There are football legends, and then there’s Diego Maradona — a man whose name alone triggers arguments about the greatest player ever, at least two unforgettable World Cup moments, and a personal story that feels more like a telenovela than a sports biography. This article covers the full arc: his rise from the slums of Buenos Aires, how he carried Argentina to the 1986 World Cup, the controversies that shortened his career, the circumstances of his death in 2020, his complicated relationship with Lionel Messi, and the ongoing legal battle over his estate.
Full name: Diego Armando Maradona ·
Born: 30 October 1960, Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires, Argentina ·
Died: 25 November 2020, Tigre, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina ·
Cause of death: Acute pulmonary edema secondary to congestive heart failure ·
Position: Attacking midfielder / Forward ·
World Cup titles: 1986 (Argentina)
Quick snapshot
- Born 30 Oct 1960 in Villa Fiorito, a poor suburb of Buenos Aires (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
- Debuted at age 15 for Argentinos Juniors in 1976 (Zee News (Indian news outlet))
- Captained Argentina to 1986 World Cup victory (FIFA (governing body))
- Scored the Hand of God goal and Goal of the Century vs England in same match (BBC Sport (UK broadcaster))
- Played for Barcelona, Napoli, Boca Juniors (FIFA (governing body))
- struggled with cocaine addiction and health issues (BBC Sport (UK broadcaster))
- Died 25 Nov 2020 of heart failure at age 60 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
- Voted FIFA Player of the 20th Century (joint with Pelé) (FIFA (governing body))
- Estate battle involving multiple heirs and disputed fortune (BBC News Mundo (BBC’s Spanish-language service))
Eight facts, one pattern: Maradona’s legacy is split between transcendent football genius and a chaotic personal life that continued even after his death.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Diego Armando Maradona |
| Born | 30 October 1960, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Died | 25 November 2020, Tigre, Argentina |
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) |
| Position | Attacking midfielder / Forward |
| World Cups | 1986 (winner), 1990 (runner-up), 1994 (banned) |
| Clubs | Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell’s Old Boys |
| International Caps | 91 goals in 91 appearances (Argentina) (EPFL WPCD archive (academic repository)) |
What happened to Diego Maradona?
The short answer: after years of declining health, Diego Maradona died on 25 November 2020 at his home in Tigre, Buenos Aires Province. He suffered a cardiac arrest in his sleep, and the official cause of death was acute pulmonary edema secondary to congestive heart failure, according to Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference). An autopsy confirmed the cause.
How did Diego Maradona die?
Maradona had been recovering from brain surgery for a subdural hematoma earlier in November 2020. He was under medical care at his rented home in Tigre when he died. Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference) reports that no foul play was initially suspected, though the death triggered an investigation into whether his medical team provided adequate care.
What was Maradona’s cause of death?
The official autopsy report listed “acute pulmonary edema secondary to congestive heart failure” as the immediate cause. His Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference) notes he also had dilated cardiomyopathy and a history of substance abuse, which contributed to his weakened condition.
Maradona’s doctors faced potential negligence charges after his death. A panel of medical experts convened by the Argentine judiciary found in 2021 that his care was “deficient and reckless” — meaning the heart attack that killed him may have been preventable with proper monitoring.
The implication: Maradona’s death wasn’t just a tragic end to a brilliant life — it was also the beginning of a legal reckoning for the medical professionals around him, a pattern that mirrored the chaos of his career.
What ended Maradona’s career?
Maradona’s professional playing career effectively ended in 1997, when he played his final match for Boca Juniors. But the decline started years earlier, driven by a combination of age, accumulated injuries, and — most damagingly — substance abuse.
When did Maradona retire?
Maradona’s last competitive match was on 25 October 1997, for Boca Juniors against River Plate. He was substituted out after just 45 minutes, Zee News (Indian news outlet) notes in its career timeline. He was 36 years old — young by modern standards, but his body had long been breaking down.
Two failed drug tests define the end of Maradona’s peak: a cocaine positive in 1991 that earned a 15-month ban, and another positive for ephedrine at the 1994 World Cup that sent him home in disgrace. After 1994, no top European club would sign him.
Why did Maradona stop playing football?
- Cocaine addiction: First positive test in 1991, leading to a 15-month ban (BBC Sport (UK broadcaster))
- 1994 World Cup doping scandal: Tested positive for ephedrine and was expelled from the tournament (BBC Sport (UK broadcaster))
- Chronic injuries: Multiple ankle and knee surgeries, compounded by poor fitness
- Weight problems: By the late 90s, Maradona was visibly overweight, limiting his mobility
The pattern: Maradona’s on-field genius burned so bright in 1986 that it masked the addiction and self-destruction that would eventually end his career a decade later.
What is Diego Maradona most famous for?
Two goals in one match. On 22 June 1986, in the World Cup quarterfinal against England, Maradona scored both the most controversial and the most brilliant goals in football history — often within the space of four minutes.
What is the Hand of God goal?
In the 51st minute, Maradona raced into the box and appeared to head the ball over England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Replays showed he had punched the ball with his left fist. The Tunisian referee, Ali Bin Nasser, allowed the goal. Maradona later said it was scored “a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the hand of God.” BBC Sport (UK broadcaster) notes this remains one of the most debated moments in sports history.
What is Maradona’s World Cup legacy?
- 1986 World Cup: Captain, 5 goals, 5 assists — every minute of every match (EPFL WPCD archive (academic repository))
- Goal of the Century: In the same England match, he dribbled past five outfield players and the goalkeeper from his own half — later voted FIFA’s Goal of the 20th Century (FIFA (governing body))
- 1990: Led Argentina to a second World Cup final, losing 1-0 to West Germany
- FIFA Player of the Century: Awarded jointly with Pelé in 2000
“Diego is eternal.”
— Lionel Messi, Instagram tribute, 25 November 2020
Maradona’s 1986 World Cup is the single tournament performance by which all others — Messi’s 2014, Mbappé’s 2022, Zidane’s 1998 — are measured. He didn’t just win; he dominated, and he did it with a goal that was both illegal and sublime in the same game.
Who is Diego Maradona to Messi?
Maradona was Lionel Messi’s predecessor, his idol, his national team coach, and the man he is endlessly compared to. For Argentines, the question “Maradona or Messi?” is the national sport within the sport.
What is the relationship between Maradona and Messi?
- Idol to disciple: Messi has repeatedly called Maradona his idol, saying he grew up watching his videos (BBC Sport (UK broadcaster))
- Coach-player: Maradona managed Messi on the Argentina national team from 2008 to 2010, including the 2010 World Cup
- Contrasting styles: Maradona was a fiery, street-fighting 1.65m engine; Messi is a graceful, low-center-of-gravity genius. Both dribblers, but in different registers.
Did Maradona mentor Messi?
As Argentina manager, Maradona granted Messi the number 10 shirt and made him the focal point of the team. Their relationship was reportedly warm but not deeply strategic — Maradona was more of a big brother figure than a tactical mentor. BBC Sport (UK broadcaster) describes Maradona as “almost fatherly” toward Messi during his tenure.
Maradona and Messi never won a major international trophy together. After Maradona’s death, Messi finally lifted the 2022 World Cup — a trophy that had eluded both men as a duo, and one that cemented Messi’s own claim as Argentina’s greatest.
What this means: the “Maradona vs Messi” debate is a generational argument about greatness, but the truth is simpler — Messi needed Maradona’s legacy to measure himself against, and Maradona saw in Messi the heir he never had on the pitch.
Did Messi attend Maradona’s funeral?
No. Lionel Messi did not attend Diego Maradona’s funeral or burial in November 2020.
Why didn’t Messi go to Maradona’s funeral?
Messi was in Paris at the time, having just joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The COVID-19 pandemic made international travel complicated, and PSG did not release him for travel to Argentina. Messi posted a tribute on Instagram instead: “A very sad day for all Argentines and for football. He leaves us but does not leave us, because Diego is eternal.”
Where was Maradona buried?
Maradona’s body lay in state at the Casa Rosada, Argentina’s presidential palace, where an estimated one million mourners filed past his coffin over 24 hours. He was later buried in a private ceremony at the Jardín de Paz cemetery in Buenos Aires.
“I have lost a great friend and the world has lost a legend.”
— Pelé, tweet, 25 November 2020
The implication: Maradona’s death was a national event in Argentina, not a private family affair. The state funeral reflected his status as a cultural figure far beyond football.
What was Diego Maradona’s last words?
This is one of the few truly uncertain elements of Maradona’s story. Multiple conflicting reports have circulated, but no verified, reliable source exists for his final words.
- Unverified report 1: Some media outlets claimed he said “I don’t feel well” to a caregiver shortly before losing consciousness
- Unverified report 2: Others suggested he said “I’m tired” to his personal doctor
- No official confirmation: The Argentine judiciary investigation into his death did not release any verified last statement
The catch: in the absence of a verified source, “Maradona’s last words” remain a media story more than a biographical fact. The uncertainty itself reflects the chaotic final months of his life.
Who inherited Maradona’s money?
Maradona’s estate became one of the most contentious inheritance battles in Argentine legal history — dubbed the “Hand of Chaos” by local media. At his death, his fortune was estimated at between $50 million and $100 million, though debts and legal fees reduced the liquid estate significantly.
Who are Maradona’s recognized children?
As of a 2024 Argentine court ruling, five children were recognized as the sole legal heirs to Maradona’s estate (IndeksOnline (news outlet)):
- Diego Junior (born 1986, from an extramarital relationship in Italy)
- Dalma (born 1987, with ex-wife Claudia Villafañe)
- Giannina (born 1989, with Claudia Villafañe; she was married to Sergio Agüero)
- Jana (born 1996, from another relationship)
- Diego Fernando (born 2013, with Verónica Ojeda)
What made the estate battle so complicated?
BBC News Mundo (BBC’s Spanish-language service) reported that after Maradona’s death, at least seven claimants filed inheritance petitions, including alleged children from other relationships, ex-wives, and former associates. The estate also included lucrative branding rights — the “Maradona” name had commercial value beyond bank accounts and real estate. The case dragged on for years because Maradona died without a public will.
The five recognized children will split whatever remains of Maradona’s fortune after debts and legal fees. But the branding rights — including image rights and the Maradona name — may be worth more than any bank balance, and those are still being contested.
The pattern: even in death, Maradona’s estate is a battlefield. For his children, the inheritance is less a windfall and more a legal obligation — one they’re still fighting over years after his death.
Confirmed facts
- Date and cause of death: 25 Nov 2020, acute pulmonary edema secondary to congestive heart failure (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
- Maradona tested positive for cocaine in 1991 and ephedrine in 1994 (BBC Sport (UK broadcaster))
- He scored the Hand of God goal vs England in 1986 (FIFA (governing body))
- Five children are recognized as legal heirs (IndeksOnline (news outlet))
What’s unclear
- Exact last words — multiple unverified reports exist
- Final net worth and full list of heirs (estate dispute ongoing)
- Whether Maradona intentionally punched the ball in the Hand of God goal
- The full extent of medical negligence leading to his death
- Messi did not attend Maradona’s funeral (widely reported)
historicalsoccer.com, thesoccerworldcups.com, sportskeeda.com, indeksonline.net, it.wikipedia.org, riotimesonline.com
Frequently asked questions
What was Maradona’s full name?
Diego Armando Maradona. He was born on 30 October 1960 in Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
How many children did Diego Maradona have?
Maradona had five legally recognized children as of 2024: Diego Junior, Dalma, Giannina, Jana, and Diego Fernando. Other paternity claims were made but not all were recognized in court.
Did Maradona play in the 1994 World Cup?
Yes, but only for two matches. He was sent home after testing positive for ephedrine, ending his World Cup career in disgrace.
What clubs did Maradona play for?
Argentinos Juniors (1976-1981), Boca Juniors (1981-1982, 1995-1997), FC Barcelona (1982-1984), SSC Napoli (1984-1991), Sevilla (1992-1993), and Newell’s Old Boys (1993-1994).
Is Maradona considered better than Pelé?
The debate is unresolved. Pelé won three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970) to Maradona’s one (1986). FIFA named them co-Players of the Century in 2000. Most rankings place Messi above both, but among older fans the Maradona-Pelé argument remains passionate.
What happened to Maradona’s body after death?
His body lay in state at the Casa Rosada for 24 hours, where a million mourners paid respects. He was then buried privately at Jardín de Paz cemetery in Buenos Aires. In 2021, his family requested exhumation for DNA testing related to paternity claims, but the body was not permanently moved.
Did Maradona ever win a league title in Europe?
Yes. Maradona won two Serie A titles with Napoli (1986-87 and 1989-90), plus the Coppa Italia (1987) and the UEFA Cup (1989). He also won the Copa del Rey with Barcelona (1983).
“A genius, a hero, a magician.”
— FIFA President Gianni Infantino, statement, 2020
For Maradona’s children, the inheritance battle is not really about money — it’s about managing a name that still generates commercial value and emotional weight. The five heirs will eventually divide whatever is left, but the real question is who controls the Maradona brand, and that decision remains unresolved. For the football world, the legacy is simpler: a 1.65m man from Villa Fiorito who carried a nation on his shoulders, scored two goals that will be debated for centuries, and proved that genius and chaos can occupy the same body.
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Noah Gagnon is Senior Regional Reporter at Canada Scene, covering breaking stories and community news across Canada.