed the ball dead with his left boot 45 yards from goal, while simultaneously spinning. With three men drifting his way, Maradona let the ball bounce once before launching a marvellous half-volley over the goalkeeper.

3 JUNE 1986 v BELGIUM

THERE are those who believe the second of Maradona’s goals for Argentina in the World Cup semi-final was even better than the one that beat England in the previous round. Forty yards from goal, he faced four men. Six touches and they were all gone and off balance as he supplied the finish that killed the game. Sublime.

2 JUNE 1986 v ENGLAND

IT WASN’T his best. It wasn’t his head. It wasn’t legal. It wasn’t God. But that cheated goal off his hand in the World Cup quarter-final was as remarkable as any for the way it captured one half of the most captivating personality ever known to football.

1 JUNE 1986 v ENGLAND

HOW predictable that any countdown ends with the most unfathomable goal ever scored. From his own half, he ran a ring around half the English team and an endless loop around English minds back home.