Diego Armando Maradona was born on Oct. 30, 1960, in Lanús, Argentina, and passed away in Dique, Luján, Argentina, on Nov. 25, 2020, at the age of 60. He played as an offensive midfielder and as a second striker.
The Barrilete Cósmico played for Argentinos Juniors from 1976 to 1981, Boca Juniors from 1981 to 1982, Barcelona from 1982 to 1984, Napoli from 1984 to 1991, Sevilla from 1992 to 1993, Newell's Old Boys from 1993 to 1994 and Boca Juniors again from 1995 to 1997.
With the “little” Argentina, El Pelusa played the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship. Argentina beat the Soviet Union in the final 3-1. Diego scored six goals in six games.
1982: Maradona plays his first world cup in Spain. They lose to the Belgians 1-0, but Argentina qualified to the second round after defeating Hungary and El Salvador in Alicante. In the second round, they lost to Brazil and Italy, 3-0 and 2-1, respectively.
1986: Argentina wins the World Cup played in Mexico, defeating West Germany 3-2 in the final match. “El 10” scored five goals.
1990: Replica of the 1986 World Cup final in Mexico. Argentina faces West Germany. This time, the Bavarians defeated the Albiceleste 1-0 with controversy included.
1994: Diego only played two games in this World Cup against Greece and Nigeria. He had to withdraw from the competition after testing positive for ephedrine.
Diego is acclaimed by some people and hated by others. His personality, his addiction to drugs, his political ideas supporting Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez, his "anti-Yankeeism," his devotion to ultra-left regimes and dictatorships, his irresponsible fatherhood, ruining his football skills and magic on the pitch — for some people.
For others, he was a leader who silenced the whole world. A classic No. 10 on a soccer field, that 10 who organized his team and played behind the forwards. In addition, he played as a second striker scoring great goals. His skills with the ball, dribbling, vision of the game, passing, balance, speed, versatility, agility and technique make Diego a unique player.
El Pelusa, as we know, was controversial with or without the ball. He has 10 children, five of them legitimate and another five that he has not yet recognized.
Legitimate children of Maradona:
Diego Armando Maradona Sinagra (Diego Junior): He is the oldest son of "Diegol." He was born in September 1986, the year Argentina won the soccer world title. His mother is the Italian Cristiana Sinagra, who had a relationship with Diego when he played for Napoli. Diego recognized him nine years later, in 1995.
Dalma Nerea Maradona Villafañe: She was born in Buenos Aires in 1986. The oldest of the daughters that Maradona had with his wife Claudia Villafañe. Dalma married rugby player Ariel Caldarelli, and she is an actress.
Gianinna Dinorah Maradona Villafañe: She was born in 1989 in Buenos Aires and is Dalma's younger sister. Her job is related to the fashion industry. In 2015, she created her own brand: "Catarsis." From 2008 to 2012 she was married to Manchester City soccer player Sergio Agüero, and they both had a son named Benjamin.
Jana Maradona: Daughter of Maradona and Valeria Sabalain, she was born in 1995 and works as model. A court forced Maradona to recognize her in 2008.
Diego Fernando Maradona Ojeda (Dieguito): Son of Verónica Ojeda, he was born in 2013 in Buenos Aires. He was very far from his father until they started seeing each other again in 2019.
Illegitimate child of Diego:
Santiago Lara: born in 2001. Son of Natalia Garat, who met Maradona when she was 19 years old. Before dying at 23, Garat told her boyfriend Marcelo Fabián Lara, that Maradona is the father of her son. This story was only known in 2016.
We all know that Maradona was in Cuba treating his addiction to drugs. According to Matias Morla (Maradona's lawyer), the Argentine soccer player might have had four other Cuban children from three different women: Lu, Joana, Javelito and another one.
Maradona as a player: a legend, the best soccer player, perfect control of the ball, scored golazos, dribbled like no other, dominated the ball, the “brain” of the team, the best 10 that every team dreams of having and much more.
Maradona as a person: a disappointment, a bad example, a follower of the most disgraceful dictatorships in the world and all of those “anti-Yankee” regimes, irresponsible fatherhood, drug addiction, irascible personality, etc.
What Maradona would you pick for your life? The Maradona-player or the Maradona-person? That is the question.
