The Five Best Goals From the Beach Soccer World Cup (Including one from “Diego Junior Maradona”)

July 31st, 2008 | by: Laurie |

The most interesting thing about Beach Soccer is that it’s played on sand. (And you’re thinking…um…duh. That would kind of be the definition of “beach soccer.”)

But what this means on a practical level is that it’s harder to move the ball on the ground, so you get a fair number of truly astounding aerial goals. (Number five and number two are my personal favorites.)

I may be revealing my beach soccer ignorance here, but I didn’t think #1 was all that special. Except that it’s scored by “Diego Junior Maradona,” who plays for Italy.

Yes, he has those genes. But of course, because this is Maradona, the story is never simple. He is also known as “Diego Sinagra,” since his parents weren’t actually, y’know, married.

From the blogger’s best friend, Wikipedia:

Diego Jr. was a result of an affair between Diego Maradona and a young Neapolitan woman, Cristina Sinagra. He was brought up by his mother in the Province of Naples.

Diego Sinagra had a passion for football and started playing at a young age showing promise by emunlating the skills of his father. At eleven years old he was a part of the Napoli youth squad. Diego first met his father in 2003, in the course of a golf tournament in Rome. Sinagra represented the Italian national team at under-17 age level. In 2004, the young Diego joined the youth squad of Genoa for a season. [...]

On April 29, Diego Jr. is convoked in the Beach Soccer Italy National Team for the Beach Soccer World Cup’s qualifications which will be held from May 11 to 18 in Spain.[2] On May 12 Diego Junior made his debut in the national team in the match against Greece. [3] Sinagra played 4 matches in the FIFA World Cup’s qualifications and eventually Italy arrived 4th, qualifing to the World Cup. In June 2008 Diego left Venafro and he was bought by a beach soccer team, A.S.D. Mare di Roma. He made his debut in Beach Soccer’s Serie A on June 27, 2008 in the match against Alma Juventus Fano, scoring also a goal. He scores for Mare di Roma six goals in three matches counvincing Italy’s Coach Magrini to convoke him for the Beach Soccer World Cup.

So there you have it. The best Beach Soccer Goals AND the life story of Maradona’s love child.

No, don’t thank us. It’s what we do.

(Hat tip to 101 Great Goals for the video find)