Wellington Phoenix have invited Argentina legend and current national team boss Diego Maradona to their pre-season friendly with his former club Boca Juniors. The Phoenix take on the Argentine outfit at Westpac Stadium on July 23 and club chief executive Nathan Greenham confirmed that Maradona had been targeted to attend the event following Argentina's exit from the World Cup.

"We're not sure, realistically, whether it will happen but, given their exit overnight, perhaps it will have a little more traction," Greenham told the Dominion Post.

Maradona, who made his name playing in Spain and Italy, made about 70 appearances for Boca Juniors in two stints - the first in 1981 and 1982 and the second in between 1995 and 1997.