Don't forget Diego had a pretty shitty youth and after that he became the world's best, most expensive, well paid player. Have you ever seen footage of Maradona in Napels trying to get to his car or when he tried to go out for dinner? People went fucking crazy if they knew he was around. During that time the mob pretty much owned him. There was no way he could leave Napoli. If you take all this shit in consideration I'd say it's a miracle he was able to perform as well on the field as he did. He's arguably the best player in the history of the sport. You don't compare Ronaldihno or Best to someone of his caliber.
maradona was a footballing god no doubt, dinho didnt even reach his full potential, got lazy and fat, best worked hard as a youth, but alcohol fucked him up, couldnt deal with the fame/pressure. not really comparing them, I agree diego was and is the ultimate footballer
Diego was mobbed, idolized, given pop star/religious status, and people threatened to commit suicide or kill him, if he ever left for another club, also in a city governed by the camorra, you dont fuck around. much like in argentina, not only boca fans, but the whole country worships him for obvious reasons
my point was/is, nowadays, in the info age we live in, its even worse for players like ronaldo de assis, CR, messi, rooney, etc, but I dont see them having bare knuckle fights on the field and trying to break peoples legs, I havent read a story bout them burying their faces in coke, shooting air rifles at reporters, nor basically disgracing themselves.
All of them (de assis, messi, cr, roo)came from humble beginnings themselves, but left the peasant mentality, diego was the best at his craft, but, you can take the boy out of the slums, but not the slums out of the man.
platini, the pig that he is, never behaved like a peasant, cruyf always carried himself well, and arguably the most famous footballer ever, Pele, think what you will, love him or hate him (most diego fans hate him), never got into scandals, even when his son was arrested he behaved the right way, he may be arrogant, but he is squeaky clean, and had a very long career