The day Maradona clashed with Gallardo: “he said I was a bad person”

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La Número 12

·24 February 2026

The day Maradona clashed with Gallardo: “he said I was a bad person”

Maradona is synonymous with football and synonymous with Boca. Considered the best player in history, Diego had thousands of moments to collect both on and off the field. His anecdotes remain alive in the hearts of his fans and never fail to bring smiles. In that context, we remember the day Maradona had a fight with Gallardo, but it's not Marcelo.

Before his arrival at Boca, Diego Maradona shone wearing the Argentinos Juniors jersey and, in one of the matches playing for the Bicho, he had a strong clash with Miguel Ángel Gallardo, a Huracán player. The native of Villa Fiorito pointed out his lack of beauty: “come on Gallardo, you're uglier than me,” he said.

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The anecdote of Diego in Mar de Fondo.

'El Negro', a midfielder known for being unattractive, went and complained to the referee about what his opponent had said. “He's calling me ugly, he's calling me ugly,” he complained. Amid laughter, Diego recounted years later that the referee made a gesture as if agreeing with him.

Additionally, Pelusa recalled the interview given by the former Globo player after the match: “After the game, Gallardo: ‘Maradona is a bad person because he called me ugly.’ He's an idiot, the whole country knows it. Just take it, don't say anything, but you're very obvious.”

Besides being a player, Diego was a manager of the Ribera club.

To close the anecdote with his great sense of humor, the Boca and Argentine National Team idol highlighted: “If someone calls me ugly on the field, I say: ‘great idol, say it right here.’”