The Argentine legend was playing in his fourth World Cup in 1994 in what were testing times for Maradona. He had led his country to the title in 1986 and they reached the final in the 1990 tournament as well.
However, in 1994, a cloud of scrutiny surrounded Maradona. He was suspended by FIFA in 1991 for more than a year for the use of cocaine while playing for Napoli in Italy. Furthermore, he faced a lawsuit in Argentina after he had injured four reporters with a gun outside his home.
Maradona played the first two games, recording a goal and assist as Argentina won both. He was banned after those two games, and Argentina bowed out in the second round against an unheralded Romania.
The 1994 World Cup was viewed as many as a chance for redemption for Maradona after his problems with drug use and legal troubles. He had dropped from the status of Europe’s elite players and a successful tournament could have changed that.
That was not to be as the 1994 World Cup is seen as a blemish on an otherwise glorious national career.