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Fifteen years lay between the two all time great acts in the history of football World Cups. The first was probably the best display of skills and team game and majestic touches of the king of football; the second was the best thing ever happened at any football ground in the world and will later topple the first to clinch the best footballer of the millennium honor. It is completely unfair to imagine the football world without these two giants whose rivalry with each other still makes people excited and storms the cafeterias with never-ending debates.
Yes, the acts are the 1970 and 1986 football World Cups which have given us Pele and Maradona, the icons or legends or notably the churches of the game named football. But have we ever wondered what the connection between these two great footballers is? What has made them legends? The answer is “Estadio Azteca” of Mexico City. It is the only football ground in the world to witness the two legends in their prime form. It provided the legends a firm ground to script their names in the pages of history books or perhaps to mesmerize us with their pristine display of hypnotizing skills.
“Estadio Azteca” is the only football stadium in the world to host the two football World Cup finals and other historical matches. It is considered to be the largest stadium in Latin America and is fifth largest in the world. The stadium has the reputation of witnessing the beauty and brutality of football. Beside the world cup finals, it has hosted the “Game of the Century”, “Goal of the Century” and the famous “Hand of God Goal.”
The stadium was made public in May 29, 1966, with the game between Club America of Mexico and Torino F.C. of Italy, holding 107,494 spectators at its belly. The contest ended in draw while the Brazilian Arlindo Dos Santos Cruz became the first goal scorer at this ground. This is where Pele and Maradona lifted the World cup for the last time in 1970 and in 1986 respectively. The stadium was also chosen for the international club tournaments and Copa Libertadores de America. Today, it is the official home stadium of the Mexico national football team and the domestic Club America.
With the passage of time, the stadium has sometimes been used for musical concerts as well. Performers like Michael Jackson, U2, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Juan Gabriel, Luis Miguel and Lenny Kravitz all have visited this venue and enriched its glamour. Other times, it has been used as the venue for political and religious events like the entrance of Pope John Paul II in 1999.
But nothing surpasses the soccer actions for which it has found its name and glory. The name “Azteca” was given to tribute the Aztec heritage of Mexico City. It is sad that the stadium was not selected as the Olympic stadium in 1968; the honor eventually went to the “Estadio Olimpico Universitario” Apart from that it has got every crowned feather in its cap. The spectators can visit the bronze plaque of Maradona’s “Goal of the Century” and respectively the monument commemorating the “Game of the Century” at the entrance of the stadium.
It is uncertain whether this wonderful stadium will host another world cup final or not but it has surely produced historical moments and is one of the most prestigious football grounds in the world. It is the same ground where both Pele and Maradona once roared and left their footprints. People will probably remember this venue as the flag bearer of these legends, the immortal goals, the breathtaking thrills, the countless emotions, the Mexican wave and above all the beautiful game of football.
