Diego Maradona

“In the end, it is about whether God wants us to be in the final, but I know that is what God wants. This time we will not need the Hand of God, because it is the will of God.”

“I like English football, always have. It's just that people go on about the World Cup in 1986 and then I'm seen as the real bad boy.”

“All the people that criticised me should eat their words.”

“God makes me play well. That is why I always make the sign of a cross when I walk out on to the pitch. I feel I would be betraying him if I didn't.”

“I certainly have an advantage over some because I can pass on so much from the World Cups I played in.”

“I am Maradona, who makes goals, who makes mistakes. I can take it all, I have shoulders big enough to fight with everybody.”

“When I wear the national team shirt, its sole contact with my skin makes it stand on an end.”

“When you win, you don't get carried away. But if you go step by step, with confidence, you can go far.”

“I am black or white, I'll never be grey in my life.”

“I gave all I had. Now I want to enjoy my family.”

“I'm alive and I want to keep living.”

“At the moment there are some England players who are the stars of their club teams, but not for their country. It's difficult to explain.”

“If you don't want to play clean football then go up into the stands.”

“There would be no debate about who was the best footballer the world had ever seen - me or Pele. Everyone would say me.”

“While the coach is entitled to celebrate the team's victories, there is a manner and a way of doing so without aggravating the opponent.”

“I'm not desperate but I know that some day I'll be the coach again of some team.”

“There are hundreds of Beckhams playing football all over the world.”