That was his HAND, not his head!

He can't - he won't…
… surely they're not giving him that?!

Didn't the linesman see it?

Look at him celebrating.

Cheating Argentinian GIT!

That was the chorus and the consensus.

I was 12. Not a great football fan, but gutted nonetheless.

Then came the later goal.

A glorious display of tenacity and talent.

The chorus split - some admitting the beauty of what they'd seen, others going off-key with the "Cheating Argentinian git" melody.

It was soon all over and destiny had deprived us again.

Maradona continued to rub salt in the wounds.

"The hand of God"

It still stings.

But the Golden Boy in his number 10 shirt had delivered. And not for the last time.

Making his nation, his continent, proud.

And reminding us all that people are complicated. Genius even more so.

The arrogance
The hair
The stocky stature
The character
The flair
The troubles
The talent
The volume
The passion
The sore throats and the raised blood pressure

Revered and feared

Forever making headlines

I won't idolise you in the way some do

But the world is poorer today with your passing
and I join in its fond farewell