Diego Maradona – The professional debut of the “Golden Kid” in Buenos Aires

Argentine professional football player and manager. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Maradona’s vision, passing, ball control and dribbling skills were combined with his small stature, which gave him a low center of gravity allowing him to maneuver better than most other football players. Maradona was given the nickname “El Pibe de Oro” (“The Golden Kid”), a name that stuck with him throughout his career.

**On 20 October 1976, Maradona made his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors, 10 days before his 16th birthday, vs. Talleres de Córdoba / Image: via wikipedia.org**

In his international career with Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals. Maradona played in four FIFA World Cups, including the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where he captained Argentina and led them to victory over West Germany in the final, and won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

In the 1986 World Cup quarter final, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over England that entered football history for two different reasons. The first goal was an unpenalized handling foul known as the “Hand of God”, while the second goal followed a 60 meters dribble past five England players, voted “Goal of the Century” by FIFA.com voters in 2002.

The Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, known for sponsorship reasons as the Estadio Autocrédito Diego Armando Maradona, is an Argentine football stadium located in the city of Buenos Aires between Juan Agustín García, Boyacá, San Blas y Gavilán, in the Villa General Miter / Image: via mktesportivo.com

Diego Armando Maradona debuted in the first team of Argentinos Juniors. It was the eighth date of the National Tournament in 1976 and Argentinos Juniors received Talleres de Córdoba in La Paternal, which had three wins in a row and was already emerging as the leader of the area. The game, which would end with a 1-0 defeat, took place on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 20 at the Juan Agustín García y Boyacá stadium.

**It was named in honor of Diego Armando Maradona, who officially debuted on that pitch on Wednesday, October 20, 1976, at the age of 15 / Image: via argentinosjuniors.com.ar**

Although Ludueña scored the goal that was worth two points in the first half, the highlight of the match would occur in the second when the best player of all time came in to replace Rubén Giacobetti wearing jersey number 16.

Fans of Argentinos Juniors and a few traveling Talleres fans witnessed probably the most important debut in the history of Argentine football.

▶ Argentinos Juniors 0 – Talleres de Córdoba 1 / Debut de Maradona

Featured Image: Diego Armando Maradona, the day he debuted in Primera División, 20 October 1976 / Image: via mundod.lavoz.com.ar

Websites: diegomaradonagroup.com, argentinosjuniors.com.ar, twitter.com/ Diego Maradona, afa.com.ar