The Argentine genius turns 55 on Friday, but what sort of salary and transfer value would he command had he been born 25 years later? Lucas Bertellotti give his take.
"He's worth 10 million and he's called Maradona!"
Even the song is out of date. It was the brainchild of Boca Juniors fans in 1981, when Maradona came to the club from Argentinos. $10 million at that time was an unimaginable fortune, paid with a hurried loan that included money up front, checks that bounced and six Boca players as part of the deal. Eight years before, in 1973, Johann Cruyff had cost Barcelona just half a million, and in the same year as Diego's move River landed Mario Kempes, a World Cup winner, from Valencia for $4 million.