He February 27, 1977 He was marked in the history of Argentine football. With just 16 years, Diego Armando Maradona debuted with the Argentine National Team shirt in a Friendly against Hungary In La Bombonera. That moment was the starting point of a career that would lead him to become one of the greatest figures of world sport.
That afternoon, the young man emerged from Argentinos Juniors entered the second half in replacement of Leopoldo Luque. The emotion invaded him by stepping on the grass with the celestial and white, to the point of confessing years later that his legs trembled. “
February 27, 1977: The day Maradona debuted with the Argentine National Team
Two days before the game, César Luis Menotti informed him that he would be part of the call. “Báñese and go for the concentration in the two Chinese. Avishe to his parents, but do not comment with anyone else,” the coach told him. That news was the dream fulfilled for a young man who, four months before, had debuted in the First Division with Argentinos Juniors.
The meeting in front of the European team was played in La Bombonera. With the result 5 to 0 in favor of the albiceleste, the coach decided to give him the opportunity to enter the “fluff.” “I don’t want to put it nervous, but if things go, I put it in the second half,” the DT had anticipated. At 20 minutes of the second half, the expected time came. With the number 19 shirt on the back, he entered the court to live his first experience with the major selection.
The “skinny” instructions were clear: “Do what you know.” In his first action, he received a pass from Américo Gallego and left René Houseman hand in hand with the Hungarian goalkeeper, who avoided the sixth Argentine goal. Later, Sandor Zombori marked the discount and established the final 5-1. Near the end, the boy who dreamed of this moment had his chance. He was in front of the rival goalkeeper and finished off the right, but the ball went over the crossbar.
Some time later, in the book “I am the Diego“he recalled that day with emotion: “My legs and hands trembled. It was a barbarian noise: the tribune shouted, what Menotti had told me sounded in my head. I say it honestly, I had a barbarian Julepe. “
Diego’s most outstanding data with the Argentine National Team
The Argentine icon played 25 meetings with the Sub-20in which he turned 14 goals. In La Mayor, he played 91 games and scored 34 goals. Beyond the numbers, their most remembered actions were in the World Cups. Participated in four editions: Spain 1982, Mexico 1986, Italy 1990 and United States 1994accumulating 21 presentations and eight annotations.
As for titles, he managed to devote himself three times with the albiceleste. The most emblematic was the 1986 World Cupwhere he took the team to glory. Before, he had achieved the 1979 World Cup In Japan and, years later, the Artemio Franchi Cup in 1993.
In addition to his stage as a footballer, He had a step as technical director of the Argentine team. Between 2008 and 2010 he directed 24 games, with 18 wins and six losses. Its cycle ended after the elimination in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in Germany.
47 years after his first game with the National Team, that teenager who dreamed of playing for his country is still remembered as one of the most important figures in world football.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
