I nearly spit out my coffee this morning scrolling through X (still can't get used to not calling it Twitter). There's this absolutely HILARIOUS video making the rounds showing staff from Argentinos Juniors – yes, Diego Maradona's first professional club – literally knocking on some poor neighbor's door begging for their match ball back.

God. Remember when you were a kid and your ball went into the cranky neighbor's yard? This is that, but with professional football club employees in matching t-shirts. I'm dying.

The Door-Knocking Saga That Has Me Cackling

So picture this: Two grown men, both wearing identical club shirts, standing awkwardly at someone's front door like schoolboys who've just broken a window. One of them – and this is the part that sent me – actually gets down ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES to peek under the door! Like... sir, you represent a professional football organization.

My colleague from Buenos Aires tells me this happened during their 4-0 thrashing of Estudiantes in the Argentine Primera Division. Apparently, someone blasted the ball clear out of the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona (fitting name, we'll get to that), and it landed on some neighbor's roof.

There's this steward in a bright orange jacket trying to explain the situation to these two employees, and the whole thing looks like a sketch comedy routine.

Maradona Would've Probably Climbed Up There Himself

The irony isn't lost on me that this happened at a stadium named after possibly the most audacious footballer who ever lived. I mean, this is the guy who scored with his hand against England and called it "the Hand of God" with a straight face.

Back in 2018, I visited this stadium during a football pilgrimage through Argentina. Cost me $3,000 and every vacation day I had, but worth it to walk where legends began. The place isn't exactly Camp Nou – it's small, intimate, and clearly has some... security features that need addressing.

Where Do All Those Stadium Balls Go?

Ever wondered what happens to all those balls that fly into the stands during matches? Most big European clubs have nets or high walls, but in smaller stadiums around the world, they just... disappear into teh neighborhood.

I asked a groundskeeper at a Championship match in England last year about this. His response: "We budget for about 25 lost balls a season. Sometimes we send the youth team players to go fetch 'em. Builds character."

Clearly, Argentinos Juniors takes a more direct approach.

The Legend Who Started It All

For those who don't know (and honestly, how could you not?), Diego Maradona began his storied career at Argentinos Juniors. Joined their youth setup in 1969 when he was just a kid with dreams and that magical left foot.

Between 1976 and 1981, he played 166 matches for them, scoring an insane 116 goals. That's basically a goal every 1.4 games. Ridiculous numbers.

Then came his glory days at Napoli and with Argentina's national team, culminating in that 1986 World Cup triumph where he played EVERY. SINGLE. MINUTE. of Argentina's campaign.

Five goals. Five assists. One hand of God. One stadium named after him.

Gone But Never Forgotten

It still feels weird talking about Maradona in the past tense. His death in November 2020 hit the football world like a sledgehammer. Napoli also renamed their stadium after him – a fitting tribute to the man who brought them their only two Serie A titles.

Listen. Whatever your opinion on Maradona's controversial life off the pitch, his impact on football is undeniable.

And now his legacy includes club employees crawling around on neighbors' doorsteps looking for stray footballs.

Sometimes football gives us these perfect little moments of humanity adn absurdity that remind us why we love this game so much.

I wonder if they ever got that ball back...