Mr. Aczel, how does one come to draw famous and little-known goals?

Thomas Klemm

sports editor.

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I have two great passions, one for drawing and one for football.

In my book, I wanted to relive the most beautiful football moments.

You've already seen many of the goals shown, I wanted to bring order into them.

What is the fascination of beautiful goals?

They are works of art.

But sometimes their importance also counts.

Who is the greatest artist among soccer stars?

Diego Maradona.

I saw him play live at Boca Juniors when I was a kid, and that shaped me.

Here in Argentina he is more than an idol, he is like a god.

Does your book therefore begin and end with the goals of Maradona in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals against England: with the solo run and the "Hand of God"?

Everyone has their own list of favorite goals.

For me, number one had to be from Maradona.

Not only is his World Cup Goal of the Century a work of art, but he scored it against England.

The conflict between the two countries over the Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands, ed.) was only a few years ago.

The sporting triumph over England was incredibly important for us back then.

Your book also features unknown goals from more exotic leagues.

How did you find them?

As an Argentinian, I might be a bit partial to Maradona and Messi, but I wanted to offer a mixed bag.

I got to know a lot of goals through my work for an English football magazine, and I also did very long and intensive research.

I'm one of those people who constantly watch goals on YouTube.

I also saw the best penalties there and much more.

At some point I had to stop, otherwise the book would have gotten too big.

Could you say: At the beginning of every spectacular goal is the tactics board, at the end your drawing?

I like to analyze goals calmly in order to understand how they came about: where Ronaldinho stood to score, what Lionel Messi's path was like.

In the movement everything goes very quickly, on the drawing you can clearly see each move.

A long-range shot like that of Patrik Schick at the EM 2021 or a free kick like that of Toni Kroos at the 2018 World Cup against Sweden are easy to understand.

Which goal was difficult to draw?

Jay-Jay Okocha's goal against Oliver Kahn in the Eintracht Frankfurt game against Karlsruher SC in 1993. I often had to stop the video while dribbling.

You grew up in Argentina, lived in Brazil and started a family in Munich: Honestly, how good is the Bundesliga in an international comparison?

The level is really high.

I think the best football in the world is played in the English Premier League and the German Bundesliga.

I've just returned from a football tour of Argentina with my four children, we watched a lot of games there.

But the level is better in Germany.

But the noise level at Boca Juniors is probably higher than at Bayern?

The passion at Boca Stadium La Bonbonera is much greater.

My children took their breath away when Boca shot a game and the audience's emotions ran high.

Here in the Munich stadium you can watch Mané and Sané in peace and quiet.

Compared to Argentina, a Bayern home game is like a play.

Is there nothing in Germany that resembles the South American mood?

When FC St. Pauli plays at Millerntor, it resembles Argentina the most.

The fans are also boisterous in Cologne and Frankfurt, as well as in the yellow wall of Dortmund.

Do you actually take part in the “Goal of the Month” election?

I vote.

There are a few in the book that I drew.

Are there people who buy your drawings?

The best recognition is when a soccer player likes my work himself.

Michael Ballack once tweeted a drawing from one of my World Cup books.

A person who has been marked has contacted me several times and said: That has to go to a museum!

Some of your works made it to the FIFA Football Museum in Zurich.

It's a recognition that I've chosen the right path as an artist.

A lot of people see my work as a hobby, not a job.

When I tell them I draw, they ask: Yes, but what do you do?