That's true, but Maradona was special. I can't really remember another case where a host country would support the opposing team because of one player.

Did Liverpool fans support Uruguay when they were playing England? (genuine question)

That wasn't really about Maradona, more that the Napoli fans would put club before country. It didn't work as they didn't go for Argentina at all of course, but putting club first is in no way an English thing, and even more so it isn't down to being starved of international success.

I thought Napoli did support Argentina and the Italians even tried to get the semi-final moved to another city because they knew this would happen? I was too young to really get a feel for what happened in 1990. Maradona is an absolute idol in Napoli and I don't think they would have supported any other player on the other side. Maradona was just special.

alot of jealousy i agree

messi wasnt as good as he should have been QF and onwards but he still had a v good tournament and is still best player on the planet.

He tried, but the huge flag in the curva read 'Maradona, Naples loves you but Italy is our homeland'

The point is that he could play up the possibility that Italy is not the priority for those fans, and that's a national team who were World Champions a few years before.

He was Argentina's best player, but he's no Maradona.

Mascherano was Argentina's best player.