Diego Maradona remains one of the most gifted and controversial figures in sports history. You likely know him for leading Argentina to World Cup glory, but his life off the pitch was a constant storm of excess and drama. He possessed a unique low center of gravity that allowed him to dribble past defenders as if the ball were glued to his foot. In Italy, he became more than a player; he became a literal deity to the people of Naples. His legacy combines divine talent with very human struggles. Let’s explore the life of El Pibe de Oro.
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona scored the two most famous goals in history during the same match. Remarkably, he scored the illegal “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century” against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals.
A registered religion exists that is dedicated entirely to worshipping him. Surprisingly, the Iglesia Maradoniana (Church of Maradona) has thousands of members who celebrate his birthday as their Christmas.
He requested a black Ferrari Testarossa at a time when Ferrari only made red cars. Eventually, Enzo Ferrari made a rare exception for the star, but Maradona complained because the car lacked a stereo.
He famously warmed up for a UEFA Cup semi-final by dancing with the ball to the song Live is Life. Joyfully, he juggled the ball with his shoelaces untied while the rest of the team stretched seriously.
In 1994, officials sent him home from the World Cup in the United States. Tragically, he failed a drug test for ephedrine, which marked a sad end to his international playing career.
He holds the status of a saint in the Italian city of Naples. Consequently, locals often place his picture on altars beside images of Jesus and the Virgin Mary to honor his time at Napoli.
He made his professional debut just ten days before his 16th birthday. Impressively, he became the youngest player in the history of the Argentine Primera División when he took the field for Argentinos Juniors.
Diego Maradona fired an air rifle at journalists outside his home in 1994. Aggressively, he attacked the reporters for invading his privacy, which led to a suspended prison sentence.
He bore tattoos of two socialist revolutionaries on his body. Specifically, he had an image of Che Guevara on his arm and Fidel Castro on his leg to show his political leanings.
Napoli officially retired the number 10 jersey in his honor. Therefore, no player for the club will ever wear that number again as a tribute to his impact on the city.
He once escaped the press in Naples by hiding in the trunk of a car. Frequently, the fanatical attention in Italy forced him to use extreme measures just to leave his house for dinner.
Barcelona fans at the Santiago Bernabéu applauded him, which is incredibly rare. Uniquely, the rival Real Madrid supporters gave him a standing ovation in 1983 after he scored a brilliant goal.
He struggled with a severe cocaine addiction for many years. Unfortunately, these health issues caused him to miss matches and eventually led to heart problems later in life.
During the 1986 World Cup, he wore a captain’s armband that he bought at a local shop in Mexico. Reportedly, the equipment manager had to scramble to find a new armband and sew the badge on at the last minute.
The Argentine President declared three days of national mourning when he died in 2020. Immediately, thousands of fans gathered at the presidential palace to say a final goodbye to their hero.
