Maradona memories linger as Argentina face Austria at World Cup

Argentina fans and players are honoring the memory of football legend Diego Maradona as they prepare for their World Cup match against Austria. Monday marks 40 years since Maradona's unforgettable performance in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals against England, where he scored both the "Hand of God" goal and the "Goal of the Century." This anniversary is celebrated in Argentina as the Day of the Argentine Footballer.

Even more than five years after his death, Maradona remains a central figure for Argentine supporters, rivaling Lionel Messi in popularity. Fans have displayed banners placing Maradona alongside Messi with the word "simbiosis," and chanted that "Maradona is greater than Pele." Coach Lionel Scaloni recalled watching Maradona's goals at his grandmother's house as an eight-year-old, anticipating an emotional anniversary.

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I think I was at home, at my grandmother's house, because we all lived there. There were I don't know how many of us living there, we didn't have our own home. It was a very small TV.

Austria holds a special place in Maradona's history as well. He scored his only international hat-trick against them in 1980, and the two nations met again in 1990. Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60 following a heart attack.

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Emotional. I didn't know tomorrow was the anniversary of that great goal, so let's enjoy it. We will see it everywhere tomorrow. We'll cry a little too.