As Pele was wrapping up his glorious playing career in the late 1970s with an encore run in the NASL, an Argentinian teenager with similar wizardry was just getting started. Diego Maradona had yet to turn 16 when he made his professional debut in the Argentine First Division. He scored 115 goals in 167 games for the Argentinos Juniors, all before his 21st birthday. His superstardom went global when he transferred to famed Spanish club FC Barcelona in 1982 and played in his first World Cup for Argentina. The 5' 5" playmaker's instincts, vision and deft passing combined with his quickness, dribbling skills and superior ball control left fans and even opponents in awe.

It was at the 1986 World Cup that his legend reached mythic proportions when he captained La Albiceleste to their world title. Maradona's "Hand of God" goal in the Quarterfinals against England is the most notorious goal in international soccer history. The fiery forward known as "El Pibe de Oro" (The Golden Boy) followed that up minutes later by taking on virtually the entire English team to score the "Goal of the Century" to the amazement of 114,000 fans in Estadio Azteca. His fame on the pitch would later be met with much controversy and notoriety off it, yet Diego Maradona shares the title with Pele as FIFA's Player of the 20th Century.

Offered here is Maradona's 1993 Argentina National Team jersey worn in a special February 18th exhibition match against rival Brazil at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires celebrating the 100th anniversary of the A.F.A. (Argentine Football Association). The South American soccer powers tied 1-1. Diego's international career would end a year later as he finished with 34 goals in 91 caps. The short-sleeved light blue and white striped shirt comes in Argentina's traditional home kit colors. The AFA crest patch is sewn on the left chest with the Adidas logo patch on the right chest. Adidas tagging labeled "T4" appears inside the stretchy V-neck collar. Maradona's iconic No. "10" appears on the back in black suede pressed-on numbers with a block letter outline. The jersey exhibits solid evidence of wear with significant pilling, fraying on the right sleeve and light sweat staining. Maradona has signed the front in legible 5/10 black pen, along with his Argentine teammate Claudio Caniggia. This is the first Diego Maradona game jersey (club or country) we've had the pleasure of auctioning.

Includes LOA's from JSA (autos.) and the Brazil National Team (CBF) Technical Coordinator, who is also the nephew of former CBF President Ricardo Teixeira.