And so ends the strangest of years. 2020 will live on in infamy for the rest of our lives. So much has happened in the last 12 months, and yet, at times it felt as though nothing was happening at all.
Our annual look back on our articles on Balls.ie reveals a year filled with frustration, anger, and disappointment, but also one full of joy and inspiration.
Over the course of the week, we are sharing some of our favourite pieces from the maddest of years to relive some of what you may have forgotten or missed in 2020.
You can read more of our favourite pieces here.
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It's a sad day for football as we look back on the career and life of Diego Maradona.
No player in the history of football had a better collection of kits from their career than the Argentine legend. Be it with Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, or Argentina, they were all belters. In fact, we can go even further back.
Below is a picture of a teenage Maradona lining out for his first club, Argentinos Juniors. An eye-catching red Adidas number, it was certainly a decent kit.
On this day 1976: 15 year old Diego Maradona made his debut for Argentinos Juniors pic.twitter.com/Rr0LDOVVPg
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) October 20, 2019
Then you get into his stint at Boca Juniors. One of the most iconic jerseys in world football, the one from Maradona's time at the club was amongst their finest efforts.
El "Pelusa" del 81.#Maradona #BocaJuniors #Argentina #futbolretro pic.twitter.com/cCAEFIhzTd
— Kodro Magazine (@KodroMagazine) March 25, 2020
Next, it was Barcelona.
He moved to the Catalan club for a then world record fee of around £5million, scoring 38 goals in 58 games during two injury hit seasons at the Camp Nou.
He did it while sporting a classic kit:
Diego Maradona, Barcelona #Barcelona #Barca pic.twitter.com/BRZEIVzMFl
— Football Memories (@footballmemorys) March 23, 2020
His time at Napoli was the defining period of his career, both on and off the pitch. He would hit his highest and lowest moments while a player in Naples, arriving at the club for another world record fee.
He wore a few different kits at the Italian club, with this one away one from his debut season perhaps the best of the lot.
En 1985, en un Nápoli-Como, se enfrentaron Messi y Maradona. gran hallazgo de @MaradonaPICS pic.twitter.com/zswHr8dd29
— Lalo Zanoni (@zanoni) October 7, 2014
They had a few different Buitoni-sponsored efforts, with the home jersey from the 87-88 season below.
Classic kit sponsors. #3 Napoli & Buitoni. From 1985-88 the Azzurri shirt was topped off by the Italian pasta company. Seen here on Maradona, Careca & Giordano... pic.twitter.com/Anmll2xAmo
— The Culture of Football Classics (@CFclassics) November 16, 2017
This cracking effort from the 89/90 season, which saw Napoli claim a second Serie A title, is probably the most iconic one from his time in Italy.
El Napoli es campeón de invierno por 1ra vez desde la temporada 89/90 con Maradona. Han pasado 26 años. Reconquista pic.twitter.com/KeAKsXYSp1
— SSC Napoli (@Sp_Napoli) January 10, 2016
And then you have the Argentina kits.
Both the home and away jerseys in the 1986 World Cups were exquisite.
Diego Maradona campeón con su selección 1986 mundial de México sub campeón en Italia 90 campeón del mundial juvenil año 79, 91 partidos con la albiceleste marcando 32 goles entre los más destacados el gol que hizo a Inglaterra dónde arrancó desde mitad de campo y termino en gol pic.twitter.com/t7xzdpTNLW
— fútbol mundial vintage (@fm_vintage78) March 26, 2020
J'ai de vagues souvenirs avant, mais le vrai point de départ c'est la Coupe du monde 1986 au Mexique et sa mascotte Pique.
Du coup, l'image qui reste est celle de Maradona et ce match contre Angleterre.
Et votre 1er grand souvenir foot? @Violaml @schenk_ch et @julienechenard pic.twitter.com/FIcciRGTxg— John Nicolet (@J_Nicolet) March 26, 2020
The Adidas versions from Italia 90 were lovely to look at.
Argentina is back in the semifinals for first time since 1990, when Diego Maradona led the team to the finals. #ARG pic.twitter.com/V6HPYhcNTH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 5, 2014
Maradona during the World Cup Final in 1990 against West Germany. © Yahoo! pic.twitter.com/sSm6KLrIie
— Vintage Sports Pics (@ArchiveOfSports) May 12, 2014
His career was very much on a downward swing by the 1994 tournament, but the away jersey from that year may have been objectively the most eye-catching of the bunch.
Argentina 1994-95 away by Adidas as worn at USA 94 when Maradona's famous celebration prompted a drugs test.
Available now - https://t.co/8n7IBBqyfr pic.twitter.com/ikUrDPk34n— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) February 6, 2019
Two Great No. 10's
Jay Jay Okocha and Diego Maradona
Nigeria vs Argentina
1994 FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/SdGXPN5jUW— AfricaFootballClassics (@AfricaClassic) August 5, 2019
His one year at Sevilla produced perhaps his two worst kits, but we've certainly seen far worse.
Home and Away: Maradona Sevilla and Zamorano Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/PnemvRhCX7
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) April 9, 2017
He may have only played five league games for Newell's Old Boys, but we are all about his two panel jersey.
Maradona at Newell's Old Boys, 1993/94. pic.twitter.com/wXxnzHkNRc
— 90s Football (@90sfootball) February 8, 2015
He finished his career in another iconic Boca Juniors effort.
#OnThisDay in 1997 Diego Maradona played his last match; replaced by Riquelme as Boca beat River in a Superclásico at El Monumental pic.twitter.com/CWJ9cC4Qj0
— GOLAZO (@golazoargentino) October 25, 2017
There you have it, definitive proof that Diego Maradona wore better kits during his career than any other player in the history of the sport. It's not even close.
Incredible kits for a remarkable player.
Image credit: Wikipedia
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