Diego Maradona Height, Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Diego Maradona

• Yes, Diego Maradona was a smoker.

• Diego Maradona indeed consumed alcohol.

• Born into a destitute family, his father toiled as a brick-layer while his mother dedicated herself to homemaking.

• In his childhood, his mother would frequently take away his football to ensure he focused on his studies, as she had high hopes for him to pursue a career as an accountant.

• During his early years, he would secure the football within his shirt as he slumbered, safeguarding it from potential theft.

• Diego Maradona, a young boy during his early years, joined Los Cebollitas and successfully guided them to an impressive undefeated streak of 136 matches.

• began in 1976 when he was on the verge of turning sixteen.

• He scored his inaugural goal for Argentina against Scotland on June 2, 1979.

• During the 1979 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he represented Argentina and played a pivotal role in leading the team to victory in the tournament. He was honored with the Golden Ball award, recognizing him as the tournament’s most outstanding player.

• began in 1981 when he became a member of the team.

• He participated in his inaugural World Cup tournament in 1982, but unfortunately, they were eliminated by Brazil in the second round.

• began after the World Cup. Throughout his two seasons at FC Barcelona, he successfully netted an impressive total of 38 goals in 58 games.

• Diego Maradona tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Claudia Villafane on November 7, 1984. Together, they were blessed with two daughters named Dalma Nerea and Giannina Dinorah. During their outing, Diego Maradona was joined by his wife Claudia Villafane and their two daughters.

• began when he relocated to Napoli, marking the peak of his career. Under his leadership, the club achieved remarkable victories, securing the Serie A Italian Championships in both 1986-87 and 1989-90. Furthermore, Napoli triumphantly clinched the Coppa Italia in 1987, the UEFA Cup in 1989, and the Italian Supercup in 1990. Diego Maradona’s time at Napoli was truly exceptional.

• He achieved the unprecedented feat of setting the world record transfer fee twice, making him the first player in football history to do so.

• With his contributions, he guided Argentina to clinch the victory in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, netting a total of 5 goals and providing 5 assists throughout the tournament. One of his remarkable goals against England was famously dubbed the “Hand of God” goal.

• Once more, he guided his team during the 1990 FIFA World Cup, ultimately reaching the finals but succumbing to defeat against West Germany.

• He tested positive for cocaine usage in 1991, resulting in a 15-month suspension being imposed on him.

• He departed Napoli in 1992 and signed with Sevilla in Spain, where he spent one year. Subsequently, he joined Newell’s Old Boys.

• He participated in only two matches during the 1994 FIFA World Cup, managing to score a goal. However, his International career came to an abrupt end when he failed a drug test for ephedrine, resulting in his expulsion from the tournament.

• He rejoined Boca Juniors in 1995 and remained with the club for two years. However, he surprised everyone by announcing his retirement on the eve of his birthday in 1997.

• From the 1980s onwards, his drug addiction had detrimental effects on his overall well-being and performance. A significant heart attack resulting from a cocaine overdose occurred in 2004.

• He was awarded the title of “Player of the Century” in 2000, sharing the recognition with the Brazilian icon Pele.

• In 2004, Maradona and Claudia Villafane ended their marriage with a divorce. During the legal proceedings, he acknowledged his illegitimate son, Diego Sinagra, who currently plays football in Italy. He also admitted to having an illegitimate daughter named Jana Maradona, who was born to Valeria Sabalain. Accompanied by his two children born outside of marriage, Diego Maradona moved forward.

• His daughter, Giannina, got married to Argentine footballer Sergio Aguero in 2008; however, they later separated in 2013.

• In 2009, it was announced by Italian authorities that he had an outstanding tax liability amounting to $45 million (₹306 Crore), inclusive of penalties, charges, and interest. However, he managed to settle the debt by paying a mere sum of $48,000 (₹33 Lakh), along with two luxury watches and a set of earrings.

• , led the team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup as the head coach.

• In the year 2017, he made allegations against his ex-wife and two daughters, claiming that they had stolen $4.5 million from him and requested legal action leading to their imprisonment.

• During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Diego Maradona stirred up controversy when he was spotted smoking a cigar in the stadium during the Argentina Iceland match, despite a strict ban on smoking in all World Cup stadiums.

• The iconic football player passed away on November 25, 2020 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the age of 60. Merely two weeks had passed since he had been discharged from the hospital after undergoing surgery for a brain hemorrhage. Unfortunately, he suffered a heart attack at his residence. Throughout his life, he had battled health problems that were attributed to his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. According to reports, his final words before his passing were, “I feel unwell.”