Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona enters the stadium ahead of a charity football match in Jinan in 2010. Photo: Xinhua
Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona enters the stadium ahead of a charity football match in Jinan in 2010. Photo: Xinhua
Jonathan White
Opinion

Opinion

The East Stand by Jonathan White

Maradona death: China’s football dreams have changed since days of Diego, between Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping

  • Deng Xiaoping’s desire to bring Argentine great seemed borne of love of the game, Xi Jinping’s World Cup dream less so
  • China’s emergence as a soft power in the sport has shown how the world game has become tool of globalisation

Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona enters the stadium ahead of a charity football match in Jinan in 2010. Photo: Xinhua
Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona enters the stadium ahead of a charity football match in Jinan in 2010. Photo: Xinhua
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