The Argentine genius turns 55 on Friday, but what sort of salary and transfer value would he command had he been born 25 years later? Would he be on Lionel Messi's level?
Even the song is out of date. It was the brainchild of Boca Juniors fans in 1981, when Maradona came to the club from Argentinos. $10 million at that time was an unimaginable fortune, paid with a hurried loan that included money up front, cheques that bounced and six Boca players as part of the deal. Eight years before, in 1973, Johann Cruyff had cost Barcelona just half a million, and in the same year as Diego's move River landed Mario Kempes, a World Cup winner, from Valencia for $4m.
What was the difference? With 166 games and 116 goals for Argentinos, the No. 10 had shown unworldly talents and looked set to become the best player on the planet over the next decade.