LETTER | The debate as to who was the best soccer player in the world has been rekindled with the passing of Diego Maradona. 

Pele was our footballing hero for our generation and in my view is ahead in this debate, being an all-rounder on and off the field. It is a debate that instigates polemics among diehard football fans.

The adulation for Maradona is in a frenzy and the outpouring of grief is overwhelming and at times too melodramatic. It clouds the pandemic crisis and fuels the invisible enemy to spread wider and further.

Many look at football fields as battlegrounds where heroes can be made overnight especially during world cups. 

The simplicity of scoring the most number of goals in a world cup campaign assures a player of stardom and a cult-like following. 

The player is seen to be devoid of doing no wrong on and off the field. It really is a flawed assessment.

Many are not really getting it right as heroes on the field can be villains off it. Maradona was no saint and got into trouble with the law many times during his life. 

Morality was not his forte as was his explanation for the "hand of god'. An apology would have been more honourable.

As I looked at the extreme outpouring of grief, my mind raced to the recent killing of Corporal Baharuddin Ramli in the line of duty at the border. An off tangent comparison but disturbing nevertheless. 

Many frontliners like him are constantly risking life and limb to keep all of us safe. I wondered whether his name would be remembered in time to come. I seriously doubt it.

It is a similar story to the many frontliners around the world in the ongoing war against Covid-9, the invisible enemy that has decimated lives around the globe in more ways than one. 

 Many in the essential services throughout the world are sacrificing every ounce of their efforts in keeping this virus contained and at bay. Many have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. 

It is sad to realise that the world desires the glamour of sports and entertainment over the hard reality of global essential services and sacrifice.

As the chants of Maradona grow louder, I wonder whether how many are taking the trouble to find out the names of all those behind the success of coming up with the vaccine for this pandemic. 

Many get their priorities mixed up with movie stars, singing acts and sporting heroes at the forefront of their extreme adulation. It is about being self-centred and wanting only what pleases an individual.

Soon, many will forget the sacrifices of the frontliners once we get back to normalcy and probably it will be the footballing greats, basketball icons and even movie stars that will be at the tips of everyone's tongue, once again. 

For the moment, a far fetched nexus as it may be, I have Baharuddin and the names of the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca CEOs, with the deepest gratitude in my heart and mind.

Yes, Maradona was a gifted player, nothing more. 

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.