CSG Registry Featured Set: Diego Maradona

Mr. Fútbol’s Maradona Masterpiece player set of Diego Maradona cards enters the field in first place among six competitors. The combined score of 4,035 points represents 20 of the 50 cards needed to complete the set. Don’t miss our Q&A with the set owner here.

Diego Maradona (1960-2020) is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award, and is arguably only rivaled by the likes of Pelé in terms of talent and worldwide acclaim.

Click images to enlarge.

Known as the free kick specialist, Maradona’s vision, passing, ball control and dribbling skills, combined with his small stature, allowed him to maneuver better than most other players. He played in four FIFA World Cups, including the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he captained and led the Argentina team to victory and was named the tournament’s best player. (Before their 2022 title, this was Argentina’s last World Cup championship.)

Maradona played for several teams over his career, including Barcelona, Napoli and Argentina. After his playing career, he managed several teams, including his native Argentina. He died at the age of 60 in 2020.

Q&A with the set owner

Question: How did you get into collecting sports cards?
Answer: I would go to the local card shop with my friends quite often, rip packs and drool over cards in the case. Obsessively checking up every card price in the newest Beckett we had lying around was standard procedure. My dad would always tell me that old baseball cards were the ones to collect so I shifted my focus. Eventually, I was pouring my $3-per-week allowance (plus what I could find in the couch or doing chores) into vintage cards and the occasional pack of Topps. I have been collecting vintage ever since.

Question: What are your favorite sports teams and/or athletes to follow?
Answer: Living in St. Louis, I follow my home teams and make it to Cards or Blues games as often as I can. I always enjoy catching a soccer match with some friends at our local pub. I usually try not to miss the US men’s national soccer team.

Question: What was your favorite card once you got into collecting?
Answer: I was not always a vintage soccer/football collector, but started with baseball. When I was a kid, I was able to buy a beat-up 1965 Topps Mickey Mantle for 17 bucks. My mom helped me negotiate the price down rather than make up the difference. Pretty sure the card shop owner, Mark, was in on it, too. What a great memory. I still have it!

Question: Do you have a different favorite card now?
Answer: That ’65 Mantle I bought in the card shop that day is probably the last card I would sell, so I would say it is my favorite. It narrates a fond experience in my life and reminds me how enjoyable collecting can be!

Question: We’re featuring your Maradona Masterpiece set. What drew you to collecting and building this set?
Answer: I honestly don’t know how it started, but sometimes you go down a rabbit hole and don’t come out. I decided to challenge myself. I was fascinated by stickers and cards alike from different parts of the world and the stories they told. I was drawn to Maradona because his life and career story is fascinating. He truly was an amazing athlete. As someone who has played a lot of soccer in my life, I am overly impressed with what he was able to achieve as a team leader and how he was able to move the ball. Just incredible! Before I knew it, I was using Google Translate to cross language barriers in order to curate a collection. From Argentina, to Barcelona, to Napoli (to name a few teams), it’s awesome to see how the different card and sticker issues reflect the cultures of each area of the world at a time when everything wasn’t as connected as it is now. Collecting his cards and stickers has been a wonderful journey that is far from over!

Question: Is there a card out there you’re hoping to add to your collection? Similarly, is there is a set you hope to complete someday?
Answer: I would really like to add a 1978 Crack Campeonato De Futbol Diego Maradona to my collection. That is one of those cards/stickers that you say, “Man, I wish I would have picked that up 10 years ago!” Right now, I am collecting mostly Maradona cards and stickers from various albums and sets. I find the 1979 Panini Calciatore and Mexico 1970 Panini World Cup Stickers sets and albums very appealing. It’s likely that one of those, if not both, will be next on my list!

Question: What do you enjoy most about adding your cards to the CSG Registry?
Answer: It’s very user friendly. With the photos of the cards already scanned, it’s enjoyable to scroll through and view all of them. I don’t have to spend countless hours scanning every card. Since the slabs are so clear, it makes everything easier to see. Turning your collection into a slideshow is really cool, too. I often hand my phone to a friend and let them hit play. It’s really a nice setup.

Question: What would you say to other sports cards collectors who may be on the fence about adding their cards to the CSG Registry?
Answer: Have fun with it! If you’re still on the fence but still interested, group-sub with some friends or pick up a CSG card up from a seller, start an account and see how it all works. It’s important to experience all of what this industry has to offer. My collection includes cards and stickers from a number of grading companies all over the world. In my opinion, my cards visually display the best in a CSG slab. No question! That makes me happy.

About the CSG Registry

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Related Links:

• More CSG Registry Featured Sets
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