ARGENTINA football legend Diego Maradona will join pop star Robbie Williams and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and an all star footballing line-up for the Soccer Aid charity football match, it has been announced.
The controversial "Hand of God" playmaker will star for the Rest of the World side against an England squad that includes former England and Manchester United captain Bryan Robson.
A record 75,000 sell-out crowd will watch the match at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground on Saturday (May 27).
Pop star Bryan McFadden, who will play on Maradona's team, said: "I will probably be running with Maradona, just looking at him, trying to kiss him or something!
"Being around other singers and actors just doesn't phase you - we all do the same job, and when you meet football players, your knees go weak."
Maradona, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever to play the game, scored a controversial goal against England in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico City.
Replays showed the playmaker used his hand to knock the ball past Peter Shilton.
He later claimed it was the "Hand of God" that put the ball in the net.
Later in the same game he scored one of the greatest ever World Cup goals, dribbling from inside his own half past almost half the England side to score.
Robson, who was nicknamed Captain Marvel, didn't play in the Argentina game because of injury.
Was Maradona the greatest ever player? Have your say.
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THE GREATEST EVER OF COURSE BETTER THAN PELE WHO WAS SCARED 2 COME 2 EUROPE. HE WON 2 SERIE A TITLES AND UEFA CUP WITH NAPOLI NOW THEY IN SERIE B. HE DID I TIN ITALY AGAINST THE BEST DEFENDERS.
Maradona is the king of soccer for all the times.
Maradona has dominated the 1986 World Cup like no one else. After that World Cup, Maradona and the football game became so popular in my basketball-crazy country. His vision, his ball control skills, his great accuracy before the goal, and his leadership are unparalleled. To me and to my friends and colleagues, Maradona is the greatest footballer ever.
I wonder if City could get him for next season, he's probably fitter than Reyna!
Everybody becomes the greatest, When George Best died everyone on here started saying he was the greatest who ever lived, now when the time comes when Maradona and Pele pass away people will be on here again saying he was the greatest, its simple that no one really knows who the greatest ever footballer is!!! Its all down to opinions!!!!
He's good, but he'll get some abuse off me. I've been waiting 20 years for this.
I've just seen Maradonna leaving the Reebok with Allerdyce & Gartside - perhaps one of his younger signings on the way?
Oh com'on Chris, you seem to be so deeply hurt. Imagine, for 20 years?. Why what has Maradona done to you? I bet you just cannot accept that a non-British is the best footballer, right?
John, he's a cheat. Not a good role model for the kids. He's nothing compared to Pele.
But Chris, Saints have no place in this difficult world. Everybody including you and me, cheat once in a while! That's the real world! Specially in sports, where the stakes are high, everybody wants to outsmart evrybody. Can you name a footballer who is 100 percent honest? That's only in storybooks! You see it everyday, in every sport,in every human undertaking, even in parliaments. And for Pele? Well, he was good when football was still underdeveloped, when players were slow and very boring. If you don't believe me, just watch old films of football in the 1960s or 1970s. Moreover, Pele was celebrated more because he was black during those times when racial discrimination was the rule rather than exception. I strongly believe that in your subconscious mind, you ador and admire maradona. Only that you try to fight that deep inside you. Cmon, enjoy the game and you will have a peaceful heart and mind. That's good for your health!
there is no boubt that Diego Maradona is the best footballer in the world!!
This was a player that dominated the game at the highest level. He single handedly won Argentina the world cup (a team with ordinary players) and helped Napoli to titles in an ultra defensive Italian League in which had no answers to his genius. Michael Jordan and Maradona would probably be two two most celebrated player in a team sport. Do not think Pele or Ronaldinho is in his league.
Rob. You want an honest footballer? Gary Lineker!