1987 Scudetto

Lore & Background

The 1986–87 Scudetto was Napoli's first league title, secured during Diego Maradona's third season with the club. Maradona played 29 of 30 league matches that season, contributing goals and assists to lead the team to the championship.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Stadio San Paolo was thick with humidity and anticipation as the clock ticked toward the final minutes of the last matchday. The scoreboard read Napoli 2-0 Hellas Verona, but the result against a direct rival in Milan mattered more than the scoreline itself. Maradona, sweat-drenched and exhausted, dropped to his knees as the referee signaled full time. A roar that had been building for months finally broke loose, shaking the very foundations of the stadium. Strangers embraced in the stands, tears mixing with the dust of victory; for the first time, Naples was not just a participant in Italian football, but its king.

Reader's Guide

Napoli's 1986–87 Serie A campaign ended with 42 points, not 40. Maradona did not play every minute; he missed one match due to injury or suspension.

Did You Know?

• Napoli's first league title came in 1987, three seasons after Maradona joined the club in July 1984.
• Maradona played 29 of 30 league matches in the 1986–87 season.
• The 1987 Scudetto was part of a double that season, as Napoli also won the Coppa Italia.