Colin Farrell Recalls How Argentina Night Out Ended With Maradona Kiss

Out of all the incredible footballers that we have had the honour of watching down through the years, few of them have been as universally adored as Diego Maradona.

The Argentine was a remarkable player, leading his nation to World Cup glory in 1986 and helping a downtrodden Napoli to their first ever Serie A titles in his prime. His style of play on the pitch was a joy to behold in his pomp.

Of course, his life away from the field of play also adds to his mystique. Maradona battled quite a few demons down through the years, giving us the type of glimpse behind the curtain that we don't normally see from professional athletes.

All of that only added to the adoration shown to him by the general football fan.

Colin Farrell met Diego Maradona in Argentina nightclub

It seems Colin Farrell was among that bunch, with the Irish actor eventually running into his hero in a Buenos Aires nightclub.

The Dubliner has lived quite a life of his own over the last number of decades, but it seems one of the highlights was a chance meeting with Diego Maradona during a trip to Argentina.

Back in 2005, the Irishman spent a few days in the country with his father Eamon when taking a break from filming Miami Vice in nearby Uruguay. It just so happened that Diego Maradona would show up at the nightclub they went to on their first night in the country.

Colin Farrell loved every second with 'magnificent' Diego Maradona

Speaking on Fox Sports, Farrell recalled how he got on so well with the footballing legend that the night eventually culminated with a passionate embrace between the pair.

We went to a nightclub. We got a corner table, ordered our first drinks, then I heard commotion at the front door about 40 or 50 feet away.

I looked over, I'll never forget it, it was 2005. There was flashlights and bulbs. There was about 15 or 20 people in a semi-circle backing up towards us with lights going off.

The gap opened and there he was: 5'5" of poetic genius. Honest to god...

When you're meeting your hero and someone you idolise as much as I idolised him, gender doesn't come into it...

He was magnificent. We met the next night, we met again because he wanted to give me that jersey that you showed.

What a class act. He was cool, his daughter was there, my Dad was with us. It was one of the best nights, honest to god. My dad was professional footballer, so he couldn't believe it.

He had the Maradona jersey for me and he signed it. It was only when I got back to the hotel room did I see that he didn't sign it to Colin, he signed it to 'Papa Eamon', my dad.

Then I realised, what a class act.

Incredible stuff.

Colin Farrell's father Eamon was an accomplished footballer in his own right during his youth, winning an FAI Cup with Shamrock Rovers in 1962.

It seems that love for football rubbed off on his son, with Diego Maradona his favourite ever player. You couldn't have picked a better sportsman to share a night out with.

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