Claudia Villafañe remembers Maradona before Argentina-England semifinal, thrilling fans

Ahead of Argentina's World Cup semifinal clash with England, Claudia Villafañe, the ex-wife of football legend Diego Maradona, paid a poignant tribute to him. She wore the iconic blue jersey Maradona donned during the 1986 quarterfinal match against England, a game famously featuring his "Hand of God" goal.

Villafañe revealed the jersey on the television show "La cocina rebelde" on July 13. She highlighted that the shirt was the original and showed signs of wear, including stains. She explained that the team lacked a proper alternate jersey for that match against England, which required them to wear white. The Argentine Football Association's crest was sewn onto this unique blue shirt by the team's support staff.

"They went to look for them in Mexico City, and what they found from the brand was this one, which has two different colors and the number in silver," Villafañe recalled. "They took the AFA crests off other jerseys and the girls sewed them on as best they could. It was the only thing they could get, and luckily, we won 2-0."

The memory of Maradona's two goals in that 1986 quarterfinal, which Argentina won 2-1, remains vivid. Now, with Argentina facing England again in a World Cup semifinal on July 15, the team has requested FIFA's permission to wear the same blue alternate jersey, hoping to replicate the historical success.

The symbolism of the jersey and the historical parallels are not lost on the Argentine team and its fans, who often rely on such 'cábalas' or superstitions, believing in the power of past victories to influence future outcomes.