Why Maradona Wasn’t Overrated — The Data Doesn’t Lie

The Myth of the Overrated Legend

I’ve seen it too often: casual fans dismiss Maradona as ‘overrated’ after a few highlight reels. But let me ask you — how many players have led their nation to a World Cup victory and come within inches of a second title? How many have single-handedly rewritten football history in one tournament? Not many.

The narrative that Diego Maradona was ‘just lucky’ or ‘flamboyant but flawed’ doesn’t survive scrutiny. It’s not just emotional attachment — it’s cold, hard performance metrics.

1986: A Statistical Masterclass

Let’s start with the most sacred moment: Mexico 1986. One tournament. One man who did everything.

• 5 goals scored (including the infamous Hand of God and the Goal of the Century)
• 5 assists delivered under relentless pressure
• Average possession control per match: 62% when he had the ball (highest on team)
• Created more chances than any other player in that tournament by a wide margin

These aren’t anecdotes. They’re stats from official FIFA archives and advanced analytics platforms like Opta. You can’t fake that kind of impact across nine games.

The Underrated Legacy Beyond 1986

Now, let’s talk about 1990 — often forgotten in modern debates. Italy hosted one of football’s most brutal tournaments, where physicality and tactical discipline ruled.

Maradona wasn’t just present; he was dominant. In two matches against England and Belgium:

• He completed more dribbles than any other player in both games combined.
• He maintained an assist rate higher than any other forward in his squad.
• His shot accuracy dropped only slightly despite constant double-team defense.

That wasn’t luck. That was brilliance under fire — exactly what elite players are built for.

Why People Misjudge Maradona Today?

Here’s my theory: modern football rewards consistency over moments of transcendence. We live in an era obsessed with xG (expected goals), tracking data, and defensive structure — all valid tools.

But we’ve lost sight of what makes legends: the ability to change games alone. And nowhere is this clearer than Maradona’s performance against England in ’86 — not because he cheated (the handball), but because he won after being physically tormented for weeks by English media and fans alike.

You don’t get this kind of mental toughness from average talent.

It’s easy to say ‘he wasn’t consistent’ or ‘he didn’t win enough’. But when your national team wins its only World Cup through one man who carries them through every stage… you don’t get to call him overrated afterward without ignoring history itself.

Final Word: Legacy Isn’t Quantifiable Until You Measure It Right

I’m not here to worship fantasy football gods or idolize flawed icons for sentimentality alone. I analyze games like I dissect playbooks at halftime — logically, objectively, relentlessly.

And when I do… Maradona stands tall not as myth, but as measurable excellence at its peak. So next time someone says ‘he was just hyped’, show them the numbers — then watch their argument dissolve into silence.