With the level of fan fervour that erupted in the Campania capoluogo following Argentina’s World Cup triumph, yesterday, the streets of Napoli could have easily been mistaken for those of Buenos Aires.
After the wondrous 120 minutes plus penalties that resulted in Argentina's win, celebrations exploded throughout the city, converging around the altar of Maradona’s mural in the Spanish Quarters.
Fans not only travelled from other Italian cities to join in on the festivities, but from other countries across Europe.
Supporters of the Albiceste met at noon in Piazza Dante amid a sea of banners, jerseys, flags, and of course, countless fan tributes to Maradona. With Italy’s absence in this year’s World Cup, Argentinians and Neopolitans united to celebrate and commemorate the late Argentina great, who has always acted as a cultural bridge between Napoli and Buenos Aires.
Argentinean fans had crowded bars and restaurants in Napoli to watch the match live, exploding as Lionel Messi scored twice and converted in a penalty shootout too, carrying his side to victory over France.
It was Messi's day, with the Argentina captain, considered now by many to be the greatest footballer of all-time, at last able to lift the one trophy that has eluded him.
The diminutive No.10 is now definitively in the pantheon of soccer's greatest-ever players, alongside Maradona, with whom he has so often been compared.
Messi has achieved what Maradona did in 1986, dominating a World Cup for Argentina, even though at 35, he was 10 years older than 'El Diego' was when shooting them to the title in Mexico.
