Maradona at Napoli – in high definition

Diego Armando Maradona is widely regarded as the best football players of all time (well, at least until Messi grows up). At Napoli, he is regarded as a God.

His time in Naples had it all: magic, mayhem, myth. At a time when Serie A was the undoubted superpower of world football, Maradona’s Napoli took on a nation and performed heroics.

These photos are but a snapshot of that time. And what a time it was.

All photos have been modified using HDR toning in Photoshop. All photo credits are to their original owner – I would provide those credits, but they were not available (found on various archives and blogs). 

Click on each photo to see bigger

Diego Armando Maradona is shown his new home at a packed Stadio San Paolo

Diego Armando Maradona – the King of Naples

Maradona prior to his Serie A debut v Verona in 1984

Maradona led Napoli to their first ever scudetto victory in 1987

Il Capitano: Maradona in all his glory

Maradona gets away from a confused-looking young Paolo Maldini

“The first football was the most beautiful present of my life… the day I was given it I slept all night, hugging it”

Maradona tries to evade the attentions of Inter’s Giuseppe Baresi

This time he fails to evade the attentions of the other Baresi, Milan’s Franco

Lining up a free-kick v Milan. One of the best free-kick takers in history, he consistently delivered from the deadball for both club and country

“I am Maradona, who makes goals, who makes mistakes. I can take it all, I have shoulders big enough to fight with everybody”

Playing against another great – Michel Platini of Juventus

The great rivals of their time: Maradona v Platini

Maradona and Antonio Cabrini, Napoli v Juventus

Maradona and Milan’s Ruud Gullit

Maradona celebrating with Bruno Giordano and Ciro Ferrara

Against Lothar Matthaus of Inter

Being watched closely by a young Paolo Maldini

Scoring one of his many free-kicks v Milan. Donadoni and Baresi watch on helplessly as the ball sails by

Maradona and co celebrate with Ciro Ferrara after winning the UEFA Cup final second leg v Stuttgart

Maradona and Ciro Ferrara after winning the UEFA Cup final second leg v Stuttgart

Maradona relaxing with a certain Luciano Moggi, Napoli’s then direttore generale and the man responsible for signing him

Maradona with fellow Argentine and Boca Juniors hero Claudio Caniggia

Maradona with Argentina, aged 19

“I always knew I would become great one day, but not so quickly…”

Pleading to the referee during the infamous Italy v Argentina 1990 World Cup semi-final

Receiving a kiss (with some pleasure) from Napoli teammate Careca

Maradona and Inter’s Riccardo Ferri

Napoli honours: Serie A (2): 1987, 1990; Coppa Italia: 1987; UEFA Cup: 1989; Supercoppa Italiana: 1990

More than a legend – a God. Maradona will forever be Napoli’s greatest ever, and one of the greatest players to ever play the game