For statisticians, Diego Maradona lifted the World Cup for his country in 1986 in Mexico, but for members of the Church of Maradona in Argentina, the historic moment took place in 26 AD (AD stands for After Diego).
BERLIN: For statisticians, Diego Maradona lifted the World Cup for his country in 1986 in Mexico, but for members of the Church of Maradona in Argentina, the historic moment took place in 26 AD (AD stands for After Diego).
Time begins when Diego is born in 1960 as far as the founding 200 members are concerned. And tens of thousands have since joined via the Internet to worship at the altar of Argentina's most famous number 10.
The football messiah beat Pele in a poll to judge the all-time greatest player, and many who picked the Argentine over the Brazilian argue that Pele played in great sides but Maradona made average teams champions - he really did turn water into wine.
Argentina did not have a great side in 1986, but with Maradona able to dribble around entire defences, as he did against England, in the quarterfinals 20 years ago, it didn't really matter.
Italian club Napoli was an equally average outfit. Without the Argentine legend they had never won the Italian league, but they won it twice in three years after Maradona joined them in 1984.
The Italian side was extremely well supported but had always been unsuccessful until Maradona came into the side. They also won the UEFA Cup in 1989 and the Italian Super Cup in 1990. Diego's star crashed to earth though as his playing career came to an end.
He was dogged by drug scandals throughout the 1990s. In 1994 he was thrown out of the World Cup for failing an ephedrine drugs test. He maintains that FIFA had privately sanctioned his use of the weight-reducing supplement to ensure his lucrative presence at the tournament.
He also served a 15-month ban for cocaine use while playing for Napoli. A drug he was allegedly introduced to in his time at Barcelona and which was to hasten his descent into perilous ill health.
He has had spells in drug rehabilitation centres in Cuba and in Switzerland and suffered a heart attack in 2004. But through all the health problems his popularity and the fascination he arouses in people never waned.
One nurse in the Buenos Aires hospital where he was being treated for his heart problems was sacked when she took a photo of him in his hospital bed on her mobile phone.
In 2005, he had a gastric bypass operation, which has helped him drastically reduce his weight and looking almost as fit as when he ran rings around England in 1986. He was then ready for a spectacular comeback - this time as a TV star.
In the summer of August 2005 he debuted on his own chat show "The Night of the Number 10" and the programme is now the most popular in Argentina. He is working for Spanish TV channel Cuatro during this World Cup and accompanied by his ex-wife Claudia and his daughter Giannina he can be seen cheering Argentina's every goal.
And away from football he never misses a chance to speak out in favour of his friend Cuban leader Fidel Castro and against US President George W. Bush, who he describes as a "murderer".
But Maradona the TV star, political speaker, recovered drug addict is still first and foremost a footballer. As a ball boy in the Argentine first division he wowed fans with his juggling skills at half time and he has been taking centre stage ever since.
He now hints at a career in management - the national team of course. "If we win the World Cup then first I will celebrate, but then I want to put myself forward for the coach's job," he says.
"And if we don't win then there is even more reason for me to take over."
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