LEICESTER, England -- There isn't a place where Diego Maradona can go unnoticed. And he definitely didn't go unnoticed during his visit to Leicester for the Pumas' third Rugby World Cup match. From the moment he arrived at Leicester City Stadium with his girlfriend, Rocio Oliva, and Agustin Pichot, around 1.30 pm until he left some four hours later, he drew everyone's attention.
He was admired both by the people and by the Argentine national team's players, with whom he celebrated the 45-16 win against Tonga. From the stands, he sang the national anthem with real feeling. He shouted for each try as hard as anyone, and he took pictures with the fans. Later, in the locker room, he was gifted the shirts of Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo and Pumas captain Agustin Creevy. He came bearing gifts as well, and gave a speech.
"We should have secured it earlier," he joked at the beginning before he continued: "You are making people happy, a destitute country like Argentina. You are giving what Argentina doesn't have and doesn't get from those who should make them happy. And you guys are doing it." Juan Fernandez Lobbe, who had already met Maradona both in a previous Pumas match and in Pichot's farewell said "Diego has a special aura".
"He always has wise words when speaking to the players face to face," Fernandez Lobbe told ESPN. "Him coming today and telling us that he is here because we make him happy says a lot and it is important. [He is] a guy who carried a country on his shoulders.
In addition to his words, Maradona danced to Rodrigo's song La Mano de Dios - The Hand of God - together with the squad, and also did some kick-ups with a rugby ball.
"You make a country happy," Maradona said. "They say it is a football [country], and today it is a rugby [country] because of you. That's why I come, because, like you, I want a signed shirt."
Sanchez was one of the players who enjoyed the moment. "It was a very nice time for everyone. [The fact that] he came to talk to us, that he came here to see us, it was pretty shocking. It was the first time I got to see him. It's a strange feeling, but it was very nice for everyone."
Not all the players met Maradona, however. "It must have been great, "Santiago Cordero said after he missed the moment because he was walking around the pitch greeting the people.
Creevy, who introduced Maradona and offered him the microphone, said: "He was always the best. The best player of all-time. His visit was a very nice surprise. I never would have imagined it."
And the Pumas captain revealed Maradona's promise: "If we get through to the semifinals, he will come. He set the bar very high..."