If you want to dominate the pitch and are searching for exactly how to unlock Maradona in Beat the Champions, you have come to the right place. Released in late May 2026 by Purple Tree and Whiteboard Games, this arcade football brawler strips away the tedious realism of modern sports simulators. Instead, it delivers a chaotic, high-speed experience fueled by glowing power shots, brutal shoulder barges, and the officially licensed legends of the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Securing the iconic 1986 Albiceleste legend is the ultimate flex, transforming your squad into an unstoppable offensive machine. Here is the step-by-step breakdown of the game's reward economy and tournament structure so you can add him to your roster.
The Core Grind: How to unlock Maradona in Beat the Champions
Unlike traditional sports games that hand you a massive roster from the opening menu, Beat the Champions forces you to earn its highest-tier historical players. The game offers two distinct pathways to acquire the 1986 legend. The first is a pure test of skill: conquering the game's ultimate offline or local co-op tournament to trigger the "Global Dominance" achievement. The second is an economy-based route, requiring players to navigate the Black Market using the game's premium currency, Gems.
Whichever path you choose, the grind is intense. Because the game actively throws tactical realism out the stadium window, you cannot rely on patient, possession-based football to win matches. You have to embrace the arcade chaos, mastering the rhythm of special abilities and aggressive tackles. Below, we break down exactly how to execute both methods efficiently.
Path One: Beating the International Cup
Because Beat the Champions features no fouls outside the penalty area, the midfield acts as a total warzone. Opponents slam into each other constantly, creating frantic scrambles where possession can change five times in a few seconds. To survive the International Cup, you must master the rhythm of these aggressive confrontations. A well-timed missile strike tackle—like Oscar Ruggeri’s infamous half-block slide—can instantly break an opponent's momentum. But if you mistime your aggression, you leave your defensive line exposed, giving the enemy a clear path to charge their supersonic strike.
Winning the International Cup is the most prestigious way to unlock the legend. You will need to select a base Argentina squad and navigate through a grueling group stage and knockout bracket set in a highly stylized 2026 tournament atmosphere. The AI in the later stages of the cup is notoriously aggressive. They will exploit the lack of offsides and constantly barrage your goalkeeper with glowing power shots.
Your primary strategy should revolve around rapid counter-attacks. Do not attempt to build play slowly from the back. Instead, use your defenders as enforcers. Wait for the opposing forwards to commit to a sprint, execute a brutal shoulder barge, and immediately launch a long ball to your wingers. Winning the final match of the International Cup triggers the "Global Dominance" achievement and automatically deposits the 1986 legend into your roster.
The Special Abilities System
The game's special abilities system is where tactical realism is completely abandoned. Every team builds momentum through successful passes and brutal tackles. Once your momentum gauge reaches 100%, you unlock explosive super moves. However, activating these abilities requires precise rhythm-based timing. If you trigger a power shot but are interrupted by a shoulder barge during the recovery window, your charge is cancelled and your team is left vulnerable to a devastating counter-attack.
Understanding this gauge is vital for the tournament route. The AI will frequently attempt to bait out your tackles, hoping you whiff so they can safely charge their super moves. The best players learn to hold their momentum gauge at 99%, waiting for the exact millisecond the enemy goalkeeper commits to a dive before activating their unblockable strike.
Farming Gems Fast: How to unlock Maradona in Beat the Champions
If you prefer to bypass the tournament grind, the game’s in-game economy offers a direct route. Players can accumulate Gems, the premium currency used in the Black Market. A legendary player chip typically costs 1,500 Gems. You can earn these slowly by grinding the World League (yielding 15-30 Gems per match), or you can purchase the Chest of Gems DLC bundle, which instantly grants 2,000 Gems—more than enough to unlock your favorite Albiceleste icon.
For free-to-play purists, the grind requires optimization. The fastest way to farm Gems without opening your wallet is to repeatedly clear the American League to trigger the "América is Ours" achievement, followed by the World League for the "Conquerors of Europe" payout. These league modes are slightly easier than the International Cup and offer consistent Gem payouts upon completion.
Always check the Black Market rotation. The storefront refreshes daily, and while the 1986 Legend Chip is a frequent appearance during the game's launch window, it can occasionally cycle out for other AFA icons like Gabriel Batistuta or Carlos Tevez. Keep a reserve of at least 1,500 Gems so you are ready the moment his chip appears.
Mastering the ’86 Legend’s Special Abilities
Once you finally secure the 1986 Legend, your offensive capabilities skyrocket. This specific iteration of the character is designed to break defensive lines with pure Pace and Shot Power. His signature ability allows him to unleash a 45-meter strike that leaves a misty comet trail, easily bypassing the goalkeeper. Furthermore, his Tackle Resistance is uniquely tuned, allowing him to shrug off standard shoulder barges that would normally topple lesser players.
When he is on the pitch, your entire tactical approach should shift to feeding him the ball in the opponent's half. Because there are no fouls outside the box, you can use your supporting midfielders to aggressively clear a path, effectively acting as offensive linemen. Once he receives the ball, utilize his high Agility stat to bait a defender into a missed tackle, creating the necessary space to charge the 45-meter strike.
It is important to note that fielding a top-tier legend does not make you invincible. Because the game relies heavily on momentum, relying too much on a single player can make your offense predictable. Savvy opponents (especially in local competitive multiplayer) will double-team him, forcing you to utilize your wingers.
Frequently Asked Questions: How to unlock Maradona in Beat the Champions
Can I complete the unlock process in local co-op? Yes. Beat the Champions supports 2-4 player local co-op. You can squad up with friends to grind through the International Cup, making the brutal AI matches significantly easier to manage.
Is purchasing the Chest of Gems required? Absolutely not. While the Chest of Gems bundle instantly grants 2,000 Gems, you can earn the 1,500 Gems required for the Legend Chip entirely free-to-play by grinding the World League and American Cup modes.
Does the 1986 legend have unique gameplay animations? Yes. His supersonic strike features a unique misty trail effect, and his charge-up aura differs visually from modern-era players, paying homage to classic 16-bit arcade sports titles.
Are there offsides in the game? No. The developers have explicitly stated there is "no realism—just speed." Offsides are not whistled, which allows for extreme cherry-picking strategies when using fast legends.
The Final Whistle
Unlocking the ultimate AFA icon in Beat the Champions is a badge of honor that proves you have mastered the game's chaotic, foul-free mechanics. Whether you choose to run the gauntlet of the International Cup or carefully hoard your Gems for the Black Market, the reward is well worth the effort. Once he is on your squad, the pitch becomes your personal playground, and opposing goalkeepers will learn to fear the misty comet trail of a perfectly timed 45-meter strike.
Sources
- Purple Play LLC / Whiteboard Games: Beat the Champions Official Release Notes (May 2026).
- PlayStation Store & Xbox Store: Beat the Champions Game Features and Achievement Data.
- Game Critix: Beat The Champions Review (May 2026).
- 421.news: Argentine Video Games: Beat the Champions (May 2026).