Diego Maradona

Diego Armando Maradona was born on October 30, 1960, in Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He went on to become one of the greatest football players of all time.

Diego Maradona began playing football at the age of 8 in 1968.

He began his football career by playing for Los Cebollitas club in 1975.

On October 20, 1976, Diego Maradona made his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors, just 10 days before his 16th birthday.

On February 27, 1977, Diego Maradona made his senior international debut for Argentina at the age of 16 against Hungary. This marked the start of his illustrious international career.

On 2 June 1979, Maradona scored his first senior international goal in a 3–1 win against Scotland at Hampden Park.

Maradona signed a contract with Boca Juniors on 20 February 1981 and made his debut two days later against Talleres de Córdoba, scoring two goals in a 4–1 win. He went on to have a successful season with Boca Juniors, winning the league title.

By 1982, Diego Maradona had risen to become one of the biggest sports stars in the world, securing endorsements with major companies like Puma and Coca-Cola. His fame and success transcended borders, solidifying his status as an international icon.

In September 1983, Maradona suffered a broken ankle during a La Liga game at the Camp Nou due to a reckless tackle by Athletic Bilbao's Andoni Goikoetxea. This injury threatened his career but he was able to return to the pitch after a three-month recovery period.

Diego Maradona 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 the Stadio San Paolo. The fans considered him as their savior and were ecstatic about his arrival.

During the 1986 World Cup quarter final match against England, Diego Maradona scored two iconic goals. The first goal was a controversial handball known as the 'Hand of God', while the second goal was a brilliant solo effort that was later voted as the 'Goal of the Century'.

On June 29, 1986, Diego Maradona led Argentina to victory in the World Cup as the team captain. The final against West Germany ended in a thrilling 3-2 win, solidifying Maradona's status as a football legend.

On July 26, 1986, Maradona captained the Argentine national team to victory in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, winning the final in Mexico City against West Germany.

In 1987, Diego Maradona led SSC Napoli to win the Serie A title. His exceptional skills and leadership were instrumental in the team's triumph in the Italian league.

In 1989, Napoli, with Maradona in the team, won the UEFA Cup. Maradona played a crucial role in the final matches, scoring goals and assisting his teammates, solidifying his legendary status at the club.

On July 3, 1990, Diego Maradona played for Argentina against Italy in the World Cup semi-final in Napoli. He famously gained the support of the local crowd over their own country, showcasing his immense popularity and influence.

Maradona captained Argentina in the 1990 World Cup final in Italy. Despite an ankle injury affecting his performance and missing key players due to injury, Argentina managed to reach the final but lost 1-0 to West Germany with a controversial penalty goal.

In 1991, Maradona faced a ban from football due to his drug abuse issues, which had a significant impact on his career.

After serving a 15-month ban for failing a drug test for cocaine, Maradona left Napoli in disgrace in 1992 and signed for Sevilla.

Diego Maradona made a significant move to Italian side Napoli in 1993, where he excelled as a player, scoring numerous goals and winning multiple trophies.

June 21, 1994, marked Diego Maradona's last World Cup appearance and goal. His celebration against Greece became infamous, and he was sent home soon after due to a failed drug test, ending his World Cup journey.

In 1995, Maradona returned to Boca Juniors for a two-year stint.

Diego Maradona was voted the FIFA Player of the Century in 2000, sharing the title with Pele. This recognition solidified his status as one of the greatest football players in history.

In a 2002 FIFA poll, Maradona's second goal against England was chosen as the best 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.

Maradona announced his return to former club Boca Juniors as a sports vice-president in charge of managing the First Division roster. He recommended hiring Alfio Basile as the new coach, leading Boca to victory in various tournaments.

The documentary 'Maradona' was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2008, shedding light on the life and career of the legendary footballer.

In November 2008, Diego Maradona became the coach of Argentina's national football team. He led the team during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before departing after the tournament.

Maradona was dismissed from his position on July 10, 2012.

In 2017, Maradona took on the position of head coach at Fujairah in the UAE second division, but left at the end of the season due to failure to secure promotion.

In May 2018, Maradona was announced as the new chairman of Belarusian club Dynamo Brest.

In September 2018, Maradona was named the manager of Mexican second division side Dorados.

On June 13, 2019, Maradona's lawyer announced that he would be stepping down as manager of Dorados due to health reasons.

On September 5, 2019, Maradona was unveiled as the new head coach of Gimnasia de La Plata.

After two months in charge, Maradona left Gimnasia de La Plata on November 19, but rejoined two days later.

Diego Armando Maradona, one of the greatest football players in history, passed away on November 25, 2020. His legacy as a player and coach left a lasting impact on the world of football.

During a La Liga match, Lionel Messi scored a goal and dedicated it to Maradona by revealing a Newell's Old Boys shirt worn by Maradona under his own jersey. Messi pointed to the sky in tribute to the late football legend.

After scoring in a match against Newell's Old Boys, Boca Juniors players paid an emotional tribute to Maradona by laying a jersey in front of his private suite where his daughter was present.

Nine days after Maradona's death, Napoli's home stadium was renamed Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on 4 December 2020. This renaming was a tribute to the football legend and his legacy at the club.

Seven medical professionals were charged with homicide over Maradona's death due to negligence. They could face between 8 and 25 years in prison if convicted.

The Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that eight medical personnel, including Maradona's physician and psychiatrist, should face trial for 'simple homicide with malice aforethought' in connection to Maradona's death.

An Argentinian court has ruled that eight healthcare professionals will stand trial over the death of football great Diego Maradona in 2020. The medical team is accused of negligence in Maradona's care, leading to his death from a heart attack at the age of 60.