Football has a long memory and an even longer sense of humour.
"I will not sit next to a ball boy."
That is what Diego Maradona said at the pre-match press conference before the 2010 World Cup quarter-final against Germany.
He looked at the 20-year-old sitting beside him and genuinely did not know who he was.
When the press clarified that Thomas Müller was a German national team player Maradona responded: "I don't know who he is. The coach should be sitting next to me, not a player." Müller said nothing.
The conference was cancelled.
Twenty four hours later Germany beat Argentina 4-0. Müller scored the opener and afterwards said with perfect composure: "I don't think he thinks I am a ballboy anymore. I don't think he knew me back then but he does now."
That year Müller won the Golden Boot at the tournament.