DIEGO'S DEBUT

A daily earlier than today (i.e. the 27th) of February 1977 saw the debut for Argentina's international side of 16 year old Diego Maradona. Their opponents were Hungary who had been a leading national side in the past with an Olympic Gold in 1952, 1964, 1968 and a Silver in 1972.

The Magyars however, failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1974 and the Olympics and European Championships in 197, so were regarded as in decline.

Argentina on the other hand, were emerging from being in the Olympic Final in 1928 and the World Cup Final 1930. However they did own 12 Copa America Trophies.

In the Bombanera Stadium, Buenos Aries, over 60,000 watched the friendly match between Argentina and Hungary watching their home team go 4-0 up by half time. Bertoni with 3 and Luque 1 scored. The "jet lagged" Magyars had not reply.
In the second half Luque scored again and Samdor replied for Hungary.
After 62 minutes Ricardo Villa came off for Benitez and Luque for Maradona, the first of his 91 caps and World Cup Final glory in Mexico in 1986.
We remember that well.
At 58 years old he is manager of Mexican Second Division club Dorados de Sinaloa. Voted joint player of the 20th Century in FIFA along with Pele.
His World Cup record was:
1982 Matches 5 Goals 2 Yellow 1
1986 7/5/1
1990 7/0/2
1994 2/1/0
In mid January, he was recovering from an operation to deal with an internal bleed caused by a hernia.