Diego Maradona Jr., the son of the late Argentine football icon, has sensationally claimed that his father was “robbed” of two World Cup titles, insisting the legend should have finished his career with three winners’ medals rather than one.
In a recent appearance on the Spanish television program ‘La Revuelta,’ hosted by David Broncano, Maradona Jr. addressed the turbulent international career of his father, Diego Armando Maradona. The younger Maradona, born in Italy in 1986, recounted the complex life of the celebrated number 10 before making his explosive assertion regarding the 1990 and 1994 tournaments. “My father was robbed of two World Cups, in 1990 and 1994, he should have won three,” Maradona Jr. stated on the program.
The controversy echoes long-standing grievances from the Maradona camp regarding two of the most contentious episodes in World Cup history.
The 1990 Final: An ‘Evil Black Hand’
The first alleged robbery centers on the 1990 World Cup final in Rome, where a heavily depleted and defensive Argentine side faced West Germany. In a match widely criticized for its lack of offensive quality, the game was decided by an 85th-minute penalty awarded by Mexican referee Edgardo Codesal Mendez.
Replays of the incident appeared to show Argentine defender Roberto Sensini making contact with the ball before German forward Rudi Voeller fell in the box. The decision resulted in a furious reaction from the Argentine players, with both Pedro Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti receiving red cards during the heated clash.
A devastated Maradona famously wept after the final whistle and placed the blame squarely on the referee. He spoke of the “evil black hand” of the official, suggesting the penalty was awarded because Codesal was scared of a shootout after Argentina had eliminated hosts Italy on penalties in the semi-finals. “Our players ran hard, but then came this man who ruined everything for us,” Maradona said at the time. “This man didn’t have any right to call that penalty.”
Decades later, referee Codesal responded to the criticism by revealing he had almost sent Maradona off before the match even began, claiming the Argentine captain was “swearing profusely” during the national anthem.
The 1994 Doping Ban: ‘They Cut My Legs’
The claim regarding the 1994 World Cup in the United States relates to Maradona’s abrupt and controversial exit due to doping. After a promising start to the tournament—including a stunning goal in a 4-0 victory over Greece and a 2-1 win over Nigeria—the world was shocked when it was announced that Maradona had tested positive for ephedrine.
Argentina’s head coach at the time, Alfio Basile, believed the team was poised to win the title and has since suggested a conspiracy to sabotage their campaign. When the suspension was confirmed, a tearful Maradona delivered a heartbreaking verdict on his expulsion. “No quiero dramatizar pero creeme que me cortaron las piernas,” he told a reporter: “I don’t want to be dramatic, but believe me, they cut my legs off.”
Without their captain and talisman, a demoralized Argentina fell apart, losing to Bulgaria before being eliminated in the Round of 16 by Romania. Diego Maradona Jr.’s latest comments breathe new life into the old conspiracy theories that his father was deliberately targeted by football’s governing body to ensure Argentina did not win the title on American soil.
A Legacy Beyond the Pitch
Despite the bitterness regarding the lost titles, Maradona Jr. was also asked about the eternal debate comparing his father to Lionel Messi. While acknowledging Messi’s greatness, he was unequivocal about where his father stands. “Of the human beings, Messi is the number 1, but my father was a God,” he said.
Reflecting on his father’s personality, Maradona Jr. described a complex but joyful man. “He had a complex but beautiful life. He is the most human being who has enjoyed the most, but he had complicated moments. He made mistakes and paid for them, but he did not hurt anyone.”
