Qatar 2022 World Cup: Diego Maradona present in the stands of Lusail in the first World Cup after his death

Diego Maradona is present at the Lusail stadium, in Qatar. Where the national team makes its World Cup debut against Saudi Arabia. It’s that the fans have him in mind more than ever, even in his absence.

In the drums, in the T-shirts, in the flags, in the tattoos and even in the masks, there is the face of 10, who died on November 25, 2020.

The first World Cup without Diego It’s the first thing Planet Soccer thinks of when remembering that sad date, however, in the stands, waiting for Messi to make his and that, if he wants, it won’t be his last World Cup.

The warm up had its show, the other 10, as usual. The one in which he starts with his left kicking Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez. From the same point where the Argentines expect a free kick.

The free kicks that, in South Africa, Maradona taught him to shoot. “Don’t put your foot out so fast, follow the ball more, otherwise he won’t know where you want him to go,” she told her.

And Messi remembers it. Impossible not to. Since then, PSG’s 30 have turned free kicks into a “near goal”. Messi remembers him, because the fans, in every stadium where he plays, remind him that he is the heir to the legendary 10 shirt that he inherited. Which Maradona himself gave him that night against Venezuela heading to South Africa.

Hundreds, thousands of references to the two lefties born in Argentina. D10 and L10. The flags and shirts with the most representative number of Argentine football invade the stadium where Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina takes the first step towards the great goal.

Before, the cry of “Maradó, Maradó” was of war. These were protests, complaints to players on the pitch and even requests for their return in times of suspensions and removals.

Today is a tribute, it’s a memory, it’s encouragement and motivation for a team that arrived in Qatar as American champions, without backpacks and with support, from the stands and from the memory of Maradona to be happy again.

For that, first Argentina must get through Group C of Qatar 2022 against Saudi Arabia, Poland and Mexico. And then, just then, think about what’s going to happen. The only certainty for the future is that Maradona will be, in absentia, more present than ever.