Maradona is my hero
June 7, 2002
RIO FERDINAND has never changed his opinion — the greatest player who ever lived was Diego Maradona.
The Sun
And it does not matter to him what the rivalries between England and Argentina are.
Ferdinand can even forgive Maradona the infamous 'Hand of God' goal which put England on the way to World Cup defeat in 1986.
In fact, Ferdinand says he would have claimed the goal himself if he had done it.
When he was a kid knocking the ball about with his mates on the playing fields of Peckham he always wanted to be Maradona.
On Friday he faces the Argies in the crunch clash in Sapporo with those memories of the first World Cup he ever saw fresh in his mind.
He was only seven then and could never have imagined he would be thrown into such a cauldron 16 years later.
After Sunday's 1-1 draw against the Swedes, England cannot afford to slip up. This is the biggest match of Ferdinand's career.
The Leeds defender said: "Nobody can tell me Maradona was not the greatest player — there is no one better that I've seen.
"My mate at Leeds, Harry Kewell, reckons Ronaldo is the best. But though he's a great player, he's not better than Maradona.
"There was no one like Maradona. He won the World Cup by himself in 1986. He also won the title twice with an unfashionable club, Napoli, in the hardest league in the world in Italy. He is the man."
England were in uproar when Maradona cheated by punching the ball past Peter Shilton for Argentina's opener — and got away with it.
But even the most bitter Englishman could not deny his second goal was laced with brilliance.
Ferdinand added: "I was laying on the sofa and can still see that goal today. I know the commentary by heart and me and my mates used to recite it while playing in the park.
"He beat about five players and I can hear the commentator saying: 'He leaves Butcher for dead'.
"That second goal will always stand out for me, Maradona tore England apart. I wasn't really annoyed with him for the handball or that bothered, even though it was well out of order.
"I would have claimed it myself if it had meant England were in a position to get through.
"Mexico '86 was the first World Cup I can recall and it is strange to think I am playing in Japan and I am going to play against Argentina myself.
"That Argentine side of 1986 was one of the best the game has ever seen, simply because it was built around Maradona. He was unstoppable, running through opponents with ease.
"There were others in the team and I am sure they were decent players but with Maradona they looked as if they could do anything.
"I always wanted to be Maradona when I was growing up but it didn't always work out and I got quite annoyed about it.
"Some of my mates were older than me and used to get first pick of who they wanted to be in the playground, so there were times I didn't get to be Maradona. I can remember being Craig Johnston of Liverpool — which was OK because he was a good player — and also Des Walker because people thought I looked like him.
"I used to get cheesed off if I wasn't Maradona, though.
"I started to think about being a professional footballer about that time and we would have a knockabout on the back grass on our estate, then sit down for hours talking about who we wanted to be.
"I always wanted to be one of the skilful players like Maradona or, in England's case, John Barnes.
"We used to wish we could do the things they could and try them out.
"I never dreamed I would be in a World Cup but I have been lucky to end up in such a fortunate position where I am living out my dreams."
The country will grind to a halt on Friday to watch England — and Ferdinand is well aware of the responsibility.
However, he is not one to get into talk of grudges.
He added: "This is not really a revenge match. I know they have beaten us before but hopefully this time the luck will be with us.
"Whoever wins the tournament is going to need a huge slice of luck.
"Everyone has talked about me having potential, now is the time for me to go out there and prove it and help England through to the second phase."