South Korea's Huh Jung-moo, left, tackles Diego Maradona of Argentina during a Group A football match of the FIFA 1986 World Cup in Mexico, June 2, 1986. Korea Times file

In the first game at the 1986 World Cup, 32 years after its previous appearance, South Korea faced Argentina and lost 3-1. It was a game immortalized in East Asia in an iconic image of Huh Jung-moo tackling Diego Maradona in a rather forceful manner. At the time, Maradona was the best player in the world, and many still think he is the best that's ever been.

It was no surprise then that the Koreans did their best to keep Maradona quiet, with Huh given the task of doing so.

"I remember Huh very well," Maradona said at the 2010 World Cup, coach of Argentina at the time, while Huh was in charge of the Taeguk Warriors, where they were due to meet. "In 1986, the Koreans played taekwondo, not football, against us."

There was probably no other way to stop him. Nobody could. Whether Maradona is the best player of all time is a matter of opinion, but all would surely agree that he was the star of the 1986 World Cup and dragged Argentina to the global title in a heroic and dramatic fashion. FIFA certainly thought so and awarded the legend the Adidas Golden Ball trophy after it all finished, the prize given to the tournament's best player.

That golden trophy is up for auction on June 6 at the world-famous Aguttes International Auction House in Paris. Serious interest is expected.

"At that 1986 World Cup, Diego shone like never before or since in his career; it was his monument," Jorge Burruchaga, Argentinian teammate of Diego Maradona and scorer of the winning goal in the 1986 World Cup final as the South Americans defeated West Germany 3-2, said. " We knew we had the best player in the world, there was no doubt about it, we knew it for a fact."

Yet it is the 2-1 quarterfinal win against England in Mexico City that everyone remembers. Maradona's first goal was called the "Hand of God" moment — when he punched the ball into the net. It remains one of the most famous, if not the most famous, goal ever scored, though there is competition from the second goal he scored that day. He picked the ball up from inside his own half, and the rest is history as they say.

"My favorite recollection of this World Cup is the second goal he scored against England, which remains the most beautiful in history for me because you must consider the state of the pitch, the altitude, the context between the two countries and what he managed to do," said Burruchaga.

"He breezed past six players ... It was divine. On that day, he created a lasting legacy for all Argentinian sportsmen and women, not just footballers, showing just how much you have to fight to be worthy of wearing the Argentine jersey."

That jersey was given by the man himself to England midfielder Steve Hodge at the final whistle. In 2022, it was sold at auction by Hodge for a figure reported to be around $7 million.

The golden ball, which was fittingly awarded to Maradona in Paris 38 years ago, is another piece of football history. South Korea may not have progressed past the group stage in that tournament, but it was still an honor to share the field with Diego Maradona when he was at his very best. Korea, too, shares that history.