Return to innocence
Reading Time: 5min | Mon. 20.06.22. | 09:48
On this day, 36 years ago, Diego Armando Maradona scored THAT goal. And the other one before that. But this is about the Goal of the Century and we've played it again, only this time in the 'rewind' mode
That's not the beginning of the end
That's the return to yourself
The return to innocence
The ball detaches itself from the net and passes Shilton, who is given back his dignity. It glues to Maradona's left foot as he is pulling himself up from the ground with Butcher on his back.
10 yards out.
Until a second ago ecstatic crowd is returning to their seats, jaws previously dropped as he is dashing back to the centre.
15 yards out.
Tears of joy leap back into the eyes of the fans while Fenwick's hand is moving away from him. Beardsley fella - still equipped with a whole set of teeth he's about to lose in the upcoming years - restrains as he sees Diego getting closer to the centre circle and reinventing long-lost Peter Reid, whose grey hair is suddenly regaining colour.
30 yards out.
The voice of their commentator has lost its pace upon calmness and that flamboyant quote of his "De que planeta vinisteee..." from only a moment ago suddenly makes no sense whatsoever when said in the opposite direction.
40 yards out.
It's been an amazing run so far, no dilemma of it, with the last drops of myth and glory crumbling on the hot Mexican sun before they vanish for good.
He dribbles marvellously in reverse and gets himself tight to Fenwick (Sorry, what, Fenwick again?! This poor bystander has seen more of Diego vanishing through his fingers in a single piece of the action than his spouse, Claudia Villafane, in years... and we know Marado wasn't the most faithful guy out there).
The only possible way that Fenwick could stop him... some nasty tackling (©Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive)50 yards out.
Diego's teammate Hector Enrique is wide open, and this magical run is about to diminish into the intangible innocence.
The Goal of the Century turns itself, thus going backwards, into the Century of the Goal.
He is no longer Maradona. He's again just Diego. El Pibe. The Boy.
20th June 1986. Estadio Azteca. Mexico City.
And not just because it was such an important game. It was impossible to score such a beautiful goal.
— O$car🤤 (@WiseRomeoo) June 12, 2022
“He’s the greatest player of all time, by a long way. A genuine phenomenon.”
(Gary Lineker after Maradona's goal of the century) pic.twitter.com/lSGdz4r2Wk
That's not the beginning of the end
That's the return to yourself
The return to innocence
The woman in white is not letting Maradona's hand as they walk backwards, smiling. Sue - that's her name, and her spouse is an Argentine immigrant who has never taken her to his homeland - is taking Diego from the locker room back to the pitch. She's not a genuine nurse but works on fertility issues and only volunteers in the World Cup. Boston sun is thriving, returning to be an accomplice in this reverse motion of events.
Delighted, Diego is slowly distancing himself from her as Sue's hand slides down his waist before they separate on the turf.
Sue Carpenter no era enfermera, era asistente de Organización, tenía 33 años, había sido casada con argentino, y fue designada para acompañar a Maradona al control doping,luego del resultado de la prueba diría "Me cortaron las piernas" Fue el último juego de Diego en mundiales pic.twitter.com/R75GguJtqW
— Antonio Ubilla (@AntonioUbilla1) June 25, 2020
There's no anti-doping test, or at least number 10 is not the one to be taken there. Two other female assistants, appointed by FIFA too, have decided to choose some other Albiceleste players. Please, for God's sake, let's just avoid Diego's compadre Claudio Caniggia because in his blood and urine you would find all illegal substances you can think of. And some those never unheard of before.
The final whistle silences itself. Nigeria haven't lost the WC tie to Argentina, and two of the world's most emblematic magicians, Jay-Jay and Diego, continue their immaculate rewind dance with the ball, with the time on the clock growing, fortunately for us.
Jay-Jay and Diego that day (©Chris Cole/ALLSPORT)El Pibe is enjoying himself in this awkward yet beautiful, meaningful purity of the game...
"I want to stay happy."
25th June 1994. Foxborough Stadium. Massachusets.
That's not the beginning of the end
That's the return to yourself
The return to innocence
What if… What if we could simply push that imaginary button and take back the time and play the Goal of the Century - thanks for asking, today's its 36th birthday - backwards. Not just IT, but the whole thing. All the highs and lows of Diego Maradona's life (and ours too, why not) in that singlehandedly launched safari back to innocence.
With no glory, nor temptation, nor the woman in white that is about to tarnish our happiness just when we think it's finally just around the corner. With no Maradona around, only Diego present. El Pibe.
Diego with the WC trophy celebrating (©David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive)Little boy that adores the game and lives for it. Unaware of a seductive taste of sins he's about to experience once he starts that mesmerizing run of his... Past so-called defender Fenwick, leaving grey-haired Reid in the Central American dust, sending a jolly boy Beardsley on a quick outing, making Butcher look like the very opposite of his surname, agonizingly mocking Shilton again and again, just a few minutes after that notorious 'Hand of God'.
"Ta, ta, ta, taaaa..."
Tears are back.
"De que planeta vinisteee..."
The ball is galloping into the back of the net.
A larger-than-life myth is rising like a colossus in front of our very eyes.
Ecstasy is palpable.
Universe has taken one giant leap in sheer happiness.
In the return to innocence.
Retro goal of the day!
— The Football Pink (@TheFootballPink) June 14, 2022
Considered the goal of the century, the commentary to Diego Maradona’s goal against England in Mexico 86 speaks for itself.
The man was seen as god by many, and who could blame them? This is just sublime. 🇦🇷⚽ pic.twitter.com/qUGwdWNuf9
By: Bojan Babic
