Bad boy Maradona is back and the fans are loving it

EVERY World Cup has its hero. USA 94 may have found its superstar early yesterday morning - a 33-year-old bad boy that the world of football had almost forgotten.

Diego Maradona, once the idol of every boy with a dream of playing in a World Cup and one of the game's most highly paid players, is back from obscurity and disgrace.

Few teams would have this arrogant genius - but for the Argentine national team and an army of fanatical supporters in the albiceleste (blue and white stripes) there is no one they would rather have than Diego Maradona.

Maradona's brilliance won the World Cup for his country in 1986. His inspiration led to the downfall of hot favourites Brazil and the host side in Italy 90.

Early yesterday the fans were seeing the Maradona of old, except that he is four years wiser for having been caught in possession of drugs, being sacked from club after club, being banned from the game he loves and even falling foul of the law for shooting an airgun at reporters at his front gate.

The new-look Maradona, lean and short-haired but still with a ring in his left ear, is forever making his mark on the game.