By Doug McIntyre
FOX Sports activities Soccer Author
Editor’s notice: Every day between now and the kickoff of the primary match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Nov. 20, we’ll unveil a unique reminiscence from World Cup historical past. The countdown from 101 continues with Maradona’s unceremonious World Cup farewell.
The 1994 World Cup in the US was supposed to offer the stage for one of many biggest gamers of all time, Argentina’s Diego Maradona, to have a becoming swansong.
It was to be the fourth and closing journey to the planet’s biggest sporting occasion for Maradona, then 33. After nearly single-handedly — actually — main the Albiceleste to the 1986 title in Mexico after which to a runner-up end 4 years later in Italy, he and all of Argentina had desires of going out on prime.
As an alternative, these desires become a nightmare. It began out nicely sufficient. Maradona scored a phenomenal capper in a 4-0 rout of Greece within the group stage opener. However after a 2-1 win over Nigeria of their second sport, FIFA introduced that Maradona had been kicked out of the event after testing constructive for efficiency enhancing medicine. He by no means performed for his nation once more — a shameful finish to one of many biggest worldwide careers of all time.
Maradona despatched packing
It was speculated to be Diego Maradona’s redemption tour, however he was booted from the world cup for PEDs.
One of many main soccer journalists in North America, Doug McIntyre has coated United States males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at a number of FIFA World Cups. Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities in 2021, he was a employees author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities. Comply with him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.
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