After Argentina was handed a crushing defeat by Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the 3rd day of FIFA World Cup 2022, an array of memes featuring Argentine football legend Diego Maradona filled Twitter. 

Although Lionel Messi’s penalty goal in the first half was impressive, it was neutralized by Saleh Alshehri in the 48th minute. Al Dawsari, came in n the 53rd minute and delivered a bending shot into the far top corner, leading 2-1 against Argentina in the scorecard. The title favorites could not make up the difference in the end. 

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Disappointed fans took to social media to mock Argentina’s defeat by comparing Messi to another Argentine great of all time, Maradona. One of the memes that are doing the rounds is Maradona sticking both his middle fingers out in anger. The picture was originally taken during FIFA World Cup 2018 after he showed the middle finger to Nigeria fans after his team’s win over the African side. 

“Maradona also lost the first group stage game 2-1” one fan wrote on Tuesday. Another commented, “Diego Maradona from heavens watching Lionel Messi and Argentina losing to Saudi Arabia in FIFA World Cup! #Argentina#ARGKSA” A third wrote, “Maradona coming to assist Messi after Argentina somehow bottle the lead #FIFAWorldCup.” One more said, “Diego Maradona looking down at this Argentina team.”

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“Maradona from his Grave,” one memester wrote, while another noted, “The amount of cocaine Maradona is snorting down in hell rn is absolutely insane.” One more said, “Maradona watching this Argentina performance against Saudi from heaven.” Another quipped, “Maradona rn I knew Messi was shitt.”

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Maradona is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, he was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award.  He was given the nickname “El Pibe de Oro” (The Golden Boy). 

On 25 November, at the age of 60, Maradona suffered cardiac arrest and died in his sleep at his home in Dique Luján, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina