The Argentina national team’s qualification for the World Cup final had a protagonist who felt the emotion from a very special place. Dalma Maradona was in the stadium’s stands and, after the victory over England, shared a message filled with love and nostalgia dedicated to her father, Diego Maradona, who was present again on a night that inevitably recalled the historic 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Wearing a blue shirt reminiscent of Mexico ’86, the tournament in which Diego lifted the World Cup and starred in one of the most remembered chapters of Argentine football precisely against England, Dalma attended the match and later opened her heart on social media.
“Y acá en la foto obvio ya haciéndome la canchera! Pero la sufrimos… Porque si no la sufrimos no somos nosotros”, escribió junto a una imagen desde la cancha.
Then, the eldest daughter of Maradona expressed everything she felt upon reliving a match so laden with symbolism: “And what can I tell you? Since I boarded the plane I haven’t stopped crying! Because I miss you more than words can say and because you’re everywhere.”
Dalma also recounted how she experienced Diego’s presence during the day: “You don’t understand what people are like, well actually you should know because your computer must be exploding with requests,” she wrote humorously, imagining her father on the other side receiving fans’ messages.
“And you there, standing firm with the national team you love and always defended! What a pride to be your daughter”, she added in one of the most emotive segments of the post.
A Night with Diego Present
The semi-final against England carried a particularly emotional weight for Argentines due to the memory of Mexico ’86, when Maradona scored the two most famous goals of his career against the English side: the iconic “Hand of God” and the strike regarded as one of the finest goals in World Cup history.
From the stands, Dalma felt that connection with her father and also highlighted the affection she received from those who accompanied the national team.
“The pitch was crazy with Leo and his squad who put everything necessary to beat the English,” she wrote, referring to Lionel Messi and the Argentine squad.
Additionally, she expressed gratitude to Diego’s friends who accompanied her during the day: “Your friends watched over me and reminded me of you all the time! The joy I feel knowing you are remembered with so much love.”
The message closed with happiness for another World Cup final: “Thank you, Atlanta, for this experience! Thank you @afaseleccion for this unforgettable invitation! We go on! To the final!”
Once again, on a historic night for Argentina, the figure of Diego Maradona reappeared as part of the country’s collective memory that continues to feel him present.
