By Austin Sparkes. Sub-edited by Ed Mace
A review of the BBC Documentary When Lineker Met Maradona. Directed by Jason Bernard. Released in 2006.
The BBC special ‘When Lineker met Maradona’ is a 45-minute-long documentary made in 2006 that saw Gary Lineker take a trip over to Buenos Aires for a weekend with Diego as they reflect on his career’s controversies, as well as his life post-retirement.
The documentary commences with a compilation of newspaper headlines blasting Maradona after England’s loss to Argentina at the 1986 World Cup, courtesy of Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’. The emphasis of Maradona as a ‘cheat’ in these papers strongly conveys the British perspective of the Argentine.
The opening sequence communicates the villainous reputation the Argentine earned, and that despite his footballing brilliance, he was inseparable from trouble. For me, this already demonstrates a desire to not shy away from the controversies of Maradona’s past. Having Lineker, a player on the losing end of the 1986 match gives it added tension that helps make it feel very honest.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe narrative seen throughout the pair’s interview is one that focuses on the rise, the fall and then the rebirth of Maradona. Lineker begins by asking questions about Maradona’s background living in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, helping to showcase how Maradona gained a fiery edge to his personality.
Throughout this interview we see Lineker more as Maradona’s colleague rather than as a journalist. This stance helps Maradona talk candidly about his issues with suspensions and drug addictions which saw him suffer a heart attack in 2000, leading to the turning point in the Argentine’s life. Lineker excels at providing a new perspective of Maradona that shows the man behind he magic and madness.
This BBC special highlights the importance of showing both sides when tackling a divisive topic. If there was a sole focus on Maradona’s accolades without delving deeper into his issues, it would have been a dishonest representation of Maradona’s life. Additionally, it demonstrates how to approach personal questions in an ethical way that doesn’t come off as provocative.
The interview comes across as very transparent and while Lineker behaves friendly with Maradona, it doesn’t prevent him from asking personal questions. This is a skill that I aspire to replicate, as it can make for smoother interviews without making the interviewee hostile and reluctant to interact. The documentary maintains a good balance despite Lineker’s admiration of Maradona, as shown by the clips and sound bites of other professionals who perceive Maradona differently, which helps the documentary express how polarising Maradona is.