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      Diego Maradona cheated against England, but he faced brutal treatment on the pitch and was never protected by refs

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      It is hard to discuss Diego Maradona with an English audience without the rapid emergence of the ‘c’ word.
      One five letter word is quickly spat out to discredit an entire career. At the top of the charge sheet, of course, is the notorious ‘hand of God’ goal that he scored against England in the quarter finals of the 1986 World Cup.

      Diego Maradona is often branded a cheat by English football fansCredit: PA:Press Association

      There is no doubt about it. He got away with a flagrant act of sporting illegality – as almost every player has done at one point during their career. 
      Jack Charlton punched the ball off the line in the 1966 semi final.
      Martin Peters confessed that he dived to win a penalty against Poland in 1973.
      Paul Scholes used his arm to score for England. And yet these players were not regularly insulted with the five letter word.

      What makes this even more inappropriate is that in the entire history of football Maradona may well have been the player to have been most cheated against.
      From the mid-70s to the mid-90s, the average distance covered by top level players doubled. This is precisely the timescale of Maradona’s career.
      But, until too late for him, there was no corresponding increase in the level of protection given by referees. Maradona was subjected to brutal treatment every time he took the field.
      In that 1986 meeting with England he was being kicked all over the place, and elbowed off the ball.

      Maradona was kicked out of the 1994 World Cup after failing a drugs test Credit: AFP or licensors
      The vast majority of us, having to put up with this kind of treatment, would have no qualms about punching the ball into the back of the net and claiming a goal.
      FAILED DRUG TEST
      Maradona was kicked out of the 1994 World Cup for failing a drug test. There is no doubt about it he had broken the rules and deserved to be punished.
      But as drug offences go, ephedrine is a minor one. It is not remotely comparable with, for example, the use of anabolic steroids.
      The incident came at the end of his career when he was in no fit state to play in a World Cup.
      But Argentina got themselves into trouble in qualification, losing 5-0 at home to Colombia.
      They pleaded with him to return, and he was unable to say no. A short cut was used to get his weight down.
      FIFA concluded that Maradona was unaware that he had taken a banned substance.
      It may be the case that his personal doctor made a mistake in buying a product over the counter.

      After failing a drugs test Maradona pleaded his innocence Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Even so, the principle stands –  the athlete is responsible for what goes into his body.
      But there is no evidence, or reason to believe, that he was using performance enhancing substances when he was at his extraordinary peak.
      Which leaves us with cocaine. When Maradona had his own TV show, he carried out an interview with himself.
      One of the questions was about his regrets – and one of the biggest was his cocaine addiction, in no small part because he saw it as a betrayal of his love for football.
      The idea that he was seeking, or that he received a sporting advantage from using cocaine is entirely ridiculous.
      It is a scandal that social drugs are placed in the same category as performance enhancers – that those who may need help are placed in the same category as those seeking illegal help.

      During his career Maradona was never afforded the same protection from referees as today’s starsCredit: Reuters

      Maradona’s cocaine habit was surely in part a product of the normal restrictions being taken away from him, of being placed on the level of a semi-God who could do as he pleased.
      But it is also feasible to see it as a means of trying to blot out the pain in his body – the result of being kicked so much, and of taking so much cortisone to try and fool his body that everything was alright and he could take the field as normal.
      It is worth recalling that the great Marco Van Basten was forced into early retirement as a result of the pain in his ankles. 
      Maradona was less brittle, but ended up paying a higher price.

      Watch Messi and Maradona’s eerily similar goals for Barcelona and Newell’s Old Boys as Barcelona star honours icon More

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      10 times Wanda Nara has sent her Instagram followers wild with sexy photos and how many times they were liked

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      GLAM Wanda Icardi is forever setting the pulses of football fans racing around the world.
      The gorgeous missus of PSG striker Mauro Icardi regularly shares sexy photos on her Instagram page that’s followed by 7.2 million fans.

      And Wanda, 33, continues to break the internet – most recently posting a nude image straddling a horse that’s already racked up 300,000 likes.
      But what are the Argie beauties’ most popular posts – and how many likes have they received?
      10. WORKOUT WANDA
      To stay in such remarkable shape, Wanda regularly hits the gym.
      Before she works up a sweat, mind, she likes to treat fans to her outfit choice.

      And this gym bunny attire drew 317,000 likes on Insta.
      She captioned the snap: “Look of the day, this is one of my favourite looks from lockdown.”

      When Wanda Nara works out she poses for a selfie on InstagramCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
      9. TOWEL-DRY WANDA
      Good night, indeed.
      When Wanda likes to wish her followers ‘Buenas Noches’, she does it her way.

      She shares a saucy photo showing off her curves, wearing just a towel wrapped around her head.
      This image drew 354,000 likes.

      8. WANDA ON HOLIDAY
      Like any self-respecting Wag, a summer holiday is important for Wanda.
      Despite most of us being unable to get away because of lockdown, of course she managed a break in Ibiza.
      And Wanda certainly gave fans a glimpse of what they were missing.
      389,000 likes says so.

      Fans were treated to Wanda’s bikini wear on her holiday to Ibiza this yearCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
      7. POOLSIDE WANDA
      Here, Wanda compares herself to a mermaid as she lays by her pool.
      The side-profile close-up showed off her enviable figure, with 402,000 people liking the picture.
      It was shared at the beginning of the month, and is still picking up likes as you read this.
      And that bikini seems to be her favourite, as you will see as you continue to scroll down.

      Wanda felt she looked like a mermaid in this snapCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
      6. BODYSUIT WANDA
      Wanda may have missed Valentine’s Day by a day this year, but she didn’t disappoint.
      The blonde bombshell showed off her latest purchase – a lacy, red bodysuit that hugged her curves.
      It also showed off her various tattoos inked all over body.
      The image agreed with 425,000 followers, who all hit the like button.

      For Valentine’s Day Wanda looked a treatCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
      5. CALVIN WANDA
      Wanda is a master when it comes to showing off her incredible body.
      And she always gets its right when she models underwear.
      Here she is enjoying “Sunny days” in Paris, France back in July – that was liked liked 470,000 times.
      The Calvin Kleins are a nice touch, too.

      Calvin Klein underwear has never looked so great as it is when modelled by WandaCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
      4. BIKINI WANDA
      ‘Isolation at home’ with Wanda never looked better.
      A bikini snap was enough to send 482,000 followers into a frenzy as the famous Wag posed for ANOTHER sexy snap.
      It drew comments from fans, like “epic” and “Ooh la la…”
      We can’t say we disagree.

      Wanda made lockdown look sexy in a bikiniCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
      3. WALK-IN CLOSET WANDA
      There’s no doubt that Wanda will have a home to die for, managing beau Icardi’s affairs.
      And in November she gave us a glimpse of her walk-in closet and amazing trainer collection.
      A shot of Wanda wearing a thong and a vest also helped push the likes up on this snap.
      It garnered 537,000 of them. Incredible.

      537,000 followers liked Wanda and her walk-in closetCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
      2. NUDE WANDA
      At the turn of the year, Wanda gave it all up.
      And why wouldn’t you when you look as good as she does?
      She treated followers to an arty nude photo in the shower – with an aeroplane tattoo visible.
      594,000 likes later, it’s number 2 on out list.

      At the turn of the year Wanda let is all hang outCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
      1. TOPLESS WANDA
      Showing that more is less, Wanda’s most popular post on Instagram is also one of her most recent.

      On November 10, she wowed fans with a risque topless photo in her bathroom.
      Of course, that sent social media into a wild frenzy as 597,000 people liked the image.
      It is, to date, her most popular Instagram picture post off all time.

      Wanda’s topless photo is her most well-liked of all- timeCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi More

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      Liverpool hero Daniel Agger invested in tattoos and sewers when painkillers ended his career prematurely

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      DANIEL AGGER’S retirement is much like his playing career – mixing dirty work and artistry.
      Following his premature retirement in 2016, at the age of 31, the former Liverpool hard-man decided to put money into his passion and necessity: tattoos and poop.

      Former Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is a qualified tattoo artist

      The Danish defender trained to be a tattoo artist and is now part of one of the biggest parlours across the world, called Tattoodo.
      But for Agger that was not it, as he had more money to invest in s***.
      Now 35, Agger launched a company in 2013 called KloAgger, putting £450,000 into a company that manages sewage systems in Denmark.
      So how did they come up with the name? KloAgger translates to ‘Agger toilet’.

      Danish defender Agger has also invested in a sewage companyCredit: Kloagger

      He runs it alongside his brother Marco and a friendCredit: Kloagger

      The name KloAgger translates directly to ‘Toilet Agger’Credit: Kloagger

      Agger’s sewage company is only based in his homeland of DenmarkCredit: Kloagger

      Agger leaves the daily running of the company to his brotherCredit: Kloagger
      Agger is regularly involved with the firm but his younger brother Marco and their friend Rune Rasmussen oversee it day-to-day.
      Inked-up Agger is more interested in the tats.
      He started and finished his career at Danish club Brondby, and it was as a 15-year-old youth player that he got his first work done.
      “I was about 15 and on a school trip to Paris,” Agger said in an interview on Tattoodo’s website.

      The 35-year-old is more into his tattoosCredit: Twitter @danielagger

      Agger got his first tattoo while a 15-year-old boy on a school tripCredit: Action Images

      The former Liverpool centre-back has a vikings graveyard across his backCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Agger signed for Liverpool in 2006, brought in by Rafael BenitezCredit: AFP – Getty

      He won the Community Shield and League Cup during his 12 years at the clubCredit: PA:Press Association
      “It wasn’t something I’d thought about before. Me and a friend went into the shop and said that’s what we’re going to have and we got it. I still have it today.”
      But it’s been added to dramatically, with almost every inch of his body containing a tattoo.
      There’s the viking graveyard across his back, the love hearts on his calves, Latin proverbs all over his body and the names of his family members etched in.
      “I see it as one piece,” Agger, a qualified tattooist, said. “When I speak to people I talk about my tattoo as one piece but obviously every tattoo has a story, some better than others.”

      Agger sees his tattoos as just one big art workCredit: Instagram @danielagger22

      The Dane is a qualified tattoo artist and invested in a big parlour called TattoodoCredit: Instagram @danielagger22

      Agger left Liverpool for Brondby in 2014Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      One of the more recent is the ‘YNWA’ stamped onto his knuckles – the well-known Liverpool acronym for Anfield’s anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone.
      “Timing was quite good,” Agger said. “[There were] a lot of rumours sending me to another club for a lot of money but I knew I was staying.
      “Somehow I wanted to show that to the footballing world and this was a way I wanted to show it.”
      Agger did eventually leave Liverpool in 2014 and spent two years at Brondby before ending his career earlier than expected.
      Back problems throughout his career saw Agger relying on painkillers to see him through, but he believes they were his downfall.

      Agger got YNWA printed onto his knuckles during speculation over his future at LiverpoolCredit: Instagram @danielagger22

      Agger wanted to show that he did not plan to leave Anfield

      He was part of a strong Liverpool side alongside Steven GerrardCredit: Instagram @danielagger22

      Agger retired in 2016 at the age of 31 which he believes was due to painkillersCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

      “I have taken too many anti-inflammatories in my career,” he told Jyllands-Posten.
      “I know that full well, and it sucks, but I did stop it [in the end]. I am not gaining anything personally from saying this but I can only hope that other athletes do.
      “It could be that others take a pill or two less.”

      Agger: England have a strong squad More

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      David Alaba’s stunning girlfriend is Shalimar Heppner, whose dad is Germany’s top chef dubbed ‘German Gordon Ramsay’

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      SOMETHING’s cooking for David Alaba.
      The Bayern Munich defender, 28, looks set to leave the Champions League winners after talks over a new contract reportedly broke down.

      Meet David Alaba’s beautiful missus Shalimar Heppner

      Alaba and Heppner could be headed to the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty – Pool

      And that has a whole host of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea who are looking to bring the Austrian international in on a free transfer next summer.
      Should Alaba make the move, he will uprooting his family including his stunning missus Shalimar Heppner and their son for a new challenge.
      They’ll both likely miss her dad’s cooking, who is a top chef who has been called the ‘German Gordon Ramsay’.
      But Shalimar, 26, would definitely be a welcome addition to our shores.

      LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
      She met Alaba in 2017, and the pair immediately hit it off.
      However, they didn’t go public with their romance until 2018, when they arrived at the Oktoberfest together in Bavaria.
      Shalimar is a part-time model, but also works as a PR manager.
      And she’s picked up quite the buzz on Instagram – with almost 30,000 followers.

      However, she is not as well-known as her dad.

      The pair went public with their romance in 2018 at OktoberfestCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Stunning Shalimar is a part-time model

      Shalimar, who has around 30,000 followers on Instagram, also works as a PR manager

      26-year-old Shalimar and Alaba hit it off when they first metCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      YES CHEF
      Frank Heppner, Shalimar’s father, has worked almost exclusively with luxury hotel restaurants around the world.
      From designing menus at Hilton International in Seoul-Korea and the Peninsula Hotels in the Philippines and in Hong Kong to being head chef at Mark’s in Munich, Heppner’s cooking is renowned in his homeland.
      Skilled at grilled meats and fish, he’s a mean-hand at a BBQ and has been compared to our very own chef Ramsay.
      His focus is on Euro-Asian cuisine, so we want in!
      NEW ADDITION
      In 2019, Shalimar and Alaba welcomed their first child together.
      The pair have never revealed the boy’s name, and the left-back has kept the baby’s identity private, aside from an image of him holding the baby and kissing his feet.

      Shalimar’s dad is Frank Heppner, Germany’s answer to Gordon RamsayCredit: Alamy

      Alaba and Shalimar are often travelling around the world together during the preseason break

      Shalimar would make a welcome addition to the Premier League Wags club

      In 2019, Alaba and Shalimar became parents for the first time

      “I can hardly wait to show you the world,” Alaba revealed in one post gently holding the baby’s head.
      In another image, he wrote: “Thank you in 2019 for the greatest gift I could ever have imagined. We look forward to 2020 and the years to come with you.”
      Could those years to come be in the UK? Watch this space.

      David Alaba demonstrates his home workout for Bayern Munich fans More

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      David Alaba’s stunning Wag is Shalimar Heppner, whose dad Frank is Germany’s top chef dubbed the ‘German Gordon Ramsay’

      by

      SOMETHING’s cooking for David Alaba.
      The Bayern Munich defender, 28, looks set to leave the Champions League winners after talks over a new contract reportedly broke down.

      Meet David Alaba’s beautiful missus Shalimar Heppner

      Alaba and Heppner could be headed to the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty – Pool

      And that has a whole host of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea who are looking to bring the Austrian international in on a free transfer next summer.
      Should Alaba make the move, he will uprooting his family including his stunning missus Shalimar Heppner and their son for a new challenge.
      They’ll both likely miss her dad’s cooking, who is a top chef who has been called the ‘German Gordon Ramsay’.
      But Shalimar, 26, would definitely be a welcome addition to our shores.

      LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
      She met Alaba in 2017, and the pair immediately hit it off.
      However, they didn’t go public with their romance until 2018, when they arrived at the Oktoberfest together in Bavaria.
      Shalimar is a part-time model, but also works as a PR manager.
      And she’s picked up quite the buzz on Instagram – with almost 30,000 followers.

      However, she is not as well-known as her dad.

      The pair went public with their romance in 2018 at OktoberfestCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Stunning Shalimar is a part-time model

      Shalimar, who has around 30,000 followers on Instagram, also works as a PR manager

      26-year-old Shalimar and Alaba hit it off when they first metCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      YES CHEF
      Frank Heppner, Shalimar’s father, has worked almost exclusively with luxury hotel restaurants around the world.
      From designing menus at Hilton International in Seoul-Korea and the Peninsula Hotels in the Philippines and in Hong Kong to being head chef at Mark’s in Munich, Heppner’s cooking is renowned in his homeland.
      Skilled at grilled meats and fish, he’s a mean-hand at a BBQ and has been compared to our very own chef Ramsay.
      His focus is on Euro-Asian cuisine, so we want in!
      NEW ADDITION
      In 2019, Shalimar and Alaba welcomed their first child together.
      The pair have never revealed the boy’s name, and the left-back has kept the baby’s identity private, aside from an image of him holding the baby and kissing his feet.

      Shalimar’s dad is Frank Heppner, Germany’s answer to Gordon RamsayCredit: Alamy

      Alaba and Shalimar are often travelling around the world together during the preseason break

      Shalimar would make a welcome addition to the Premier League Wags club

      In 2019, Alaba and Shalimar became parents for the first time

      “I can hardly wait to show you the world,” Alaba revealed in one post gently holding the baby’s head.
      In another image, he wrote: “Thank you in 2019 for the greatest gift I could ever have imagined. We look forward to 2020 and the years to come with you.”
      Could those years to come be in the UK? Watch this space.

      David Alaba demonstrates his home workout for Bayern Munich fans More

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      Real Madrid stars who quit the club and showed they were world class elsewhere, including Rodriguez, Robben and Makelele

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      JAMES RODRIGUEZ, Claude Makelele and Arjen Robben are just three players that have seen their careers improve after departing Real Madrid.
      Playing for the 13-time European champions is usually seen as the pinnacle of a footballer’s career, however the trio have shown that leaving the Bernabeu is sometimes for the better.

      James Rodriguez has starred at Everton after leaving Real Madrid in the summerCredit: PA:Press Association

      Here SunSport looks at five players that have thrived since leaving Real.
      JAMES RODRIGUEZ
      The Colombian playmaker linked up with Everton in the summer on an initial two-year deal, with Toffees bringing him in on a free transfer.
      Everton look like a team transformed with the ex-Monaco ace in their starting XI, with James chipping in with three goals and four assists in his first six outings.
      His stunning form has led Madrid chiefs to become angry with Zinedine Zidane over his treatment at the player.

      It may be early in his Everton career, but he has arguably been the Premier League’s top performer so far this term.

      Rodriguez has scored three goals in six games for the Toffees this termCredit: Reuters
      CLAUDE MAKELELE
      Another player that swapped La Liga for the English top-flight, the defensive midfielder left for Chelsea in 2003.
      During his three season stay at Real, he won the league twice, while also winning the Champions League, Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup.
      He was then instrumental in Chelsea’s title-winning campaigns in 2005 and 2006.

      Makelele left Stamford Bridge in 2008 to join Paris Saint-Germain after five trophy-laden campaigns, where he had his position named after him in honour of his dazzling displays.

      Claude Makelele (right) joined Real Madrid in 2000 from Celta VigoCredit: AP:Associated Press
      ARJEN ROBBEN
      Signed from Chelsea in 2007, the Dutch forwad helped Madrid win LaLiga in his opening season, before notching in eight goals the following campaign.
      In the summer of 2009 he was forced out after the club brought in Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, with Bayern Munich signing him for £21million.
      And it was in Bavaria that he became one of the most feared wingers in Europe as he banged in 144 goals in 309 games.
      He called time on his career in Germany in 2019 after winning the Bundesliga title eight times, the Champions League once and the German Cup five times.
      Robben sits eighth on the list of Bayern’s all-time top goalscorers.

      Arjen Robben spent two years at the Bernabeu before moving to Bayern MunichCredit: Reuters
      CLARENCE SEEDORF
      Like Robben, Seedorf was forced out of the club in 1999 with the club in dire need of funds.
      Seedorf won the LaLiga title as well as the Champions League at the Bernabeu, but there was no room for sentiment as they offloaded him to Italy.
      Speaking of his move to Inter Milan, he said: “The club needed money, and I was the highest ticket.”
      He then joined AC Milan in a swap deal with Francesco Coco leaving to join Inter, and it was with the Rossoneri that the midfielder created history.
      After winning the Champions League in 2003 with Milan, he became the first person to win the European Cup with three different teams – the first being at Ajax in 1995.
      In 2007 he won the trophy again after Milan beat Liverpool 2-1, and in doing so, he was named as Uefa’s best midfielder.
      He left Milan in 2012 having scored 63 times in 431 games, where he also helped the club win the Serie A title twice.

      Clarence Seedorf was sold to Inter Milan in 1999 with the club struggling for fundsCredit: AP:Associated Press
      WESLEY SNEIJDER
      Another Dutchman that was shown the door by Real, the ex-Ajax maestro was deemed as surplus to requirements in 2009 following the arrivals of Kaka and Xabi Alonso.
      He subsequently joined Inter, where he won a historic treble in his first season.
      No other player assisted more times in the Champions League during the 2009-10 campaign, with Sneijder also named as Uefa’s Midfielder of the Year.
      That summer he helped Holland reach the World Cup final where they lost to Spain.
      As a result of his performances, he was awarded the Silver Ball after scoring five goals during the tournament in South Africa.

      Wesley Sneijder played for Los Blancos between 2007-2009Credit: AP:Associated Press

      Most expensive flop XI in Premier League history – including Sanchez, Kepa and Torres More