My dad scored winning goal in a World Cup – now I’m smashing it as star of a different sport

DIEGO MARADONA has a lot to thank Jorge Burruchaga for.

El Diego was undoubtedly the star of the show at Mexico 86 – the Golden Ball winner, the scorer of the iconic solo goal, and the provider of the Hand of God.

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Jorge Burruchaga was hoisted into the air after scoring the winner in the World Cup final[/caption]

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Diego Maradona was the star of the show for Argentina[/caption]

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Roman Andres Burruchaga defeated Diego Schwartzman in Cordoba last night[/caption]

But what may have gotten lost over the course of time, as this tale has been told across generations, is that it was actually Burruchaga that scored the winning goal in the final, not Maradona.

In front of over 100,000 fans at Estadio Azteca, the skilful attacker was played through on goal by Argentina‘s iconic No10 with 84 minutes on the clock, the score tied at 2-2.

Burruchaga bore down on goal, keeping his composure, before poking the ball beyond West German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher.

Just like that, Argentina were world champions once again.

And talent appears to run in the Burruchaga family.

Jorge’s eldest son Mauro, 25, took after his father, playing football for Chievo in Italy.

Younger sibling Roman Andres, however, chose a different path.

“I prefer to play tennis,” he revealed to the ATP.

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“I used to play soccer, but my father said to me that I should choose what I want – he likes tennis too.”

Jorge developed a love for tennis during his time playing in France in the 1980s, and couldn’t be more proud of his racquet-wielding son.

In 2019 he made the pilgrimage to SW19 to watch his boy take part in the Wimbledon juniors’ competition on the hallowed turf of the world famous All-England Club.

He revealed at the time: “My decision was to come to see my son play – it’s the best decision a dad can take, to come and support him in his early days.

“I’ve always liked tennis. When I was playing for Nantes everyone played and at the beginning I didn’t even know how to hold a racket.

“My French teacher got me into it and at first I was not good – until I learned!”

MAKING HIS WAY

Growth isn’t always linear, and the then-17-year-old lost to eventual winner Shintaro Mochizuki in a boys’ singles draw that also featured the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune.

Now 22, Burruchaga broke into the world’s top 200 with a run to the final of a Challenger event in Brasillia towards the end of last year.

Playing at home in Cordoba, he managed to qualify for his first ever ATP Tour level event over the weekend.

In his way in round one stood the diminutive 5ft 7in frame of Diego Schwartzman – a wily former French Open semi-finalist that has previously reached the world’s top ten.

Fittingly the match took place in the shadow of Estadio Mario Kempes, a 57,000-seater football stadium that has been used by the Argentina national team that Roman Andres’ father starred for.

Belying any pre-match jitters, he stormed into a 6-1 first set lead, before claiming an early break in the second.

Schwartzman, 31, came storming back, and would have been the favourite heading into the deciding set after claiming the second 6-4.

Roman Andres showed nerves of steel, however, raising his arms aloft and fist-pumping after Schwartzman netted a backhand on match point.

Following his 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 first round win, Burruchaga will face seventh-seed Yannick Hanfmann in round two.

It’s no surprise that the up-and-coming star is able to handle big moments.

“It’s a positive thing having a dad who has been a pro footballer. He knows professional sport,” Burruchaga admitted as a junior.

“He’s given me a lot of advice. He understands the problems too – the emotions, good moments, bad moments.”

As for learning how to win, Jorge Burruchaga had help from the best.

Recounting the moments after Argentina had spurned a two-goal lead to be pegged back to 2-2 in the 1986 World Cup final, the 61-year-old told Gazzetta in 2022: “Diego saw an upset Jorge Valdano [after the equaliser], but told him: ‘No worries, we are going to win this.’

“And he made us win. After my goal, he celebrated and looked to the sky. I was so proud to see him happy thanks to my strike.”

However Roman Andres performs against Hanfmann, the Burruchagas have proven that they are winners.

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Roman Andres Burruchaga celebrates his first ever ATP Tour-level win[/caption]