5 Ballon d'Or winners who played in India

#2 Diego Maradona

The type of picture you would usually see after concert – Maradona’s stunning reception in Kolkata

Young and old alike put on their Blue and white kits as the city of Kolkata prepared to welcome the legendary Argentine football player Diego Maradona to their city. The World Cup winner travelled to the country to inaugurate a private soccer academy in the outskirts of Kolkata. He also watched an exhibition game at the Salt Lake Stadium which included Indian players from the past and present.

‘El Diego’ did not play the game but was able to send the crowd in Kolkata wild when he juggled the ball for the crowd during the half time break. "I thought there were no more surprises left in life but my visit to Kolkata has changed that; I didn't know people loved soccer so much in this part of the world,” said Diego recalling his visit to India.

Maradona did not win the Ballon d'Or despite playing in Europe since the award was meant only for European players till 1995. He was given an honorary Ballon d’Or - the winner in the Le nouveau palmarès (The new winners) as the deserving winner of the award in 1986 and 1990.