Diego Maradona

“All the people that criticised me should eat their words.”

“It was a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”

“I made mistakes, and I paid for them. But the ball is not stained.”

“When I wear the national team shirt, its sole contact with my skin makes it stand on an end.”

“If I die, I want to be born again and I want to be a footballer. And I want to be Diego Armando Maradona again. I am a player who has given people joy and that is enough for me.”

“I am Maradona, who makes goals, who makes mistakes. I can take it all, I have shoulders big enough to fight with everybody.”

“Seeing the ball, running after it, makes me the happiest man in the world.”

“I am black or white, I'll never be grey in my life.”

“My mother thinks I am the best. And I was raised to always believe what my mother tells me.”

“God makes me play well. That is why I always make the sign of a cross when I walk out on to the pitch. I feel I would be betraying him if I didn't.”

“When you win, you don't get carried away. But if you go step by step, with confidence, you can go far.”

“Pele should go back to the museum.”

“I worked hard all my life for this. Those who say I don't deserve anything, that it all came easy, can kiss my arse.”