The football game has been graced by some of the most unparalleled talents over the years, but very few of them could be named in contention for the mantle of the god of football. So, who is the god of football? The answer would be Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona.
Despite having some of the world’s greatest football players on the list like Pele, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane and more, who have scored more goals than the Argentina footballer, everyone would agree with the awe that Diego Maradona induced within football fans when the ball was at his feet.
Diego Maradona in Club Competitions
| Competitions | Games | Goals | Assists |
| Serie A | 187 | 81 | 42 |
| La Liga | 62 | 27 | 12 |
| Italy Cup | 44 | 29 | 9 |
| UEFA Cup | 19 | 3 | 8 |
| Cup Winners’ Cup | 7 | 8 | 5 |
| European Cup | 6 | 2 | – |
| Copa de la Liga | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Tally | 331 | 154 | 77 |
Whether it be dribbling past defenders, scoring goals finding the most acute corners of the goal or outmuscling the strongest of enforcers, the 5 feet 5-inch left-footed football player could do it all and with equal efficacy that led him to be called the god.
Being a wide forward, who was often given the responsibility to make average teams look strong, Diego Maradona had a lot to do. However, his insane individual prowess is what separated him from the rest. Despite having physical limitations, Maradona was unstoppable with the ball at his feet. The best example of that would be his stint with Serie A side Napoli, with whom he had scored 115 goals and provided 59 assists.
Diego Maradona: Club career goals
| Club | Games | Goals | Assists |
| SSC Napoli | 257 | 115 | 59 |
| FC Barcelona | 51 | 34 | 18 |
| Sevilla FC | 27 | 5 | – |
| Tally | 335 | 154 | 77 |
Diego Maradona was transferred to FC Barcelona after an impressive 1982 World Cup and was the first Barcelona player ever to be applauded by Real Madrid fans for his wonder goal in the 1983 Copa del Rey final. While Maradona’s on-field performances were never in doubt, his off-field controversies saw the Spanish club chip off to Napoli.
Despite his antics, Serie A club Napoli had stuck with Diego Maradona and it was in this Italian club that Maradona had found his home. He ended up winning the Neapolitans their first-ever Serie A title in 1986-87 and then again in 1989-90 apart from the Coppa Italia in 1989.
Diego Maradona: International career goals
| Competitions | Games | Goals | Assists |
| International Friendlies | 36 | 14 | 4 |
| World Cup | 21 | 8 | 8 |
| Copa América | 12 | 4 | – |
| World Cup qualification | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Artemio Franchi Trophy | 1 | – | – |
If Diego Maradona’s club stint had earned in countless fans in Europe, it was his international career that immortalized him across the globe. Whether it be his incredible solo run against England or his hand of god winner, every 15 of his goals is still etched in the memories of many. Maradona had 29 goals and 13 assists for the Argentina senior team, which also included a FIFA World Cup title under his captaincy.
Famous quotes on God of football Diego Armando Maradona
The best of the lot, no question. In my generation, my era, he was simply the best. I saw Maradona do things that God himself would doubt were possible. He always had someone marking him, he always had someone hanging on to him, and yet he could still always conjure up wonderful pieces of magic. A genius.” — Zico
“What Zidane could do with a ball, Maradona could do with an ORANGE.” — Michel Platini
“Some say Pele was the greatest player of all time, but not me. Maradona will always be the greatest. He won World Cup in 1986, narrowly lost in the final in 1990 and then in 1994 maybe would have won it again had he not been banned. The crucial difference with Pele is that Maradona wasn’t surrounded by great players; he had to carry the team himself. If you took Maradona out of Argentina they would not win the World Cup, but I think Brazil without Pele would still have won.” — Eric Cantona
A genius, a real artist, one of the greatest players in the world. He could win a match on his own. On his own.” — Sir Bobby Robson
“The best player there has ever been, better than Pele. I watched him closely in Italy every week and he was at a different level to everyone else. Some of the things he did were unbelievable. He could control the ball without looking, which meant if the pass was on, he would take it.” — Ruud Gullit
“Even if I played for a million years, I’d never come close to Maradona. Not that I’d want to anyway. He’s the greatest there’s ever been.” — Lionel Messi
FAQs
Who is the god of football in 2020?
For the best part of the last decade, there have been no players coming close to the qualities of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. However, given the Portuguese footballer’s insane goal-scoring record, Cristiano Ronaldo was the god of football in 2020.
Who is the god of football in 2021?
Lionel Messi was the god of football in 2021 with a whopping tally of 38 goals and 18 assists for FC Barcelona before leaving the next summer for Paris Saint-Germain.
Who is God of football 2022?
The 2021-22 football season is currently midway with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi struggling to find the back of the net for their new clubs. The god of football 2022 is yet to be decided.
Who is the god of football 2018?
One of the last seasons in La Liga that saw a fierce battle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi was the 2017-18 season. While Ronaldo ended up scoring 44 goals and providing 16 assists across all competitions, Messi edged past his archrival with 45 goals and 28 assists. Lionel Messi was the god of football in 2018.
