Remembering Diego Maradona: The Idol of the Poor
Growing up in the south of Iran, our distraction from life was football, our passion was football, and our heroes were footballers. And it seemed at the time that our heroes were immortal. Rest in peace, Diego Maradona.
Diego Armando Maradona grew up in poverty in Argentina and inspired millions who shared his background.
For kids in the south of Iran who grew up with little, having a good football was everything. When it was flattened under a minibus, it was a death to be mourned. For a week after, we were ready to beat up the kid who had caused it.
Our distraction from life was football, our passion was football, and our heroes were footballers. And it seemed at the time that our heroes were immortal.
Perhaps because of the similarity of the climate or because of the resemblance of our complexions, those heroes were always from South America. And, for most, chief among them was Diego Maradona. Whenever someone could dribble well, everybody cried: “Wow! Watch Maradona.” We cried with joy when Maradona scored a goal and cried like babies when Argentina lost.
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.