The 'New Maradona' who traded a legendary jersey for a teammate's respect
In short: When Lavezzi arrived at Napoli, the media immediately crowned him the successor to Diego Maradona. But instead of clinging to the iconic number seven shirt, he performed a rare act of sporting humility that redefined his legacy in Italy.
Lavezzi's rise in Italy was meteoric. After joining Napoli in 2007 for approximately €6 million, his impact was instantaneous. He scored a hat-trick against Pisa—the first by a Napoli player in 14 years—and led the club to a 5–0 victory against Udinese. The media, eager for a new hero, dubbed him the 'New Maradona.' However, Lavezzi remained grounded, preferring to compare his style to Carlos Tevez rather than the Argentine legend.
The defining moment of his character occurred during the 2010–11 season. Despite being the club's focal point, Lavezzi voluntarily handed over his number seven shirt to the newly signed striker Edinson Cavani as a gesture of welcome. This move saw him switch to the number 22 jersey, prioritizing team chemistry over personal branding. He continued to be a versatile threat, eventually winning the Coppa Italia in 2012 and moving to Paris Saint-Germain for a €26.5 million fee.
Beyond his technical versatility as a 'centravanti di manovra'—a maneuvering center-forward similar to a modern false 9—Lavezzi was a staple of the Argentina national team. He earned an Olympic gold medal in 2008 and was a key figure in the 2014 World Cup squad. His career, which spanned from the youth ranks of Estudiantes to a retirement in China in 2019, serves as a study in balancing individual brilliance with collective sacrifice.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Ezequiel Lavezzi
- Also: Wikidata — Ezequiel Lavezzi · CC0
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