21 years on from Maradona's final professional game

BeSoccer 6 years ago 879
Maradona played his final game 21 years ago. BocaJuniors

Diego Maradona, one of the greatest players to ever play the game, hung up his boots after a a match for Boca Juniors against River Plate exactly 21 years ago, on 25th November 1997.

A player who in the prime of his career was undisputably the best player of his generation ended his professional career playing in the biggest game his native Argentina's domestic league has to offer.

On 25th October 1997 the 1986 World Cup winner lined up th 'El Monumental' in what would prove to be the last game he played as at the highest level, with his side coming out 2-1 winners in the encounter.

Due to the muscular injuries that plagued him in the latest stages of his career, Maradona was only able to play 45 minutes before being substitiuted for Riquelme at the break.

"With all the pain that I am in at the moment it's the right time to announce my retirement. My time as a footballer is over" the legendary figure revealed, just five days after that match.

Mentioned in the news story

Boca Juniors
Primera Division