Diego Maradona’s influence extended far beyond the football field, intertwining with popular culture in unexpected ways. One of these notable moments of Maradona’s footballing legend crossing paths with music was his unintentional role in popularizing the song ‘Live Is Life’ by the Austrian band Opus. Here’s the story behind it.
It was 1989, and Napoli, the Italian football club where Maradona played, was warming up for a game against Bayern Munich. As players went through their paces, the stadium’s sound system played ‘Live Is Life.’ What happened next became an iconic moment in football and music history.
Maradona, rather than going through the usual warm-up routine, started juggling the ball in tune with the music. With every beat, he seemed to be in harmony with the song. His casual, playful, and rhythmic touches not only got the crowd roaring but also caught the attention of TV cameras.
As Jürgen Klinsmann recalled in 2013, here’s what happened:
“There were 70,000 people in the stadium, and Maradona went on the field. We’re on the other side of the field, warming up like Germans: seriously, focused. There’s music playing, the song ‘Live is Life,’ and to the rhythm of the song, Maradona started juggling the ball. So we stopped our warm-up. What’s this guy doing? He’s juggling off his shoulders. And we couldn’t warm up anymore because we had to watch this guy.”
The footage of Maradona juggling the ball to ‘Live Is Life’ became a viral sensation of its time. It was broadcast on sports and music channels worldwide, introducing many to the song for the first time.
The result? ‘Live Is Life’ gained a surge in popularity, experiencing renewed radio airplay and climbing music charts in countries where it had previously remained relatively unknown. Besides, the moment linked Maradona with the song. Many fans and new listeners associated ‘Live Is Life’ with the football star’s dance moves on the field.
Opus, the band behind the song, acknowledged the unexpected boost Maradona gave to their track. In 2020, following the passing of Maradona, Ewald ‘Sunny’ Pfleger said the following about the footballer’s impact on their career:
“Maradona’s dancing & juggling was a highlight, a big moment in our career, and it’s making us very proud – but we were very sad about his passing away!”
While the song was already popular in some regions, the Maradona moment helped its global reach. In the years since, ‘Live Is Life’ has often been played in stadiums around the world.
You can watch those iconic moments below.
