Diego Maradona

There has never been a football player quite like Maradona. He was little, left-footed and quite frankly, uncontainable. 

Maradona’s life journey from the shanty towns of Argentina to raising the 1986 FIFA World Cup award in the air is a football saga that we will probably still discuss 50 years later. 

We at Tipsgoal tell you all about the man, the player, his stats, his best games and the great questions fans would still be asking about him, so read on.

Who Was Diego Maradona?

Diego Armando Maradona Franco, football player and manager. He was known as one of the greatest football players of all time. 

He was born in Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina on 30 October 1960 and died on 25 November 2020 at the age of 60. 

His full name and date of birth/death is recorded on FC Barcelona's official player archive: Diego Armando Maradona Franco.

Born 30 October 1960 in Lanús.

Died 25 November 2020.

He was an offensive midfielder, best known for wearing the iconic number 10 shirt. Although he was not the largest player on the field, it never seemed to hold him back. Indeed, his low centre of gravity allows for quicker turn around, keep ball close at his feet and get past defenders.

His nicknames include El Diez (Spanish: The Ten) and El Pelusa (Spanish: The Fuzz/Fluffy Hair).

However to legions of football fans, he was just Diego.

Diego Maradona Profile

Argentina stats taken from the Rec. Sport. Soccer Statistics Foundation. 259 appearances and 115 goals for Napoli, according to the Italian Football Federation.

Diego Maradona's Early Life

Maradona’s childhood was rooted in the slums of Villa Fiorito, a poor neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. The game of soccer was his way out. 

Even at a tender age, Maradona had developed a spectacular knack for juggling the ball.

The FIFA report states that, as a nine-year-old, when asked by a reporter about his dreams, Maradona had stated that the only wish he had was to play for his country in a World Cup match.

Little did he know at the time that, someday, that childhood fantasy would become a reality. 

But what stands out is that he was not blessed with riches from the start and neither was he born as a football legend. 

He was the child of a big family who had to claw his way up to become one of the most celebrated football players of the world.

Diego Maradona's Football Career

Maradona’s professional life took him from his native Argentina to Italy and Spain and back again to Argentina. The major club sides he played for were, Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona Napoli, Sevilla, and Newell's Old Boys. He played in four World Cups for Argentina, 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994.

Diego Maradona at Barcelona

The signing of Maradona came in 1982 when Barcelona purchased Maradona from Boca Juniors. His tenure at the club lasted for two seasons only.

According to FC Barcelona's own statistics, Maradona played in 58 official games and scored 38 goals for the first team, while he won the Copa del Rey, Copa de la Liga and Spanish Super Cup during his time in Spain.

His Barcelona chapter could be labeled as disappointing compared to his latter phase at Napoli.

And why?

The number one cause would have to be the two significant injuries he sustained, first hepatitis and then a severe ankle problem, which prevented him to stay on the field of play.

And yet he left the club with more than favorable statistics.

Maradona at Barcelona

Diego Maradona at Napoli

If you ask some fans in Naples about Maradona, you can’t help but see why the era is a big deal for us. When Maradona signed in 1984, Napoli hadn’t seen the same sort of dominance in Italy that the club later experienced. That’s all thanks to Maradona.

The Italian FA record 259 appearances and 115 goals between 1984 and 1991 and delivered a pair of Scudetti, a single Coppa Italia and both a UEFA Cup and Super Italian cup for the club.

However it was much bigger than that. Maradona was an emblem and symbol of the city of Naples. So much so that they have renamed their stadium (originally the Stadio San Paolo) the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in his honor. FIFA confirmed the changing of the naming to recognize his place.

You should know by that how loved he truly was.

What Did Diego Maradona's Hand of God Goal Mean?

That the Hand of God came as an extra-time goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter final. Maradona actually punched the ball into the back of the net, but the referee controversially let the goal stand. It was the first and still the most famous World Cup controversy, and only a few minutes later, Maradona came out with the polar opposite.

Diego Maradona's World Cup Record

Maradona played in four World Cups.

He captained his country to triumph in 1986, then helped them into the 1990 final. 

He narrowly missed out on back-to-back world cups.

What Happened to Diego Maradona?

He passed away on November 25th 2020 just weeks after turning sixty. FIFA stated he was siity when he died of cardiac arrest, die shocked football fans worldwide. 

Yet this was not the end of the story, his medical treatment now became the centre of a major legal case.

Diego Maradona Cause of Death

A reported immediate clinical cause of death for Maradona was heart failure, which he had in the form of a fatal cardiac episode at his home following surgery for a blood clot on the brain. 

In 2025, 7 of his treating doctors went to trial in Argentina, where prosecution contended that negligent treatment exacerbated his health issues, whilst the defence stressed that his was a cardiac episode unforeseeable. 

Thus the criminal case must be distinguished from the determined clinical event.

Indeed this is essential for any further contemplation of the case.

When an interested member of the public searches on Google how Diego Maradona die, the fact of the clinical event is easily lost within simple newspaper headlines about ongoing legal wrangles. 

The real picture of Maradona's death is that, while it is fact he died from a cardiac episode, questions about whether this occurred as a result of medical negligence went before the courts.

Diego Maradona's Last Days

In December just prior to his passing, Maradona had surgery to have a blood clot removed from his brain.

He then recovered in a private residence. 

However, as the subsequent trial unfolded, medical expert witnesses raised doubts about the safety of at-home recovery given Maradona's state of being at the time. 

AP stated that a cardiologist deemed Maradona a high-risk patient and felt that he should have been in a rehab facility.

This remains one of the saddest moments.

Diego Maradona Jr and His Family

Maradona had quite a lot of children and his personal life was not something that was kept quiet from the public. One of the biggest child that fans google is called Diego Maradona Jr. 

The footballer also went by the name of Diego Sinagra in Italy and was the son of Maradona that was born in Naples that went on to be a footballer also!

Maradona’s family and relationships have led to years of public debate about paternity, affairs, and inheritance but for the biography, this needs to stop from turning into the private lives becoming gossip.

At the end of the day he has left a family and his children behind to live the life connected with his phenomenal public legacy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Diego Maradona

What was Diego Maradona’s full name?

His full name was Diego Armando Maradona Franco.

What year did Diego Maradona die?

He died on 25 November 2020, aged 60.

What caused Diego Maradona’s death?

He died due to complications of an initial brain injury from surgery. In January 2021, a criminal trial began in Argentina into accusations of negligent care against doctors responsible for treating the Argentine soccer star.

What height was Diego Maradona?

He was around 1.65 metres tall, or about 5 ft 5 inches.

How many goals Maradona scored for Argentina?

For the national team, they score 34 goals in 91 appearances (according to RSSSF’s official international totals).

How many goals Maradona scored for Napoli?

The Italian Football Federation state the record shows 115 goals in 259 appearances for the Naples side.

Did Maradona win the World Cup?

Yes. He captained Argentina to triumph at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

What was the Hand of God goal?

It was the controversial handball goal Argentina scored at the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal against England, in which Argentina's star striker handled the ball in front of the goalkeeper to score, and which was allowed by the referee.

Who is Diego Maradona to Messi?

An Argentine legend Maradona coach Messi in the Argentine national team during the 2010 World Cup.

Was Maradona alive when Messi won the World Cup?

No. Maradona died in 2020 whereas Messi captained Argentina to win the World Cup in December 2022 in Qatar.

What happened to the Napoli stadium?

Napoli’s home ground has now been renamed the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in his honour.