Diego Maradona had a day to cherish in the F1 world with Ferrari star Fernando Alonso six years ago, playing football with the Spaniard.
“If I was in a white dress at a wedding and a muddy ball arrived… I would stop it from the chest, without thinking about it.”
Diego Maradona is a once-in-a-lifetime sporting superstar, simply because there will not be another like him. Not just football, enthusiasts of every sport adore him, for his sheer brilliance and just being himself – an enigma. So it was no surprise when Ferrari chose the legend for a session with their driver Fernando Alonso back in 2014.
The event was a training initiative organized in Dubai by Ferrari’s sponsors at the time, Santander. It was to get the two-time champion fit and firing for the season. To put things into context, Red Bull had won four consecutive seasons from 2010 and 2013. The V6 hybrid era was commencing in 2014, and Mercedes were expected to dominate proceedings. Ferrari, which last won a title with Kimi Raikkonen, needed to get back to winning ways and re-cement their numero uno status in the sport.
Alonso lost to Maradona… by a solitary goal (apparently)
The event began with some cross-training, inspired by the military-style program; jumping in and out of tires at a rapid pace. Post this, Alonso climbed onto his bicycle, before the football match kicked off. Apart from Maradona, the match also saw the presence of former Real Madrid star Michel Salgado.
And if Ferrari’s website is to be believed, Maradona’s camp won the match (unsurprisingly), but only by a solitary goal, with the match ending 5-4. Very impressive, and surprising indeed.
