Diego Armando Maradona[a] (30 October 1960 – 25 November 2020) was an Argentine professionalfootball player and manager. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, he was one of the two joint winners of theFIFA Player of the 20th Century award, alongsidePelé.
Anadvanced playmaker who operated in theclassic number 10 position, Maradona's vision, passing, ball control, anddribbling skills were combined with his small stature, which gave him a lowcentre of gravity and allowed him to manoeuvre better than most other players. His presence and leadership on the field had a great effect on his team's general performance, while he would often be singled out by the opposition. In addition to his creative abilities, he possessed an eye for goal and was known to be afree kick specialist. A precocious talent, Maradona was given the nicknameEl Pibe de Oro ("The Golden Boy"), a name that stuck with him throughout his career.
Maradona was the first player to set theworld record transfer fee twice: in 1982 when he transferred toBarcelona for £5 million, and in 1984 when he moved toNapoli for a fee of £6.9 million. He played forArgentinos Juniors,Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli,Sevilla andNewell's Old Boys during his club career, and is most famous for his time at Napoli where he won numerous accolades and led the club to their firstSerie A title win only to do it all over again one year later. Maradona also had a troubled off-field life and his time with Napoli ended after he was banned for taking cocaine.
In his international career withArgentina, he earned 91caps and scored 34 goals. Maradona played in fourFIFA World Cups, including the1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he captained Argentina and led them tovictory over West Germany in the final, and won theGolden Ball as the tournament's best player. In the1986 World Cup quarter final, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory overEngland that entered football history for two different reasons. The first goal was an unpenalized handling foul known as the "Hand of God", while the second goal followed a 60 m (66 yd) dribble past five England players, voted "Goal of the Century" byFIFA.com voters in 2002.
Maradona also had a career in management. He became the coach of Argentina's national football team in November 2008. He was in charge of the team at the2010 World Cup in South Africa before leaving at the end of the tournament. He then coachedDubai-based clubAl Wasl in theUAE Pro-League for the 2011–12 season. In 2017, Maradona became the coach ofFujairah before leaving at the end of the season. From May to September 2018, he was the chairman of Dynamo Brest. From September 2018 to June 2019, Maradona was coach of Mexican clubDorados, and was the coach of Argentine Primera División clubGimnasia de La Plata from September 2019 until his death in 2020. In 2022, he was ranked as the third best football player of all time by football magazineFourFourTwo.[3] In August 2024, theInternational Sports Press Association [fr] (AIPS) voted him as the second best footballer of the past 100 years after Pelé.[4][5]
Early years
Diego Armando Maradona was born on 30 October 1960, at the Policlínico (Polyclinic) Evita Hospital inLanús,Buenos Aires Province, to a poor family that had moved fromCorrientes Province; he was raised inVilla Fiorito, ashantytown on the southern outskirts ofBuenos Aires, Argentina.[6][7] He was the first son after four daughters. He has two younger brothers,Hugo (el Turco) andRaúl (Lalo), both of whom were also professional football players.[8][9] His father Diego Maradona "Chitoro" (1927–2015), who worked at a chemicals factory, was ofGuaraní (Indigenous) andGalician (Spanish) descent,[10] and his mother Dalma Salvadora Franco, "Doña Tota" (1929–2011), was ofItalian andCroatian descent.[11][12][13][14][15]
When Diego came to Argentinos Juniors for trials, I was really struck by his talent and couldn't believe he was only eight years old. In fact, we asked him for his ID card so we could check it, but he told us he didn't have it on him. We were sure he was having us on because, although he had the physique of a child, he played like an adult. When we discovered he'd been telling us the truth, we decided to devote ourselves purely to him.
— Francisco Cornejo, youth coach who discovered Maradona[16]
Maradona playing at the Torneos Evita in 1973 (a national sporting event in Argentina) with the "Cebollitas"
Maradona's parents were both born and brought up in the town ofEsquina in the north-east province ofCorrientes on the banks of theCorriente River. In the 1950s, they left Esquina and settled in Buenos Aires.[7] Maradona received his first football as a gift at age three and quickly became devoted to the game.[17] At age eight, he was spotted by a talent scout while he was playing in his local club Estrella Roja. In March 1969 he was recommended toLos Cebollitas (The Little Onions), the junior team of Buenos Aires'sArgentinos Juniors by his close friend and football rivalGregorio Carrizo who had already been picked by coach Francis Gregorio Cornejo.[18][19] Maradona became a star for the Cebollitas, and as a 12-year-old ball boy he amused spectators by showing his ball skills during the halftime breaks of Argentinos Juniors' first division games.[20] During 1973 and 1974, Maradona led Cebollitas to twoEvita Tournament wins and 141 undefeated games in a row, playing alongside players likeAdrian Domenech andClaudio Rodríguez, in what is regarded as the best youth team in the history of Argentine football.[21] Maradona named Brazilian playmakerRivellino andManchester United wingerGeorge Best among his inspirations growing up.[22][23]
Club career
Argentinos Juniors
Maradona's most famousnutmeg during his debut in the Primera División, 20 October 1976
On 20 October 1976, Maradona made his professional debut forArgentinos Juniors, 10 days before his 16th birthday,[24] versusTalleres de Córdoba. He entered to the pitch wearing the number 16 jersey, and became the youngest player in the history of theArgentine Primera División. A few minutes into his debut, Maradona kicked the ball through the legs ofJuan Domingo Cabrera, anutmeg that would become symbolic of his talent.[25] After the game, Maradona said: "That day I felt I had held the sky in my hands."[26] Thirty years later, Cabrera remembered Maradona's debut: "I was on the right side of the field and went to press him, but he didn't give me a chance. He made the nutmeg and when I turned around, he was far away from me."[27]
Maradona scored his first goal as a professional againstMarplatense team San Lorenzo on 14 November 1976, two weeks after turning 16, and added another goal in the match as well.[28] Maradona made 11 appearances that season, with the two goals scored on his debut being the only ones he scored.
In the 1977 season, Maradona played 49 matches and scored 19 goals, and started to get on the radar of other South American clubs. In the 1978 season, Maradona scored 26 goals in 35 matches, and had the 1978 World Cup in his sights. However, when the squads were released on 19 May, he was not selected by coachCésar Luis Menotti to the surprise of many.[29] Two days after being left out, he scored a brace in a victory against his Chacarita Juniors. In 1979, Maradona scored 26 goals in 26 games, and finished top scorer in both Metropolitan and Nacional tournaments. in 1980, he scored 43 goals in 45 appearances and was the top scorer again for the last four consecutive tournaments.[30]
Maradona spent five years atArgentinos Juniors, from 1976 to 1981, scoring 115 goals in 167 appearances before his US$4-million transfer toBoca Juniors in February 1981.[31] Maradona received offers to join other clubs, includingRiver Plate who offered to make him the club's best paid player.[32] However, River decided to drop its bid due to its large payroll in keepingDaniel Passarella andUbaldo Fillol.[33]
Maradona signed a contract with Boca Juniors on 20 February 1981. He made his debut two days later againstTalleres de Córdoba, scoring twice in the club's 4–1 win. On 10 April, Maradona played his firstSuperclásico against River Plate atLa Bombonera stadium. Boca defeated River 3–0 with Maradona scoring a goal after dribbling pastAlberto Tarantini and Fillol.[34] Despite the distrustful relationship between Maradona and Boca Juniors manager,Silvio Marzolini,[35] Boca had a successful season, winning theleague title after securing a point againstRacing Club.[36] That would be the only title won by Maradona in the Argentine domestic league.[37]
Barcelona
"He had complete mastery of the ball. When Maradona ran with the ball or dribbled through the defence, he seemed to have the ball tied to his boots. I remember our early training sessions with him: the rest of the team were so amazed that they just stood and watched him. We all thought ourselves privileged to be witnesses of his genius."
On 26 June 1983, in the 1st leg of the Copa de la Liga finals at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Maradona scored and became the first Barcelona player to be applauded by arch-rival Real Madrid fans.[40] Maradona dribbled past Madrid goalkeeperAgustín, and as he approached the empty goal, he stopped just as Madrid defenderJuan José came sliding in an attempt to block the shot. José ended up crashing into the post, before Maradona slotted the ball into the net.[41] With the manner in which the goal was scored resulting in applause from opposition fans, onlyRonaldinho (in November 2005) andAndrés Iniesta (in November 2015) have since been granted such an ovation as Barcelona players from Madrid fans at theSantiago Bernabéu.[40][42] Three days later, Barcelona won the second leg 2–1, with Maradona scoring a penalty and helping his club win another title against theirarchrivals.
Moment when Athletic Bilbao defenderAndoni Goikoetxea injured Maradona on 24 September 1983
Due to illness and injury as well as controversial incidents on the field, Maradona had a difficult tenure in Barcelona.[43] First a bout ofhepatitis, then a broken ankle in aLa Liga game at theCamp Nou in September 1983 caused by a reckless tackle by Athletic Bilbao'sAndoni Goikoetxea—nicknamed "the Butcher of Bilbao"—threatened to jeopardize Maradona's career, but with treatment and rehabilitation, it was possible for him to return to the pitch after a three-month recovery period.[24][44]
Maradona with his fellow countrymanMario Kempes before a Barcelona match againstValencia in 1982
Maradona was directly involved in a violent fight during the1984 Copa del Rey Final in Madrid against Athletic Bilbao.[45] After receiving another hard tackle by Goikoetxea, as well as being taunted with racist insults related to his father's Native American ancestry throughout the match by Bilbao fans, and being provoked by Bilbao'sMiguel Sola at full time after Barcelona lost 1–0, Maradona snapped.[45] He aggressively got up, stood inches from Sola's face and the two exchanged words. This started a chain reaction of emotional reactions from both teams. Using expletives, Sola mimicked a gesture from the crowd towards Maradona by using a xenophobic term.[46] Maradona then headbutted Sola, elbowed another Bilbao player in the face and kneed another player in the head, knocking him out cold.[45] The Bilbao squad surrounded Maradona to exact some retribution, with Goikoetxea connecting with a high kick to his chest, before the rest of the Barcelona squad joined in to help Maradona. From this point, Barcelona and Bilbao players brawled on the field with Maradona in the centre of the action, kicking and punching anyone in a Bilbao shirt.[45]
The mass brawl was played out in front of the SpanishKing Juan Carlos and an audience of 100,000 fans inside the stadium, and more than half of Spain watching on television.[47] After fans began throwing solid objects on the field at the players, coaches and even photographers, sixty people were injured, with the incident effectively sealing Maradona's transfer out of the club in what was his last game in a Barcelona shirt.[46] One Barcelona executive stated: "When I saw those scenes of Maradona fighting and the chaos that followed I realized we couldn't go any further with him."[47] Maradona got into frequent disputes with Barcelona executives, particularly club presidentJosep Lluís Núñez, culminating with a demand to be transferred out of the Camp Nou in 1984. During his two injury-hit seasons at Barcelona, Maradona scored 38 goals in 58 games.[48] Maradona transferred toNapoli in Italy'sSerie A for another world record fee, £6.9 million ($10.48 million).[49]
Napoli
Maradona saluting the crowd at theStadio San Paolo in Naples during his presentation on 5 July 1984
Maradona arrived inNaples and was presented to the world media as a Napoli player on 5 July 1984, where he was welcomed by 75,000 fans at his presentation at theStadio San Paolo.[50] Sports writerDavid Goldblatt commented, "They [the fans] were convinced that the saviour had arrived."[51] A local newspaper stated that despite the lack of a "mayor, houses, schools, buses, employment and sanitation, none of this matters because we have Maradona".[51] Prior to Maradona's arrival, Italian football was dominated by teams from the north and centre of the country, such asAC Milan,Juventus,Inter Milan andRoma, and no team in the south of theItalian Peninsula had ever won a league title. This was perhaps the perfect scenario for Maradona and his working-class-sympathetic image, as he joined a once-great team that was facing relegation at the end of the 1983–84 Serie A season, in what was the toughest and most highly regarded football league in Europe.[51][52]
At Napoli, Maradona reached the peak of his professional career: he soon inherited thecaptain's armband from Napoli veteran defenderGiuseppe Bruscolotti[53] and quickly became an adored star among the club's fans; in his time there he elevated the team to the most successful era in its history.[51] Maradona played for Napoli at a period when north–south tensions in Italy were at a peak due to a variety of issues, notably the economic differences between the two.[51]
Led by Maradona, Napoli won their first everSerie A Championship in1986–87.[51] Regarding the celebrations, Goldblatt wrote, "The celebrations were tumultuous. A rolling series of impromptu street parties and festivities broke out contagiously across the city in a round-the-clock carnival which ran for over a week. The world was turned upside down. The Neapolitans held mock funerals for Juventus and Milan, burning their coffins, their death notices announcing 'May 1987, the other Italy has been defeated. A new empire is born.'"[51] Murals of Maradona were painted on the city's ancient buildings, and newborn children were named in his honour.[51] Napoli completed a double that year, when they won the1987 Coppa Italia final on aggregate against Atalanta. Maradona had been one of the key players of the campaign, scoring seven goals in ten matches, including a brace in the team's first group game againstSPAL.[54]
The following season, the team's prolific attacking trio, formed by Maradona,Bruno Giordano, andCareca, was later dubbed the "Ma-Gi-Ca" (magical) front-line.[55] Despite the team's failing to defend their league title, losing out toAC Milan after a collapse in the final four matches, Maradona was the Serie A top scorer in the1987–88 season with 15 goals, and was theall-time leading goalscorer for Napoli, with 115 goals,[56] until his record was broken byMarek Hamšík in 2017.[37][57][58] He was also the top scorer forthat season's Coppa Italia, scoring six goals,[59] despite being eliminated in the quarter-finals by Torino, with Maradona's two goals in the second leg not enough to prevent the elimination.[60] In the1988–89 season, Napoli finished runner-up in theleague and in the Coppa Italia, losing to Sampdoria inthe final. However the team avenged these runner-up finishes with the UEFA Cup title, won over two legs in thefinal againstStuttgart. During the second leg of the quarterfinals against rivals Juventus, Maradona scored a penalty, and Napoli eventually qualified to the next round after extra time.[61] During the first leg of the finals, Maradona scored from a penalty in a 2–1 home victory and later assisted Careca's match-winning goal,[62][63] while in the second leg on 17 May—a 3–3 away draw—he assistedCiro Ferrara's goal with a header.[64][65]
Napoli would win their second league title in1989–90, and later won the 1990Italian Supercup, beating rivals Juventus 5–1.[51] When asked who was the toughest player he ever faced, AC Milan central defenderFranco Baresi stated it was Maradona, a view shared by his Milan teammatePaolo Maldini.[66][67]
Although Maradona was successful on the field during his time in Italy, his personal problems increased. Hiscocaine use continued, and he received US$70,000 in fines from his club for missing games and practices, ostensibly because of "stress".[68] He faced a scandal there regarding an illegitimateson, and he was also the object of some suspicion over an alleged friendship with theCamorra crime syndicate.[69][70][71][72] He also faced intense backlash and harassment from some local fans after the1990 World Cup, in which he and Argentina beat Italy in a semi-final match at the San Paolo stadium.
In 2000, thenumber 10 jersey of Napoli was officiallyretired, but in 2011, Maradona stated that he wantedEzequiel Lavezzi to use it.[73] In a poll onIl Mattino, 54% of fans voted to keep the shirt retired, and the change ultimately did not occur.[74] On 4 December 2020, nine days after Maradona's death, Napoli's home stadium was renamed Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.[75]
Late career
After serving a 15-month ban for failing adrug test for cocaine, Maradona left Napoli in disgrace in 1992. Despite interest from Real Madrid andMarseille, he signed forSevilla, where he stayed for one year.[76] In 1993, he played forNewell's Old Boys and in 1995 returned to Boca Juniors for a two-year stint.[24] Maradona also appeared forTottenham Hotspur in atestimonial match forOsvaldo Ardiles against Internazionale, shortly before the1986 World Cup.[77] In 1996, he played in a friendly match alongside his brotherRaul forToronto Italia against theCanadian National Soccer League All-Stars.[78] In 2000, he captained Bayern Munich in a friendly against the German national team in the farewell game ofLothar Matthäus.[79] Maradona was himself given a testimonial match on 10 November 2001, played between an all-star World XI and the Argentina national team, scoring two penalty kicks in a 6–3 win at La Bombonera.[80][81]
International career
Debut at age 16
Maradona (third from left) on the bench in his debut with Argentina, February 1977
Maradona made his full international debut at age 16, againstHungary, on 27 February 1977, only four months after his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors.[82]
He was left off the Argentine squad for the1978 World Cup on home soil by coachCésar Luis Menotti who felt he was too young at age 17.[83] On 3 November 1978, just a few days after turning 18, Maradona played for the U20 Argentina team in a friendly match againstFranz Beckenbauer'sNew York Cosmos, scoring twice in a 2–1 win.[84]
At age 18, Maradona played the1979 FIFA World Youth Championship in Japan and emerged as the star of the tournament, shining in Argentina's 3–1 final win over theSoviet Union, scoring a total of six goals in six appearances in the tournament.[85] On 2 June 1979, Maradona scored his first senior international goal in a 3–1 win againstScotland atHampden Park.[86]
He went on to play for Argentina in two1979 Copa América ties during August 1979, a 2–1 loss againstBrazil and a 3–0 win overBolivia in which he scored his side's third goal.[87] Speaking thirty years later on the impact of Maradona's performances in 1979,FIFA PresidentSepp Blatter stated, "Everyone has an opinion on Diego Armando Maradona, and that's been the case since his playing days. My most vivid recollection is of this incredibly gifted kid at the second FIFA U-20 World Cup in Japan in 1979. He left everyone open-mouthed every time he got on the ball."[88] Maradona and his compatriotLionel Messi are the only players to win the Golden Ball at both theFIFA U-20 World Cup andFIFA World Cup. Maradona did so in1979 and1986, which Messi emulated in2005 and2014 (and again in2022).[89][90]
Maradona appeared at the1979 Copa América, where Argentina had a poor performance, being knocked out in the first round. Maradona exited the tournament having scored once in a 3–0 victory against Bolivia.[citation needed]
1982 World Cup
Maradona suffering the aggresive mark of Claudio Gentile in the match v Italy at the 1982 World Cup
Maradona played his firstWorld Cup tournament in 1982 in his new country of residence, Spain. Argentina playedBelgium in the opening game of the 1982 Cup at the Camp Nou inBarcelona. Maradona did not perform to expectations,[91] as Argentina, the defending champions, lost 1–0. Although the team convincingly beat both Hungary andEl Salvador inAlicante to progress to the second round, there were internal tensions within the team, with the younger, less experienced players at odds with the older, more experienced players. With a team that also included such players asMario Kempes,Osvaldo Ardiles,Ramón Díaz,Daniel Bertoni,Alberto Tarantini,Ubaldo Fillol andDaniel Passarella, the Argentine side was defeated in the second round byBrazil and by eventual winnersItaly. The Italian match is renowned for Maradona being aggressivelyman-marked byClaudio Gentile, as Italy beat Argentina at theSarrià Stadium in Barcelona, 2–1.[92]
Maradona played in all five matches without being substituted, scoring twice against Hungary. He was fouled repeatedly in all five games and particularly in the last one against Brazil at the Sarrià, a game that was blighted by poor officiating and violent fouls. With Argentina already down 3–0 to Brazil, Maradona's temper eventually got the better of him and he was sent off with five minutes remaining for a serious retaliatory foul againstBatista.[93][92]
1986 World Cup
The moment when Maradona flicks the ball with the hand past the outstretched arm of Peter Shilton, also known as the "Hand of God"
Maradona captained the Argentine national team to victory in the1986 World Cup in Mexico, winning the final inMexico City againstWest Germany.[94] Throughout the tournament, Maradona asserted his dominance and was the most dynamic player of the competition. He played every minute of every Argentina game, scoring five goals and making five assists; three of the assists came in the opening match againstSouth Korea at theOlímpico Universitario Stadium inMexico City. His first goal of the tournament came against Italy in the second group game inPuebla.[95] Argentina eliminatedUruguay in the first knockout round in Puebla, setting up a match againstEngland at theAzteca Stadium, also in Mexico City.[citation needed]After scoring two contrasting goals in the2–1 quarter-final win against England, his legend was cemented.[44] The majesty of his second goal and the notoriety of his first led to the French newspaperL'Équipe describing Maradona as "half-angel, half-devil".[96] This match was played with the background of theFalklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom.[97] Replays showed that the first goal was scored by striking the ball with his hand. Maradona was coyly evasive, describing it as "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God".[94] It became known as the "Hand of God". Ultimately, on 22 August 2005, Maradona acknowledged on his television show that he had hit the ball with his hand purposely, and no contact with his head was made, and that he immediately knew the goal was illegitimate. This became known as an international fiasco in World Cup history. The goal stood, much to the wrath of the English players.[98]
"Maradona, turns like a little eel and comes away from trouble, little squat man... comes inside Butcher and leaves him for dead, outside Fenwick and leaves him for dead, and puts the ball away... and that is why Maradona is the greatest player in the world."
Maradona's second goal, just four minutes after the hotly disputed hand-goal, was later voted byFIFA as the greatest goal in the history of the World Cup. He received the ball in his own half, swivelled around and with 11 touches ran more than half the length of the field,dribbling past five English outfield players (Peter Beardsley,Steve Hodge,Peter Reid,Terry Butcher andTerry Fenwick) before he left goalkeeperPeter Shilton on his backside with afeint, and slotted the ball into the net.[100] This goal was voted "Goal of the Century" in a 2002 online poll conducted by FIFA.[101] A 2002 Channel 4 poll in the UK saw his performance ranked number 6 in the list of the100 Greatest Sporting Moments.[102]
Maradona right before scoring the "Goal of the Century" (four minutes after his "Hand of God" goal) against England in Mexico 1986. In 2022, his shirt sold for £7.1 million ($9.3 million), the highest for a piece of sports memorabilia.[103]
Maradona followed this with two more goals in a semi-final match against Belgium at the Azteca, including another virtuoso dribbling display for the second goal. In the final match, West Germany attempted to contain him by double-marking him, but in the 84th minute he nevertheless found space past West German playerLothar Matthäus to give the final pass toJorge Burruchaga for the winning goal.Argentina beat West Germany 3–2 in front of 115,000 fans at the Azteca with Maradona lifting the World Cup as captain.[104]
During the tournament, Maradona attempted or created more than half of Argentina's shots, attempted a tournament-best 90 dribbles—three times more than any other player—and was fouled a record 53 times, winning his team twice as many free kicks as any player.[93] Maradona scored or assisted ten of Argentina's 14 goals (71%), including the assist for the winning goal in the final, ensuring that he would be remembered as one of the greatest names in football history.[93][105] By the end of the World Cup, Maradona went on to win the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament by unanimous vote and was widely regarded to have won the World Cup virtually single-handedly, something that he later stated he did not entirely agree with.[93][106][107][108]Zinedine Zidane, watching the 1986 World Cup as a 14-year-old, stated Maradona "was on another level".[109] In a tribute to him, Azteca Stadium authorities built a statue of him scoring the "Goal of the Century" and placed it at the entrance of the stadium.[110]
Maradona holding the FIFA World Cup trophy after winning the final to West Germany
Regarding Maradona's performance at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, in 2014, Roger Bennett ofESPN FC described it as "the most virtuoso performance a World Cup has ever witnessed,"[111] while Kevin Baxter of theLos Angeles Times called it "one of the greatest individual performances in tournament history,"[112] with Steven Goff ofThe Washington Post dubbing his performance as "one of the finest in tournament annals."[113] In 2002, Russell Thomas ofThe Guardian described Maradona's second goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals as "arguably the greatest individual goal ever."[114] In a 2009 article forCBC Sports, John Molinaro described the goal as "the greatest ever scored in the tournament – and, maybe, in soccer."[115] In a 2018 article forSportsnet, he added: "No other player, not evenPel[é] in1958 norPaolo Rossi in 1982, had dominated a single competition the way Maradona did in Mexico." He also went on to say of Maradona's performance: "The brilliant Argentine artist single-handedly delivered his country its second World Cup." Regarding his two memorable goals against England in the quarter-finals, he commented: "Yes, it was Maradona's hand, and not God's, that was responsible for the first goal against England. But while the 'Hand of God' goal remains one of the most contentious moments in World Cup history, there can be no disputing that his second goal against England ranks as the greatest ever scored in the tournament. It transcended mere sports – his goal was pure art."[116]
1987 and 1989 Copa América
At the1987 Copa América in Argentina, he scored three goals in four matches, including a brace in a 3–0 victory against Ecuador, but Argentina lost the semi-final 0–1 against eventual winners Uruguay.[117]
In the1989 Copa América in Brazil, Maradona played six games but would not score any goals. Argentina would finish the tournament third.[citation needed]
1990 World Cup
Maradona captained Argentina again in the1990 World Cup in Italy to yet another World Cup final. An ankle injury affected his overall performance, and he was much less dominant than four years earlier, and the team were missing three of their best players due to injury.[citation needed]After losing their opening game toCameroon at theSan Siro inMilan, Argentina were almost eliminated in the group stage, only qualifying in third position from their group. In the round of 16 match against Brazil inTurin,Claudio Caniggia scored the only goal after being set up by Maradona.[118]
In the quarter-final, Argentina facedYugoslavia inFlorence; the match ended 0–0 after 120 minutes, with Argentina advancing in a penalty shootout even though Maradona's kick, a weak shot to the goalkeeper's right, was saved. The semi-final against the host nation Italy at Maradona's club stadium in Naples, the Stadio San Paolo, was also resolved on penalties after a 1–1 draw. This time, however, Maradona was successful with his effort, daringly rolling the ball into the net with an almost exact replica of his unsuccessful kick in the previous round.[citation needed]At thefinal in Rome, Argentina lost 1–0 to West Germany, the only goal being a controversial penalty scored byAndreas Brehme in the 85th minute, afterRudi Völler was adjudged to be fouled.[118] At the final whistle, Maradona burst into tears and blamed the referee for the loss.[119]
At the1994 World Cup in the United States, Maradona played in only two games (both at theFoxboro Stadium nearBoston), scoring one goal againstGreece, before being sent home after failing adrug test forephedrinedoping.[121] After scoring Argentina's third goal against Greece, Maradona had one of the most remarkable World Cupgoal celebrations as he ran towards one of the sideline cameras shouting with a distorted face and bulging eyes, in sheer elation of his return to international football.[122] This turned out to be Maradona's last international goal for Argentina.[123] In the second game, a 2–1 victory over Nigeria which was to be his last game for Argentina, he set up both of his team's goals on free kicks, the second an assist to Caniggia, in what were two very strong showings by the Argentine team.[124]
In his autobiography, Maradona argued that the test result was due to his personal trainer giving him the energy drink Rip Fuel.[125] His claim was that the U.S. version, unlike the Argentine one, contained the chemical and that, having run out of his Argentine dosage, his trainer unwittingly bought the U.S. formula.[125] FIFA expelled him from USA '94, and Argentina were subsequently eliminated in the round of 16 byRomania inLos Angeles, having been a weaker team without Maradona, even with players likeGabriel Batistuta andClaudio Caniggia on the squad.[126] Maradona also separately claimed that he had an agreement with FIFA, on which the organization reneged, to allow him to use the drug for weight loss before the competition in order to be able to play.[127] His failed drug test at the 1994 World Cup signalled the end of his international career, which lasted 17 years and yielded 34 goals from 91 games, including one winner's medal and one runners-up medal in the World Cup.[128]
Unofficial internationals
Alongside official internationals, Maradona also played and scored for an Argentina XI against theWorld XI in 1978 to mark the first anniversary of their first World Cup win,[129][130] scored for The Americas against the World in aUNICEF fundraiser a short time after the 1986 triumph,[129][130] a year after that captained the 'Rest of the World' against the EnglishFootball League XI to celebrate the organization's centenary (after reportedly securing a £100,000 appearance fee)[131][132]
Maradona exhibiting his ball control before a match against Lazio.Michel Platini stated, "Diego was capable of things no one else could match. The things I could do with a football, he could do with an orange."[16]
Described as a "classic number 10" in the media,[133] Maradona was a traditionalplaymaker who usually played in a free role, either as anattacking midfielder behind the forwards, or as asecond striker in a front–two,[134][135][136] although he was also deployed as an offensive–mindedcentral midfielder in a4–4–2 formation on occasion.[137][138][139][140] A precocious talent, Maradona was given the nickname "El Pibe de Oro" ("The Golden Boy"), a name that stuck with him throughout his career.[141] He was renowned for hisdribbling ability, vision, close ball control, passing and creativity, and is considered to have been one of the most skilful players in the sport.[108][142][143] He had a compact physique, and with his strong legs, lowcenter of gravity, and resulting balance, he could withstand physical pressure well while running with the ball, despite his small stature,[111][144][145] while his acceleration, quick feet, and agility, combined with his dribbling skills and close control at speed, allowed him to change direction quickly, making him difficult for opponents to defend against.[146][147][148][149]
Viewed as one of the best dribblers in the game, Maradona (pictured on the ball against Belgium in 1986) would often go on runs against the opposition.
On his dribbling ability, former Dutch playerJohan Cruyff saw similarities between Maradona andLionel Messi with the ball seemingly attached to their boot.[150][151][152] His physical strengths were illustrated by his two goals against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup. Although he was known for his penchant for undertaking individual runs with the ball,[153] he was also a strategist and an intelligent team player, with excellent spatial awareness, as well as being highly technical with the ball. He was effective in limited spaces, and would attract defenders only to quickly dash out of the melee (as in the second goal against England in 1986),[154][155][156][157] or give anassist to a free teammate. Being short, but strong, he could hold the ball long enough with a defender on his back to wait for a teammate making a run or to find a gap for a quick shot. He showed leadership qualities on the field and captained Argentina in their World Cup campaigns of 1986, 1990 and 1994.[158][159] While he was primarily a creative playmaker, Maradona was also known for his finishing and goalscoring ability.[108][160] Former Milan managerArrigo Sacchi also praised Maradona for his defensive work-rate off the ball in a 2010 interview withIl Corriere dello Sport.[161]
Theteam leader on and off the field – he would speak up on a range of issues on behalf of the players – Maradona's ability as a player and his overpowering personality had a major positive effect on his team, with his 1986 World Cup teammateJorge Valdano stating:
Maradona was a technical leader: a guy who resolved all difficulties that may come up on the pitch. Firstly, he was in charge of making the miracles happen, that's something that gives team-mates a lot of confidence. Secondly, the scope of his celebrity was such that he absorbed all the pressures on behalf of his team-mates. What I mean is: one slept soundly the night before a game not just because you knew you were playing next to Diego and Diego did things no other player in the world could do, but also because unconsciously we knew that if it was the case that we lost then Maradona would shoulder more of the burden, would be blamed more, than the rest of us. That was the kind of influence he exercised on the team.[162]
Lauding the "charisma" of Maradona, another of his Argentina teammates, prolific strikerGabriel Batistuta, stated, "Diego could command a stadium, have everyone watch him. I played with him and I can tell you how technically decisive he was for the team".[163] Napoli's former president – Corrado Ferlaino – commented on Maradona's leadership qualities during his time with the club in 2008, describing him as "a coach on the pitch."[164]
"Even if I played for a million years, I'd never come close to Maradona. Not that I'd want to anyway. He's the greatest there's ever been."
—Lionel Messi, the player most closely identified with the "New Maradona" label.[88]
One of Maradona's trademark moves was dribbling full-speed on the right wing, and on reaching the opponent's goal line, delivering accurate passes to his teammates. Another trademark was therabona, a reverse-cross pass shot behind the leg that holds all the weight.[165] This manoeuvre led to several assists, such as the cross forRamón Díaz's header against Switzerland in 1980.[166] Moreover, he was also a well–known proponent of theroulette, a feint which involved him dragging the ball back first with one foot and then the other, while simultaneously performing a 360° turn; due to his penchant for using this move, it has even occasionally been described as the "Maradona turn" in the media.[167] He was also a dangerousfree kick andpenalty kick taker, who was renowned for his ability tobend the ball fromcorners and directset pieces.[168][169][170] Regarded as one of the best dead-ball specialists of all time,[171][172][173][174] his free kick technique, which often saw him raise his knee at a high angle when striking the ball, thus enabling him to lift it high over the wall, allowed him to score free kicks even from close range, within 22 to 17 yards (20 to 16 metres) from the goal, or even just outside the penalty area.[175] His style of taking free kicks influenced several other specialists, includingGianfranco Zola,[173]Andrea Pirlo,[176] and Lionel Messi.[177]
Maradona was famous for his cunning personality.[178] Some critics view his controversial "Hand of God" goal at the 1986 World Cup as a clever manoeuvre, with one of the opposition players,Glenn Hoddle, admitting that Maradona had disguised it by flicking his head at the same time as palming the ball.[179] The goal itself has been viewed as an embodiment of the Buenos Aires shanty town Maradona was brought up in and its concept ofviveza criolla—"cunning of thecriollos".[180] Although critical of the illegitimate first goal, England strikerGary Lineker conceded, "When Diego scored that second goal against us, I felt like applauding. It was impossible to score such a beautiful goal. He's the greatest player of all time, by a long way. A genuine phenomenon."[16] Maradona used his hand in the 1990 World Cup, again without punishment, and this time on his own goal line, to prevent the Soviet Union from scoring.[181] A number of publications have referred to Maradona as theArtful Dodger, the urchin pickpocket fromCharles Dickens'Oliver Twist.[182][183][184][185]
Maradona was dominantly left-footed, often using his left foot even when the ball was positioned more suitably for a right-footed connection.[186] His first goal against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup semi-final is a worthy indicator of such; he had run into the inside right channel to receive a pass but let the ball travel across to his left foot, requiring more technical ability. During his run past several England players in the previous round for the "Goal of the Century" he did not use his right foot once, despite spending the whole movement on the right-hand side of the pitch. In the1990 World Cup second-round tie against Brazil, he used his right foot to set up the winning goal forClaudio Caniggia due to two Brazilian markers forcing him into a position that made use of his left foot less practical.[187]
Reception
Pelé scored more goals. Lionel Messi has won more trophies. Both have lived more stable lives than the overweight former cocaine addict who tops this list, whose relationship with football became increasingly strained the longer his career continued. If you've seen Diego Maradona with a football at his feet, you'll understand.
— Andrew Murray on Maradona toppingFourFourTwo magazine's "100 Greatest Footballers Ever" list, July 2017.[188]
Maradona is widely regarded as the best player of his generation.[155] He is considered one of the greatest players of all time by pundits, players, and managers,[88][189][190] and by some as the best player ever.[188][191][192][193] Known as one of the most skilful players in the game, he is regarded as one of the greatest dribblers[111][144][151][152] and free kick takers in history.[171][172][173][174] A precocious talent in his youth,[141] in addition to his playing ability, Maradona also drew praise from his former manager Menotti for his dedication, determination, and the work-ethic he demonstrated in order to improve the technical aspect of his game in training, despite his natural gifts, with the manager noting: "I'm always cautious about using the word 'genius'. I find it hard to apply that even to Mozart. The beauty of Diego's game has a hereditary element – his natural ease with the ball – but it also owes a lot to his ability to learn: a lot of those brushstrokes, those strokes of 'genius', are in fact a product of his hard work. Diego worked very hard to be the best."[194] Maradona's former Napoli manager –Ottavio Bianchi – also praised his discipline in training, commenting: "Diego is different to the one that they depict. When you got him on his own he was a very good kid. It was beautiful to watch him and coach him. They all speak of the fact that he did not train, but it was not true because Diego was the last person to leave the pitch, it was necessary to send him away because otherwise he would stay for hours to invent free kicks."[195] However, although, as Bianchi noted, Maradona was known for making "great plays" and doing "unimaginable" and "incredible things" with the ball during training sessions,[196][197][198] and would even go through periods of rigorous exercise, he was equally known for his limited work-rate in training without the ball, and even gained a degree of infamy during his time in Italy for missing training sessions with Napoli, while he often trained independently instead of with his team.[196][199][200][201]
In a 2019 documentary film on his life,Diego Maradona, Maradona confessed that his weekly regime consisted of "playing a game on Sunday, going out until Wednesday, then hitting the gym on Thursday." Regarding his inconsistent training regimen, the film's director,Asif Kapadia, commented in 2020: "He had ametabolism. He would look so incredibly out of shape, but then he'd train like crazy and sweat it off by the time matchday came along. His body shape just didn't look like a footballer, but then he had this ability and this balance. He had a way of being, and that idea of talking to him honestly about how a typical week transpired was pretty amazing." He also revealed that Maradona was ahead of his time in the fact that he had a personal fitness coach – Fernando Signorini – who trained him in a variety of areas, in addition to looking after his physical conditioning, adding: "While he [Maradona] was in a football team he had his own regime. How many players would do that? How many players would even know to think like that? 'I'm different to anyone else so I need to train at what I'm good at and what I'm weak at.' Signorini is very well read and very intelligent. He would literally say, 'This is the way I'm going to train you, read this book.' He would help him psychologically, talk to him about philosophy, and things like that."[202][203] Moreover, Maradona was notorious for his poor diet and extreme lifestyle off the pitch, including his use of illicit drugs andalcohol abuse, which along with personal issues, his metabolism, medication that he was prescribed, and periods of inactivity due to injuries and suspensions, led to his significant weight–gain and physical decline as his career progressed; his lack of discipline and difficulties in his turbulent personal life are thought by some in the sport to have negatively impacted his performances and longevity in the later years of his playing career.[194][204]
A controversial figure in the sport, while he earned critical acclaim from players, pundits and managers over his playing style, he also drew criticism in the media for his temper and confrontational behaviour, both on and off the pitch.[205][206][207] However, in 2005,Paolo Maldini described Maradona both as the greatest player he ever faced, and also as the most honest, stating: "He was a model of good behaviour on the pitch – he was respectful of everyone, from the great players down to the ordinary team member. He was always getting kicked around and he never complained – not like some of today's strikers."[208]Franco Baresi stated when he was asked who was his greatest opponent: "Maradona; when he was on form, there was almost no way of stopping him,"[66] while fellow former Italy defenderGiuseppe Bergomi described Maradona as the greatest player of all time in 2018.[209]Zlatan Ibrahimović said that his off-field antics did not matter, and that he should only be judged for the impact he made on the field. "For me Maradona is more than football. What he did as a footballer, in my opinion, he will be remembered forever. When you see number 10 who do you think about? Maradona. It is a symbol, even today there are those who choose that number for him."[210]
Today his skills would afford him greater protection. Back then they merely served as the red rag of provocation that would guarantee he would be the victim of brutal challenges wherever he played. The rules changed as a direct result of some of the injuries Maradona received. When I interviewed him a few years ago, he told me he thought players such as Lionel Messi owed him a great deal because some of the tackles he had endured would never be allowed today.
— Guillem Balagué writing for theBBC in 2020 on 'the magician, the cheat, the god, the flawed genius'.[44]
In 1999, Maradona was placed second behindPelé byWorld Soccer in the magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century".[211] Along with Pelé, Maradona was one of the two joint winners of the "FIFA Player of the Century" award in 2000,[212][189] and also placed fifth in "IFFHS' Century Elections".[213] In a 2014FIFA poll, Maradona was voted the second-greatest number 10 of all time, behind only Pelé,[214] and later that year, was ranked second inThe Guardian's list of the 100 greatest World Cup players of all time, ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, once again behind Pelé.[215] In 2017,FourFourTwo ranked him in first place in their list of "100 greatest players",[188] while in 2018 he was ranked in first place by the same magazine in their list of the "Greatest Football Players in World Cup History";[216] in March 2020, he was also ranked first by Jack Gallagher of90min.com in their list of "Top 50 Greatest Players of All Time".[217] In May 2020,Sky Sports ranked Maradona as the best player never to have won the UEFA Champions League/European Cup.[218]
Hounded for years by the press, Maradona once fired acompressed-air rifle at reporters whom he claimed were invading his privacy.[219][220] This quote from former teammateJorge Valdano summarises the feelings of many:
He is someone many people want to emulate, a controversial figure, loved, hated, who stirs great upheaval, especially in Argentina... Stressing his personal life is a mistake. Maradona has no peers inside the pitch, but he has turned his life into a show, and is now living a personal ordeal that should not be imitated.[221]
In 1990, theKonex Foundation from Argentina granted him the DiamondKonex Award, one of the most prestigious culture awards in Argentina, as the most important personality in sports in the last decade in his country.[222]
In April 1996, Maradona had a three-round exhibition boxing match withSantos Laciar for charity.[223] In 2000, Maradona published his autobiographyYo Soy El Diego ("I amThe Diego"), which became a bestseller in Argentina.[224] Two years later, Maradona donated the Cuban royalties of his book to "theCuban people andFidel".[225]
In 2000, he wonFIFA Player of the Century award which was to be decided by votes on their official website, their official magazine and a grand jury. Maradona won the Internet-based poll, garnering 53.6% of the votes against 18.53% forPelé.[226] In spite of this, and shortly before the ceremony, FIFA added a second award and appointed a "Football Family" committee composed of football journalists that also gave to Pelé the title of best player of the century to make it a draw. Maradona also came fifth in the vote of theIFFHS (International Federation of Football History and Statistics).[213] In 2001, theArgentine Football Association (AFA) asked FIFA for authorization toretire thejersey number 10 for Maradona. FIFA did not grant the request, even though Argentine officials have maintained that FIFA hinted that it would.[227]
Maradona has topped a number of fan polls, including a 2002 FIFA poll in which his second goal against England was chosen as thebest goal ever scored in a World Cup; he also won the most votes in a poll to determine the All-Time Ultimate World Cup Team. On 22 March 2010, Maradona was chosen number 1 in 'The Greatest 10World Cup Players of All Time' by theLondon-based newspaperThe Times.[228]Argentinos Juniors named itsstadium after Maradona on 26 December 2003. In 2003, Maradona was employed by the Libyan footballerAl-Saadi Gaddafi, the third son of ColonelMuammar Gaddafi, as a "technical consultant", while Al-Saadi was playing for the Italian club,Perugia, which was playing in Serie A at the time.[229]
Maradona inKolkata, India, in December 2008. Maradona laid the foundation stone for a football academy in the eastern suburbs of the city, and was greeted by over 100,000 fans inSalt Lake Stadium.[230]
In January 2005, Maradona became a member ofOlympiacos and appeared in theKaraiskakis stadium to accept his member card. He reappeared in the stadium in 2006, this time wearing an Olympiacos shirt.[231]
On 22 June 2005, it was announced that Maradona would return to former club Boca Juniors as a sports vice-president in charge of managing the First Division roster (after a disappointing2004–05 season, which coincided with Boca's centenary).[232][233] His contract began 1 August 2005, and one of his first recommendations proved to be very effective: advising the club to hireAlfio Basile as the new coach.[234] With Maradona fostering a close relationship with the players, Boca won the 2005Apertura, the 2006Clausura, the2005 Copa Sudamericana, and the2005 Recopa Sudamericana.[235]
On 15 August 2005, Maradona made his debut as host of a talk-variety show on Argentine television,La Noche del 10 ("The Night of the no. 10"). His main guest on opening night was Pelé; the two had a friendly chat, showing no signs of past differences.[236] However, the show also included a cartoon villain with a clear physical resemblance to Pelé. In subsequent evenings,La Noche del 10 led the ratings on all occasions but one. Most guests were drawn from the worlds of football and show business, includingRonaldo andZinedine Zidane, but also included interviews with other notable friends and personalities such as Cuban leaderFidel Castro and boxersRoberto Durán andMike Tyson.[237] Maradona gave each of his guests a signed Argentina jersey, which Tyson wore when he arrived in Brazil, Argentina's biggest rivals.[238] In November 2005, however, Maradona rejected an offer to work with Argentina's national football team.[239]
In May 2006, Maradona agreed to take part in UK'sSoccer Aid (a program to raise money forUNICEF).[240] In September 2006, Maradona, in his famous blue and white number 10, was the captain for Argentina in a three-day World Cup of Indoor Football tournament in Spain. On 26 August 2006, it was announced that Maradona was quitting his position in the club Boca Juniors because of disagreements with the AFA, who selectedAlfio Basile to be the new coach of the Argentina national team.[241] In 2008, Serbian filmmakerEmir Kusturica madeMaradona, a documentary about Maradona's life.[242]
On 1 September 2014, Maradona, along with many current and former footballing stars, took part in the "Match for Peace", which was played at theStadio Olimpico in Rome, with the proceeds being donated entirely to charity.[243] Maradona set up a goal forRoberto Baggio during the first half of the match, with a chipped through-ball over the defence with the outside of his left foot.[244] Unusually, both Baggio and Maradona wore the number 10 shirt, despite playing on the same team.[244] On 17 August 2015, Maradona visitedAli Bin Nasser, the Tunisian referee of the Argentina–England quarter-final match at the 1986 World Cup where Maradona scored hisHand of God, and paid tribute to him by giving him a signed Argentine jersey.[245][246]
Managerial career
Club management
Maradona greeting fans after being appointed manager of Dubai clubAl Wasl in 2011
Maradona began his managerial career alongside formerArgentinos Juniors midfield teammateCarlos Fren. The pair ledMandiyú ofCorrientes in 1994 andRacing Club in 1995, with little success.[178][247] In May 2011 he became manager of Dubai clubAl Wasl FC in theUnited Arab Emirates.[248][249]Maradona was sacked on 10 July 2012.[250][251][252] In August 2013, Maradona moved on to become 'spiritual coach' at Argentine clubDeportivo Riestra.[253] Maradona departed this role in 2017 to become the head coach ofFujairah, in theUAE second division, before leaving at the end of the season upon failure to secure promotion at the club.[254][255] In May 2018, Maradona was announced as the new chairman ofBelarusian clubDynamo Brest.[256] He arrived in Brest and was presented by the club to start his duties in July.[257] In September 2018, he was appointed manager of Mexican second division sideDorados.[258] He made his debut with Dorados on 17 September with a 4–1 victory overCafetaleros de Tapachula.[259] On 13 June 2019, after Dorados failed to clinch promotion to the Mexican top flight, Maradona's lawyer announced that he would be stepping down from the role, citing health reasons.[260]
On 5 September 2019, Maradona was unveiled as the new head coach ofGimnasia de La Plata, signing a contract until the end of the season.[261] After two months in charge he left the club on 19 November.[262] However, two days later, Maradona rejoined the club as manager saying that "we finally achieved political unity in the club".[263] Maradona insisted that Gabriel Pellegrino remain club president if he were to stay with Gimnasia de La Plata.[264][265] However it was still not clear if Pellegrino, who declined to run for re-election,[264][265] would stay on as club President.[264][265] Originally scheduled to be held on 23 November,[264] the election was delayed 15 days.[265] On 15 December, Pellegrino, who was encouraged by Maradona to seek re-election, was re-elected to a three-year term.[266] Despite having a bad record during the 2019–20 season, Gimnasia renewed Maradona's contract on 3 June 2020 for the 2020–21 season.[267] In November 2020, Maradona died in post. His coaching staff resigned from the club following his death.[268]
International management
Maradona as coach of Argentina in 2009. He left the position after the2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
After winning his first three matches as the coach of the national team, he oversaw a 6–1 defeat toBolivia, equalling the team's worst ever margin of defeat.[273][274] With two matches remaining in thequalification tournament for the 2010 World Cup, Argentina was in fifth place and faced the possibility of failing to qualify, but victory in the last two matches secured qualification for the finals.[275][276] After Argentina's qualification, Maradona used abusive language at the live post-game press conference, telling members of the media to "suck it and keep on sucking it".[277] FIFA responded with a two-month ban on all footballing activity, which expired on 15 January 2010, and aCHF 25,000 fine, with a warning as to his future conduct.[278] The friendly match scheduled to take place at home to theCzech Republic on 15 December, during the period of the ban, was cancelled. The only match Argentina played during Maradona's ban was a friendly away toCatalonia, which they lost 4–2.[279]
At the2010 FIFA World Cup, Argentina started by winning 1–0 againstNigeria, followed by a 4–1 victory overSouth Korea on the strength of aGonzalo Higuaín hat-trick.[280][281] In the final match of the group stage, Argentina won 2–0 againstGreece to win the group and advance to a second round, meetingMexico.[282] After defeating Mexico 3–1, however, Argentina was routed byGermany 4–0 in thequarter-finals to go out of the competition.[283] Argentina was ranked fifth in the tournament.[284] After the defeat to Germany, Maradona admitted that he was reconsidering his future as Argentina's coach, stating, "I may leave tomorrow."[285] On 15 July, the AFA said that he would be offered a new four-year deal that would keep him in charge through to the summer of 2014 when Brazil staged theWorld Cup.[286] On 27 July, however, the AFA announced that its board had unanimously decided not to renew his contract.[287] Afterwards, on 29 July, Maradona claimed that AFA presidentJulio Grondona and director of national teams (as well as his former Argentine national team and Sevilla coach)Carlos Bilardo had "lied to", "betrayed", and effectively sacked him from the role. He said, "They wanted me to continue, but seven of my staff should not go on, if he told me that, it meant he did not want me to keep working."[288]
Personal life
Family
Having returned to his Catholic faith, Maradona donated a signed Argentina jersey toPope Francis, and it is kept in one of theVatican Museums.
Born to aRoman Catholic family, his parents were Diego Maradona Senior and Dalma Salvadora Franco. Maradona married long-time fiancéeClaudia Villafañe on 7 November 1989 in Buenos Aires,[289] and they had two daughters,Dalma Nerea (born 2 April 1987) and Gianinna Dinorah (born 16 May 1989), by whom he became a grandfather in 2009 after she marriedSergio Agüero (now divorced).[290]
Maradona and Villafañe divorced in 2004. Daughter Dalma has since asserted that the divorce was the best solution for all as her parents remained on friendly terms. They travelled together to Naples for a series of homages in June 2005 and were seen together on other occasions, including the Argentina games during2006 World Cup.[291] During the divorce proceedings, Maradona admitted that he was the father ofDiego Sinagra (born in Naples on 20 September 1986). The Italian courts had already ruled so in 1993, after Maradona refused to undergoDNA tests to prove or disprove his paternity. Diego Junior met Maradona for the first time in May 2003 after tricking his way onto a golf course in Italy where Maradona was playing.[292] Sinagra played professional football until 2020.[293]
After the divorce, Claudia embarked on a career as a theatre producer, and Dalma sought an acting career; she previously had expressed her desire to attend the Actors Studio West inLos Angeles.[294][295]
Maradona's relationship with his immediate family was a close one. In a 1990 interview withSports Illustrated, he showed phone bills where he had spent a minimum of $15,000 US per month calling his parents and siblings.[296] Maradona's mother, Dalma, died on 19 November 2011. He was inDubai at the time, and desperately tried to fly back in time to see her, but was too late. She was 81 years old. His father, "Don" Diego, died on 25 June 2015 at age 87.[297]
In 2014, Maradona was accused of assaulting his girlfriend, Rocío Oliva, allegations which he denied.[298][299] In 2017, he gifted her a house in Bella Vista, but in December 2018 they split up.[300] Maradona's great-nephewHernán López is also a professional footballer.[301]
Maradona at the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he was treated by paramedics after collapsing following Argentina's victory over Nigeria[303]
From the mid-1980s until 2004, Maradona was addicted tococaine. He allegedly began using the drug in Barcelona in 1983.[304] By the time he was playing for Napoli, he had a full-blown addiction, which interfered with his ability to play football.[305] In the midst of his drug crisis in 1991, Maradona was asked by journalists if the hit song "Mi enfermedad" (lit.'My Disease') was dedicated to him.[306] Maradona was banned from football in both 1991 and 1994 for abusing drugs.[307]
Maradona had a tendency to put on weight and suffered increasingly fromobesity, at one point weighing 280 lb (130 kg). He was obese from the end of his playing career until undergoinggastric bypass surgery in a clinic inCartagena, Colombia, on 6 March 2005. His surgeon said that Maradona would follow aliquid diet for three months in order to return to his normal weight.[308] When Maradona resumed public appearances shortly thereafter, he displayed a notably thinner figure.[309]
On 29 March 2007, Maradona was readmitted to a hospital in Buenos Aires. He was treated forhepatitis and effects ofalcohol abuse and was released on 11 April, but readmitted two days later.[310] In the following days, there were constant rumours about his health, including three false claims of his death within a month.[311] After being transferred to a psychiatric clinic specializing in alcohol-related problems, Maradona was discharged on 7 May.[312] On 8 May, Maradona appeared on Argentine television and stated that he had quit drinking and had not used drugs in two and a half years.[313] During the 2018 World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria, Maradona was shown on television cameras behaving extremely erratically, with an abundance of white residue visible on the glass in front of his seat in the stands. The smudges could have been fingerprints, and he later blamed his behaviour on consuming lots of wine.[314] In January 2019, Maradona underwent surgery after ahernia causedinternal bleeding in his stomach.[315]
Political views
Maradona (right) presenting a signed jersey to the former President of ArgentinaNéstor Kirchner in December 2007
Maradona was ideologically left-wing.[316] He supported the establishment of an independentPalestinian state and condemned Israel's military strikes in theGaza Strip during the2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, saying: "What Israel is doing to the Palestinians is shameful."[317] He became friends with Cuban presidentFidel Castro while receiving treatment on the island, with Castro stating, "Diego is a great friend and very noble, too. There's also no question he's a wonderful athlete and has maintained a friendship with Cuba to no material gain of his own."[88] Maradona had a portrait of Castrotattooed on his left leg and one of Fidel's second in command, fellow ArgentineChe Guevara on his right arm.[318] In his autobiography,El Diego, he dedicated the book to various people, including Castro. He wrote: "To Fidel Castro and, through him, all theCuban people."[319] In 1990, he visitedLenin's Mausoleum inRed Square.[320]
Maradona voiced support forBolivia's presidentEvo Morales[321] and was also a supporter of former Venezuelan PresidentHugo Chávez. In 2005, he came to Venezuela to meet Chávez, who received him in the presidentialMiraflores Palace. After the meeting, Maradona said that he had come to meet a "great man" (un grande, which can also mean "a big man", in Spanish), but had instead met a gigantic man (un gigante). He also stated, "I believe in Chávez, I am aChavista. Everything Fidel does, everything Chávez does, for me is the best."[322] Maradona was Chávez's guest of honour at the opening game of the2007 Copa América held in Venezuela.[323] In a 2017 interview, Maradona praised Russian presidentVladimir Putin and considered him, along with Chavez and Castro, to be among the best political leaders in the world, stating: "Putin is a man who can bring peace to many in this world. He’s a phenomenon; simply a phenomenon".[324]
Many sportsmen claim to be champions of the people, but Maradona's populism is underwritten by his itinerary — the proletarian strongholds of Buenos Aires, Naples, and now Havana.
In 2004, Maradona participated in a protest against the U.S.-ledwar in Iraq.[316] Maradona declared his opposition to what he identified asimperialism, particularly during the 2005Summit of the Americas inMar del Plata, Argentina. There he protestedGeorge W. Bush's presence in Argentina, wearing a T-shirt labelled "STOP BUSH" (with the "s" in "Bush" being replaced with aswastika) and referring to Bush as "human garbage".[325][326] In August 2007, Maradona went further, making an appearance on Chávez's weekly television showAló Presidente and saying, "I hate everything that comes from the United States. I hate it with all my strength."[327] By December 2008, Maradona seemed to adopt a more positive U.S. attitude and expressed admiration for Bush's successor, then-President-electBarack Obama, for whom he had great expectations.[230] However, in 2017, Maradona was critical of PresidentDonald Trump and called him "a cartoon character".[328]
"I asked myself, 'Who is this man? Who is this footballing magician, thisSex Pistol of international football, this cocaine victim who kicked the habit, looked likeFalstaff and was as weak as spaghetti?' IfAndy Warhol had still been alive, he would have definitely put Maradona alongsideMarilyn Monroe andMao Tse-tung. I'm convinced that if he hadn't been a footballer, he'd've become a revolutionary."
With his poor shanty town (villa miseria) upbringing, Maradona cultivated a man-of-the-people persona.[329] During a meeting withPope John Paul II at theVatican in 1987, they clashed on the issue of wealth disparity, with Maradona stating, "I argued with him because I was in the Vatican and I saw all these golden ceilings and afterwards I heard the Pope say the Church was worried about the welfare of poor kids. Sell your ceiling then, amigo, do something!"[329] In September 2014, Maradona met withPope Francis in Rome, crediting Francis for inspiring him to return to religion after many years away; he stated: "We should all imitate Pope Francis. If each one of us gives something to someone else, no one in the world would be starving."[330]
In December 2007, Maradona presented a signed shirt with a message of support to the people ofIran: it is displayed in theIranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' museum.[331] In April 2013, Maradona visited the tomb of Hugo Chávez and urged Venezuelans to elect the late leader's designated successor,Nicolás Maduro, to continue the socialist leader's legacy; "Continue the struggle," Maradona said on television.[332] Maradona attended Maduro's final campaign rally inCaracas, signing footballs and kicking them to the crowd, and presented Maduro with an Argentina jersey.[332] Having visited Chávez's tomb with Maradona, Maduro said, "Speaking with Diego was very emotional because comandante Chávez also loved him very much."[332] Maradona participated and danced at the electoral campaign rally during the2018 presidential elections in Venezuela.[333][334] During the2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis, the Mexican Football Federation fined him for violating their code of ethics and dedicating a team victory to Nicolás Maduro.[335]
Maradona (center) visiting Argentina's new presidentAlberto Fernández (right) in December 2019
Maradona in his 2000 autobiographyYo Soy El Diego, linked the "Hand of God" goal against England at the 1986 World Cup to theFalklands War: "Although we had said before the game that football had nothing to do with the Malvinas [Falklands] War, we knew they had killed a lot of Argentine boys there, killed them like little birds. And this was revenge."[336] In October 2015, Maradona thanked QueenElizabeth II and theHouses of Parliament in London for giving him the chance to provide "true justice" as head of an organization designed to help young children.[337] In a video released on his official Facebook page, Maradona confirmed he would accept their nomination for him to becomeLatin American director for the non-governmental organization Football for Unity.[337]
Failure to pay tax
In March 2009, Italian officials announced that Maradona still owed the Italian government €37 million in local taxes, €23.5 million of which was accrued interest on his original debt. They reported that at that point, Maradona had paid only €42,000, two luxury watches and a set of earrings.[338][339] He was posthumously cleared of the accusations in January 2024 by theSupreme Court of Cassation.[340]
Death
On 2 November 2020, Maradona was admitted to a hospital inLa Plata, supposedly for psychological reasons. A representative of the ex-footballer said his condition was not serious.[341] A day later, he underwent emergency brain surgery to treat asubdural hematoma.[342] He was released on 12 November after successful surgery and was supervised by doctors as an outpatient.[343] On 25 November, at the age of 60, Maradona sufferedcardiac arrest and died in his sleep at his home inDique Luján,Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.[344][345] Maradona's coffin – draped inArgentina's national flag and three Maradona number 10 shirts (Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors and Argentina) –lay in state at the Presidential Palace, theCasa Rosada, with mourners filing past his coffin.[346] On 26 November, Maradona's wake, which was attended by tens of thousands of people, was cut short by his family as his coffin was relocated from the rotunda of the Presidential Palace after fans took over an inner courtyard and also clashed with police.[347][348] The same day, a private funeral service was held and Maradona was buried next to his parents at the Jardín de Bella Vista cemetery inBella Vista, Buenos Aires.[349]
Tributes
"I have lost a great friend and the world has lost a legend. There's still so much to be said, but for now, may God give strength to his relatives. One day I hope we can play football together in heaven."
—Pelé paying tribute following Maradona's death[350]
In a statement on social media, theArgentine Football Association expressed "its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend", adding: "You will always be in our hearts."[351] PresidentAlberto Fernández announced three days ofnational mourning.[352]UEFA andCONMEBOL announced that every match in the Champions League, Europa League, Copa Libertadores, and Copa Sudamericana would hold a moment of silence prior to kickoff.[353][354] Boca Juniors' game was postponed in respect to Maradona.[355] Subsequently, other confederations around the world followed suit, with every fixture observing a minute of silence, starting with theAFC Champions League's fixtures.[356] In addition to the minute of silence in Serie A, an image of Maradona was projected on stadium screens in the 10th minute of play.[357]
InNaples, the Stadio San Paolo—officially renamedStadio Diego Armando Maradona on 4 December 2020—was illuminated at night in honour of Maradona, with numerous fans gathering outside the stadium placing murals and paintings as a tribute. Both Napoli ownerAurelio De Laurentiis and the mayor of NaplesLuigi de Magistris expressed their desire to rename their stadium after Maradona, which was unanimously approved by Naples City Council.[75] Prior to Napoli'sEuropa League match againstRijeka the day after Maradona's death, all of the Napoli players wore shirts with "Maradona 10" on the back of them, before observing a minute of silence.[358] Figures in the sport from every continent around the world also paid tribute to him.[350][359][360] Celebrities and other sports people outside football also paid tribute to Maradona.[361][362][363][364][365]
On 27 November 2020, the Aditya School of Sports inBarasat,Kolkata, India named their cricket stadium after Maradona.[366] Three years earlier Maradona had conducted a workshop with 100 kids in the stadium and played a charity match at the same venue with former Indian cricket captain,Sourav Ganguly.[366] The AFA announced that the2020 Copa de la Liga Profesional, which is the debut season of Copa de la Liga Profesional, would be renamedCopa Diego Armando Maradona.[367] On 28 November,Pakistan Football Federation's main cupPFF National Challenge Cup honoured Maradona along with Wali Mohammad. In a rugby union test match betweenArgentina andNew Zealand on 28 November, as the New Zealand team lined up to perform thehaka their captainSam Cane presented a black jersey with Maradona's name and his number 10.[368][369] On 29 November, compatriot Lionel Messi scored in Barcelona's 4–0 home win overOsasuna inLa Liga, dedicating his goal to Maradona by revealing a Newell's Old Boys shirt worn by the latter under his own, and subsequently pointing to the sky.[370]
On 30 November, after Boca Juniors opened the scoring againstNewell's Old Boys atLa Bombonera, the club's players paid an emotional tribute by laying a Maradona jersey in front of his private suite where his daughter Dalma was present.[371]
Aftermath
In May 2021, seven medical professionals were charged with homicide over Maradona's death, in violation of their duties, and could face between eight and 25 years in prison if convicted.[372] On 25 June, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov was summoned by the Prosecution Office ofSan Isidro and faced a formal questioning, where she agreed to answer more than 100 queries regarding the medical treatment given to Maradona in that medical field.[373][374] After seven hours of questioning, Cosachov's lawyer Vadim Mischanchuk addressed the press and denied that Cosachov's prescription medication could have worsened Maradona's heart condition, and Cosachov further denied any responsibility in the death.[375] On 28 June, multiple arrest warrants were requested by a plaintiff lawyer against Cosachov, personal doctor Leopoldo Luque, psychologist Carlos Díaz, and doctor Nancy Forlini in direct connection with Maradona's alleged negligent death.[376] On 1 July, the prosecutors in the case refused to ask a judge to issue arrest warrants against all the aforementioned professionals, on the basis that they considered the request had been a media stunt ("incursión mediática") for the case, coinciding with personal doctor Luque's interrogation.[377][378]
On 18 April 2023, the Court of Appeals and Guarantees of San Isidro upheld the June 2022 ruling where eight medical personnel, including physician Luque and psychiatrist Cosachov, should face trial on the charge of "simple homicide with malice aforethought". The accused face between eight and 25 years in prison if found guilty.[382]
In September 2024, a criminal court in San Isidro, set the trial date for Luque, Cosachov, and other medical personnel to start on 11 March 2025.[383] In May 2025, a mistrial was declared after one of the judges hearing the case recused after she appeared in a documentary featuring the issue.[384]
Graffiti of Maradona. His nickname D10S alludes to his playing number and the Spanish word for God.[385]
In Argentina, Maradona is considered an icon. Concerning the idolatry that exists in his country, former teammateJorge Valdano said:
At the time that Maradona retired from active football, he left Argentina traumatized. Maradona was more than just a great footballer. He was a special compensation factor for a country that in a few years lived through severalmilitary dictatorships and social frustrations of all kinds. Maradona offered to Argentines a way out of their collective frustration, and that's why people there love him as a divine figure.[386]
In leading his nation to the 1986 World Cup, and in particular his performance and two goals in the quarter-final against England,Guillem Balagué writes: "That Sunday in Mexico City, the world saw one man single-handedly – in more than one sense of the phrase – lift the mood of a depressed and downtrodden nation into the stratosphere. With two goals in the space of four minutes, he allowed them to dare to dream that they, like him, could be the best in the world. He did it first by nefarious and then spellbindingly brilliant means. In those moments, he went from star player to legend."[44]
Since 1986, it has been common for Argentines abroad to hear Maradona's name as a token of recognition, even in remote places.[43] TheTartan Army sing a version of theHokey Cokey in honour of theHand of God goal against England.[387] In Argentina, Maradona is often talked about in terms reserved for legends. In the Argentine filmEl hijo de la novia ("Son of the Bride"), somebody who impersonates aCatholic priest says to a bar patron, "They idolized him and then crucified him." When a friend scolds him for taking the prank too far, the fake priest retorts, "But I was talking about Maradona." He is the subject of the filmEl camino de San Diego, though he himself only appears in archive footage.[388]
Maradona was included in manycameos in the Argentine comic bookEl Cazador de Aventuras. After the closing of it, the authors started a new short-lived comic book titledEl Die, using Maradona as the main character. Maradona has had several online Flash games that are entirely dedicated to his legacy.[389] InRosario, Argentina, locals organized theparody religion of the "Church of Maradona". The organization reformulates many elements from Christian tradition, such as Christmas or prayers, reflecting instead details from Maradona. It had 200 founding members, and tens of thousands more have become members via the church's official web site.[390]
Many Argentine and international artists performed songs in tribute to Diego, such as "La Mano de Dios" byEl Potro Rodrigo, "Maradona" byAndrés Calamaro, "Para siempre Diego" (Diego Forever) byLos Ratones Paranoicos, "Francotirador" (Sniper) byAttaque 77, "Maradona Blues" byCharly García, "Santa Maradona (Larchuma Football Club)” (Saint Maradona) byMano Negra, and "La Vida Tómbola" by Mano Negra frontmanManu Chao, among others. There are also other films, such as:Maradona, La Mano de Dios (Maradona, the Hand of God),Amando a Maradona (Loving Maradona), andMaradona by Kusturica.[242] In March 1981,Queen were introduced to Maradona backstage during their concert at the Vélez Sarsfield Stadium.[391]
By 1982, Maradona had become one of the biggest sports stars in the world and had endorsements with many companies, includingPuma andCoca-Cola, earning him an additional $1.5 million per year on top of his club salary.[392] In 1982, he featured in a World Cup commercial for Coca-Cola, and a Japanese commercial for Puma.[392] In 1984 he earned $7m a year at Napoli, and sponsorships included $5m fromHitachi.[302] In 1984, a poll fromIMG named Maradona the best known person in the world.[302] In 2010 he appeared in a commercial for French fashion houseLouis Vuitton, indulging in a game oftable football with fellow World Cup winnersPelé andZinedine Zidane.[393] Maradona featured in the music video to the 2010 World Cup song "Waka Waka" byShakira, with footage shown of him celebrating Argentina winning the 1986 World Cup.[394]
Banners depicting Maradona – such as this where he features alongsideLionel Messi at the2018 World Cup in Russia – often appear at Argentina games.
A 2006 television commercial for Brazilian soft drinkGuaraná Antarctica portrayed Maradona as a member of the Brazil national team, including wearing the yellow jersey and singing the Brazilian national anthem with Brazilian playersRonaldo andKaká.[395] Later on in the commercial he wakes up realizing it was a nightmare after having too much of the drink. This generated some controversy in the Argentine media after its release (although the commercial was not supposed to air for the Argentine market, fans could see it online). Maradona replied that he had no problem wearing the Brazilian national squad jersey despiteArgentina and Brazil's tense football rivalry, but that he would refuse to wear the shirt ofRiver Plate,Boca Juniors'traditional rival.[396] There is a documented phenomenon of Brazilians being named in honour of Maradona,[397] an example being footballerDiego Costa.[398]
In 2017, Maradona featured as a legendary player in the football video gamesFIFA 18 andPro Evolution Soccer 2018.[399] In 2019, a documentary film titledDiego Maradona was released byAcademy Award andBAFTA Award winning filmmakerAsif Kapadia, director ofAmy (on singerAmy Winehouse) andSenna (on motor racing driverAyrton Senna). Kapadia stated that "...Maradona is the third part of a trilogy about child geniuses and fame."[400] He added, "...I was fascinated by his journey, wherever he went there were moments of incredible brilliance and drama. He was a leader, taking his teams to the very top, but also many lows in his career. He was always the little guy fighting against the system... and he was willing to do anything, to use all of his cunning and intelligence to win."[401]
Career statistics
Maradona made 680 appearances and scored 345 goals for club and country combined, with a goalscoring average of 0.51.
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Maradona, Diego Armando (2000).Yo Soy el Diego [I Am the Diego] (in Spanish). Planeta Pub. Corp.ISBN84-08036-74-2.
Maradona, Diego (2016).México 86 : así ganamos la copa : mi mundial, mi verdad (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Barcelona: Debate.ISBN978-84-9992-627-8.OCLC953395867.
^Warrington, Mark WhiteContributions from Declan; Haugstad, Thore; Yokhin, Michael; Murray, Andrew; Stafford-Bloor, Seb; Spurling, Jon; Hess, Alex; Alves, Marcus; published, Alex Reid (5 September 2023)."Ranked! The 100 best football players of all time".fourfourtwo.com.Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved10 November 2023.
^"AIPS公布世纪最佳男女运动员 威廉姆斯和阿里当选 羽生结弦第六位" [AIPS announces best male and female athletes of the century, with Williams and Ali ranked sixth among Hanyu Yuzuru].Sohu (in Chinese). Archived fromthe original on 26 April 2025. Retrieved26 April 2025.
^Diego Maradona (1 May 2004).Yo Soy El Diego, autobiography of Diego Armando Maradona. Booket.ISBN9871144628.
^"Un mes sin el 10. Maradona era de Independiente, quiso jugar en River, terminó enojado con Boca, fue DT de Racing y admiraba a San Lorenzo".La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved31 January 2022.Ahora lo más firme parece ser lo de Boca. Lo de River quedó un poquito muerto por el ofrecimiento que hizo Aragón Cabrera de ganar lo mismo que Fillol y Passarella, que son los que más ganan. Yo le dije que no tenía problema, Dios quiera que ellos ganen 5 millones de dólares de contrato. Yo no tengo problemas, pero en caso de que me den lo que yo les pido. Y me dijo que no, porque se le iba a hacer muy embromado todo para poder pagarles a todos... Las tratativas las hace Jorge, pero me entero de todo.
^White, Duncan (29 October 2011). "Jay Bothroyd puts good times with playboy Saadi Gaddafi, son of dead Libya tyrant Colonel Gaddafi, behind him".National Post. Retrieved 31 March 2012
^"La Selección de Todos los Tiempos" [The Team of All Time] (in Spanish). Argentine Football Association. 4 January 2016. Archived fromthe original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved29 January 2018.
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