June 29, 1986. The day two legends of world football met in the World Cup final. 36 years later, only one of them remains to share those World Cup memories. That legend is Germany’s Lothar Mathews. The legend of legends Diego Maradona has passed away. They came face to face in the Germany-Argentina fight in the Mexico World Cup final. Maradona’s team won 3-2 that day. Four years later, the same teams again played in the World Cup final. A rarity in history. But Matthews was the star of Italy’s World Cup final and Germany lifted the trophy with a single goal.
The two finalists have clashed several times in the Italian Serie A league as well. If Maradona was Napoli’s poster boy, Mattheus controlled the Inter Milan midfield. Enmity was only in competition. Best friends after the game. Those who walked arm-in-arm together until dawn on festive nights – remembered their friendship with Mathews Maradona. Qatar World Cup Ambassador Mathews remembered Maradona and the Mexico World Cup while interacting with the media in Doha.
We maintained mutual respect rather than friendship. Maradona came to see my farewell match in Munich. “When I saw off Maradona in Buenos Aires, I went there,” Mathews said. The 1990 Ballon d’Or winner was Lothar Matthews, who excelled both as a defender and as a midfielder. One of the all-time greats in German football.