Maradona

Maradona's 1986 World Cup is remembered primarily for the Hand of God and his wondergoal against England, but this was his best display.

In the photo below, Maradona has all his weight on that left foot still and, seemingly, will end up on his back. On the face of it, there is nowhere for Maradona to go as he takes a touch forward and three Belgium players confront him. One of them is Cuciuffo, who has continued his run, presumably more in hope than expectation that he will get the ball back. … receive on the back foot and with his body open. Look at the image below and the way in which three Belgium players have been drawn to Maradona. Frank Vercauteren, who is matching Maradona stride for stride in the picture below, is looking in completely the opposite direction to the ball. With six minutes gone, a Belgium cross has been cleared and is dropping out of the sky. Instinctively, he flicks the ball to Jorge Valdano with the outside of his left foot. Up in the stands the pace of life is rather more sedate. Two of that trio of Belgium players converged on Maradona, expecting him to come out of the turn and drive forward with the ball, exactly as he did against England. Memorable because the skill that Maradona uses to manoeuvre his way out of an area the size of a telephone box has long been named after him. Three days after breaking English hearts, Maradona returned to the Azteca and produced arguably an even better — certainly more complete — display against Belgium.