Designated Player

Bou honors late idol with tributes in Orlando | “I wanted to pay homage to Maradona”

Gustavo Bou honors Diego Maradona

As the world of soccer has mourned the loss of Diego Maradona, players around the globe have honored one of the game’s greatest legends with tributes in recent days. Gustavo Bou, who idolized Maradona like all Argentine footballers, joined that growing list on Sunday.


Bou, who as a young player had a brief loan stint with Gimnasia de La Plata (the club Maradona was managing upon his passing), donned a “Maradona #10” jersey during pregame warm-ups ahead of the New England Revolution’s Eastern Conference Semifinal meeting with Orlando City SC, and shared a heartfelt message on social media that Maradona “will always be in our hearts.”

The tributes continued when Bou took the field, scoring twice in the Revolution’s 3-1 win over Orlando to book a spot in the Eastern Conference Final and celebrating his first goal by laying down an Argentine flag, kneeling before it, and kissing it after pointing skyward.



Postgame, Bou was asked about his Maradona tribute.


“I think everyone in the world of football was hurt and saddened by Maradona’s death,” he said via translator. “I wanted to pay homage to Maradona. I hope he sees it and I’m sure he saw it because he loved the sport. He’s a reason why a lot of people in Argentina love this sport, as well.”