If there's one thing that unites people around the world, it's football. Discover the best apps for watching football now.
I'm one of those people who grew up watching games on a CRT TV, with commentary echoing throughout the house, popcorn on my lap, and fans cheering in the living room.
And when it comes to real football, it is impossible not to remember Diego Armando Maradona, one of the greatest geniuses this sport has ever seen.
Even those who didn't have the privilege of seeing him play live feel his impact to this day.
And with today's apps, it's possible to watch football matches from anywhere, even reliving the best moments of stars like him.
Today I want to share with you some of my favorite apps for watching football, and also reminisce about some of Maradona's most legendary matches, which still move me today.
See below the best apps to watch football
Star+
This is one of my favorites. It broadcasts matches from the Spanish Championship, Copa Libertadores, Premier League, and much more.
I signed up when I found out they were streaming Barcelona games, and I ended up staying because it had so many great features.
In addition, it's possible to find documentaries about football; there's even one about Maradona that's chilling.
OneFootball
This is free and very useful for following live matches with text narration, lineups, statistics, and even goal videos.
In some leagues, you can even watch full matches. Whenever I'm away from home and want to know how the game is going, he's the one I trust.
FIFA+
This app from FIFA itself is excellent for anyone looking to delve into the history of football.
It features classic World Cup matches, including historic matches between Maradona and Argentina. And the best part: it's all free.
Globoplay + Sportv
Anyone who loves Brazilian soccer will enjoy this. With this combo, you can watch matches from the Brasileirão, the Copa do Brasil, and sometimes even national team matches.
It was on this app that I recently watched a replay of the 1986 World Cup with Maradona's Argentina. Unforgettable.
Maradona's best matches
I'm not Argentinian, but I confess that their 1986 team is one of the ones that moves me the most. And much of that is thanks to Maradona.
The match against England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup is simply historic.
I remember showing this match to my oldest son, who loves football, and being moved by the sparkle in his eyes when he saw two legendary goals: the first, with the famous "Hand of God," and the second, where Maradona dribbles past half the opposing team and scores what was dubbed the "Goal of the Century." He looked like an artist painting a moving work.
Another memorable match was against Belgium in the same World Cup, in the semifinal. He scored two goals and delivered a stellar performance.
Argentina won 2-0 with him simply "flying" around the field. And of course the final against West Germany.
He didn't score a goal, but he led the team like a maestro, distributing plays and securing the title with a pinpoint pass for the winning goal.
Why watch Maradona to this day?
I often say that anyone who loves football needs to see Maradona play, even if it's through videos, replays, or documentaries.
He had a passion for the ball that went beyond technique. It was racing, it was soul, it was emotion.
And with today's apps, we have the ability to relive those moments with quality, from anywhere.
Whether on the bus home from work or on the couch with family, you can feel a bit of that magic he brought to the countryside.
Download one of these apps, search for classic games, and let yourself be swept away by the sensation of watching a true genius in action.
Maradona wasn't just a player. He was an entire chapter in the history of football. And fortunately, technology allows us to return to these pages whenever we want.
In his later years as a player, Maradona still showed glimpses of the genius that enchanted the world.
He played for Sevilla in Spain and returned to Argentina to play for Newell's Old Boys and then Boca Juniors, where he finished his career with his idolization intact.
Unfortunately, his end was as controversial as his career. In 2020, Maradona passed away at the age of 60, and since then, his death has been under investigation for alleged medical negligence.
A lawsuit has been filed involving the doctors and nurses who treated him, and many believe there were serious failings in the care.
The pain of loss was compounded by this sense of injustice. What we all hope is that, whatever the outcome, Maradona's memory will continue to be celebrated for the artistry he delivered on the field.
