The myth called "The Next Maradona"

Ever since Diego Armando Maradona,considered one of the greatest ever,bade goodbye to an illustrious yet dope smeared footballing career, the print and electronic media have tried hard to find the true successor to the great Maradona. The Argentine football team reached dizzying heights under the remarkable leadership of Maradona, an eccentric yet immensely talented footballer. At the 1986  World Cup finals, Diego Maradona led his country to ultimate footballing glory. The goal which in his own words was scored "Little with the head
of Maradona and little with the hand of god",cemented his legend forever in the football folklore. The 'Hand of God' goal against the English dumped them out of the Cup and sent Argentina through to the semis. He has hence been a much hated figure amongst the Englishmen but his 5 goals and 5 assists led Argentina to a WC victory. But ever since he got entangled in the dope mess and his performance  declined,Argentina struggled. Success at the World Cup finals looked a distant dream and hence every Argentine were looking forward to a new messiah,some one in the Diego mould to bring back the glory days.

"Maradona, turns like a little eel, he comes away from trouble, little squat man... 

comes inside Butcher and leaves him for dead, outside Fenwick and leaves him for dead, and puts the ball away... 

and that is why Maradona is the greatest player in the world."-—Bryon Butler (BBC Radio).

 There have been many who have been hailed as the "The Next Maradona". From Ariel Ortega to Javier Saviola,from Riquelme to Pablo Aimar many have been bestowed with this title but none of them stood up to it. Every other Argentine young footballer with some skills to show was being hailed as the next One. But not until this short,diminutive and baby faced Argentine called Leo Messi started storming the football world in a Barcelona jersey did this myth seemed to come true. But he looked anything like the man he was being compared to, soft spoken and perhaps a little fragile too. People argued that Messi will struggle,referring to his short build but this young Argentine started proving his detractors wrong. Along side perhaps some of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Leo Messi formed an incredible partnership and became the Architect in chief of the greatest era in Barcelona Club history proving his detractors wrong. 38 goals in the 2008-09 treble winning campaign,followed by 47 in the next equalling Ronaldo's record Leo Messi was slowly
becoming the undisputed best player of his generation. The following season was even more incredible,53 goals and this boy (still only 24 years old) has already won everything there is on offer at the club level.

But his biggest success with the National team is still the Olympic gold at the Beijing,2008. In spite of being a part of a really gifted and talented bunch,Messi is yet to lead his country to a WC win. With the likes of Tevez,Aguero,Higuain,Mascherano,Di Maria,Cambiassoand Lucho Gonzalez they do possess a top class midfield and strike force. But,be it for some tactical unawareness on the part of the coach,or something else Leo Messi is yet to replicate his club performances for his country. And as this baby faced assassin strides 

towards increasingly becoming one of the greatest ever,he knows he needs to do a Diego Maradona. One thing is for sure,Leo Messi has got time on his side and if anyone has been worthy enough to have received the title of the "Next Maradona",it's got to be him. 

Dimitar Berbatov: The story of a failed genius

For the last 3 years,or slightly less to be accurate, Dimitar Berbatov has perhaps been the one single player to have shouldered the disappointment of not one, but several people(read millions and counting). But the disappointment which bothered him the most,and still does, is the one of himself. 


The big Bulgarian’s impending move to Manchester United was followed with great curiosity across the footballing world. Sir Alex openly admitted interest in him. Breach of code, they said. Tottenham were determined to milk it and sure they did when Berbatov moved to MUFC rejecting City in the process, who also had their bid accepted. The fee was supposedly something around 30.5 million pounds, and here I am writing this.

The new No.9 started off his United career with an assist against Liverpool. Mesmerizing ball control,turning around the defender and sliding a neat pass for Tevez. Sign of things to come? The match ended in 2-1,and yes, United lost. First league defeat of the season and first to Liverpool since 2002 in the league co incided with his debut. The next game could not have come at a better time for Berbatov,Chelsea away and maybe time to mark his arrival. In retrospect,had his shot gone in that day the story could have been far different. Ji Sung tapped in of the rebound from Berba’s shot which was parried by Cech. Still waiting.

His first goal came against Aalborg in a Champions League group fixture. The jinx has been broken,more to follow. Maybe not. Berbatov’s first season was anything but a dream one. Nightmare is a closer guess. He struggled throughout the season, always overlooked for crucial Champions League fixtures. The fans were close to the point of giving up, the price tag still loomed large over their heads. What an anti climax to a bright career! The returns for the money spent was stacked heavily against Berbatov. Cries of”sell him” have not gone away ever since then. There has not been a single transfer window where he hasn’t been linked away but that was never going to happen. Forgot the scipt?

The following season saw the departure of Ronaldo and Tevez. The fans had their hopes pinned on him,hoping for him to come good. Wishful thinking. But Mitko, affectionately known back in his home land, was clearly succumbing to the pressure of being one of his kind. The gaze into the pitch from the bench clearly showed how strongly he felt he deserves to be there. Yet when the chances came he fluffed them. The angry shrug of the shoulders on being denied a cleverly worked one-two clearly showed a man who was trying just too hard. Things went from bad to worse. The occasional slip in front of the goal, tricks going wrong or misses which would put Bendtner to shame. Time was running out. 


2010-2011. Dimitar Berbatov looked better. In fact he has never looked any better in a red shirt. Never too late they say. The fans were happy as United were being propelled towards their quest for 19th by the most unlikely agent, the 30.5 million rated Dimitar Berbatov. Goals galore,hat trick against bitter Merseyside rivals followed up with a fifer against Blackburn. Dimitar Berbatov ensured Manchester United get their 19th and he gets the Golden Boot. The smile was back, he was teeming with confidence. No more lazy strolls, no more mellow interviews and no more delaying the fairy tale any further. This was the moment. This Berbatov was anything like we have seen before, no drooping shoulders. He never had the heart of a winner, but surely had the talent of one. Now he seemed like a man who was more intent on enjoying the game and taking chances as they come.


The emergence of ‘Little Pea’ towards the later half of the season and his fancy for goals provided Sir Alex a very exciting strike partnership up front, in which sadly there was no Berbatov. The club’s leading goal scorer was overlooked for the crucial fixtures of UCL semis,Chelsea fixture, touted as the BPL finale and of course the Wembley final. Very few questioned the selection though, since Chicharito deserved every bit of it. But what few people noticed was that the Berbatov he displaced from the starting line up was not sulking in the bench, but ready to come on as and when required. He looked a completely different player,someone somewhere must have helped get his head in order and perhaps the heart too. 

As I write,he is all geared up for the pre season. Side by side,the tabloids keep reporting stories where he is supposedly going to be used as a bait to get someone to shore up our midfield crisis. But the only constant in his story is, you will always hear stories like them. The story is far from over though. He has had his share of criticism,even to the point of being called a traitor back home for quitting national duties. Time to win them back I guess. Or may be its just not in the script. May be it’s suppose to end this way, with him having fewer admirers who will stick around knowing there are not many as good as him.

“I am a relaxed guy. I play that way and I can’t change my style. I watch games and see guys who panic on the ball – they look so nervous. I can be calm, because I sometimes know what I want to do before the ball comes to me. The boss [Alex Ferguson] tells me not to change anything – he gives me freedom to express my qualities.” - Berbatov describes his style of play in 2009

This article was written at the beginning of the 2011-12 season.