Pele was a great footballer but Maradona was a one-man army: Bhaichung Bhutia

NEW DELHI: Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia was just 10 when the football great Diego Maradona led Argentina to the FIFA World Cup title in 1986. Bhutia was glued to the television screen and continued to cheer for his inspiration, Maradona who made him fall in love with the beautiful game.
Bhaichung, nicknamed the 'Sikkimese Sniper' and hands down one of the best footballers India has produced, watched Maradona and tried to emulate his idol as a kid growing up, like millions of other football loving youngsters the world over.

Bhutia, who represented India in 107 matches, was shattered after hearing about the sad demise of his idol Maradona, who died at the age of just 60 in Buenos Aires on Wednesday following a cardiac arrest.
Paying tribute to the football legend, Bhutia said the world will never see another Maradona.
"He is the greatest footballer the world has ever seen. I don't think we will ever see another Maradona. For me, he was a huge inspiration because I started watching football because of Maradona. I fell in love with football because of Maradona. He made me love this sport. I used to be glued to the television screen when he used to play. His loss is a big shock for me. I am sad that we lost a great personality. I don't think anyone has achieved what Maradona did," Bhaichung told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview.
Pele and Diego Maradona. (AP Photo)
Maradona was widely remembered for two special goals against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals. The first one was the infamous 'Hand of God' goal and the second one was a mesmerizing run that saw him beat five English players to score a goal. This was voted as the goal of the century in 2002.
"I was really mad about his style. I was a kid and must be around 10 when he played the 1986 World Cup. I was a kid who lived in the mountains. I used to get up early in the morning and play in the valleys. That was pure passion and the credit goes to the great Maradona. I never cared about the cold and always looked up to him. That kind of impact he had on me," Bhutia further told TimesofIndia.com.
"His wonder goal against England will always be my Maradona moment. I can't forget that in my life. I was a kid and was continuously cheering him on," he said.
Bhutia got the chance to meet Maradona when he came to Kolkata, India, in 2017. Seeing his idol in person was a huge moment for the former India captain.
"I met him when he came to Kolkata. I didn't get to interact with him much. Watching him from a distance was a huge thing for me. I still cherish that," Bhaichung said.
Diego Maradona and Pele. (Reuters File Photo)
"Honestly, whatever he did and achieved on the field, every footballer, including me, who grew up watching him, tried to emulate him on the field. Maradona single-handedly took his team to wins on many occasions. That gave us a lot of confidence. That's why he has inspired me," Bhaichung, who scored 43 international goals in 107 appearances told TimesofIndia.com
Brazilian legend Pele, 80, constantly compared with Maradona in the debate on who is football's all time greatest player. Bhutia called Pele a great player but Maradona a 'one-man army'.
"I don't see any comparison. Both are greats. But Maradona has been a one-man army. Pele is a great footballer. He had good footballers with him in the team. But Maradona was a one-man army. He is a legend of the game. The world will always miss him. He has single-handedly won games and the World Cup for his team," Bhaichung signed off.