Profile Diego Maradona

Personal information

Full name : Diego Armando Maradona
Date of birth : 30 October 1960
Place of birth : Lanús, Buenos Aires province, Argentina
Height : 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position : Attacking Midfielder/Second Striker
Youth career
0000–1969 Estrella Roja
1970–1974 Los Cebollitas
1975 Argentinos Juniors
Senior career
1976–1981 Argentinos Juniors
1981–1982 Boca Juniors
1982–1984 Barcelona
1984–1991 Napoli
1992–1993 Sevilla
1993–1994 Newell's Old Boys
1995–1997 Boca Juniors
National team
1977–1994 Argentina
Teams managed
1994 Mandiyú de Corrientes
1995 Racing Club
2008–2010 Argentina

Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors

On 20 October 1976, Maradona made his certified debut with Argentinos Juniors, 10 days before his sixteenth day of birth He acted there between 1976 and 1981, before his £1m convey to Boca Juniors. Joining the squad midway through the 1981 time of the year, Maradona acted through 1982, and sheltered his first governing body winners' medal. Whilst playing for Argentinos Juniors, English group Sheffield United put in a offer of £180,000 for his services but the offer was rejected.

Maradona with Boca Juniors, 1981
FC Barcelona

After the 1982 World Cup, in June, Maradona was conveyed to Barcelona in Spain for a then world record £5m. In 1983, under trainer César Luis Menotti, Barcelona and Maradona won the Copa del Rey (Spain's per annum countrywide cup competition), thrashing Real Madrid, and the Spanish Super Cup, thrashing Athletic de Bilbao. However, Maradona had a arduous tenure in Barcelona . First a bout with hepatitis, then a broken leg produced by an ill-timed attempt by Athletic's Andoni Goikoetxea jeopardized his line of work, but Maradona's bodily might and willpower made it probable for him to before long be back on the pitch. At Barcelona, Maradona got into regular quarrels with the team's chief managers, principally group head Josep Lluís Núñez, culminating with a demand to be conveyed out of Camp Nou in 1984. He was conveyed to Napoli in Italy's Serie A for another record payment, £6.9m.

Diego Maradona with Napoli in 1985

Napoli

At Napoli, Maradona arrived at the apex of his certified career. He promptly became an adored superstar amid the club's buff, and in his time there he raised the assembly to the most winning era in its history. Led by Maradona, Napoli won their only Serie A Italian Championships in 1986/87 and 1989/1990, positioning second in the governing body double, in 1987/88 and 1988/89. Other awards as long as the Maradona era at Napoli embraced the Coppa Italia in 1987, (second position in the Coppa Italia in 1989), the UEFA Cup in 1989 and the Italian Supercup in 1990. Maradona was the apex scorer in Serie A in 1987/88.

During his time in Italy, Maradona's private troubles increased. His cocaine use carried on, and he accepted US $70,000 in charges from his group for missing recreational activities and practices, ostensibly because of 'stress'. He faced a scandal there viewing an illegitimate son; and he was in addition the object of some mistrust over an suspected fellowship with the Camorra.

Sevilla, Newell's Old Boys and Boca Juniors

After performing a 15-month outlaw for bungling a prescription doctors investigate for cocaine, Maradona left Napoli in disgrace in 1992. By the time he united his next assembly, Sevilla (1992–93), he had not acted certified football for two years. In 1993 he acted for Newell's Old Boys and in 1995 he returned to Boca Juniors for 2 years.

Maradona in addition seemed for Tottenham Hotspur in a congenial correspond in resistance to Internazionale, before long before the 1986 world cup. The correspond was Osvaldo Ardiles' testimonial, who implored his acquaintance Maradona acted, which Tottenham won 2–1. He acted near Glenn Hoddle, who granted up his number 10 garment for the Argentine. Maradona would depart on to dribble past Hoddle as long as his "goal of the century" in resistance to England in the world cup that year.
International career
Maradona and the Youth World Cup trophy in 1979

Along with his time at Napoli, global football is where Maradona encountered his fame. Playing for the Albicelestes of the Argentina countrywide football assembly, he joined in four following FIFA World Cup tournaments, primary Argentina to win in 1986 and to second position in 1990.

He made his full global debut at age 16, in resistance to Hungary on 27 February 1977. At age 18, he acted the World Youth Championship for Argentina, and was the superstar of the tournament, gleaming in their 3–1 terminal win over the Soviet Union. On 2 June 1979, Maradona counted his first major global objective in a 3–1 win in resistance to Scotland at Hampden Park.

1982 World Cup

Maradona acted his first World Cup tournament in 1982. In the first around, Argentina, the vindicating champions, lost to Belgium. Although the assembly convincingly vanquish Hungary and El Salvador to improvement to the second around, they were overcame in the second around by Brazil and by eventual champions Italy. Maradona acted in all five equates without being switched, counting double in resistance to Hungary, but was conveyed off with 5 minutes outstanding in the game in resistance to Brazil for sombre rank play.
1986 World Cup

Maradona captained the Argentine countrywide assembly to win in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, victorious the terminal in Mexico in resistance to West Germany. Throughout the 1986 World Cup Maradona contended his dominance and was the most dynamic competitor of the tournament. He acted every minute of every Argentina game, counted 5 goals and made 5 assists. After counting two goals in the 2–1 quarter-final win in resistance to England his legend was cemented.

This correspond was acted with the setting of the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom and sensitivities were still lingering in the air right through the every part of match. Replays presented that the first objective was counted by punching the ball with his hand. Maradona was coyly evasive, delineating it as "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." It became famous as the "Hand of God". Ultimately, on 22 August 2005 Maradona recognised on his TV present that he had bang the ball with his hand purposely, and that he straight away knew the objective was illegitimate. The objective stood, much to the ire of the English players.

Maradona's second objective was afterwards balloted by FIFA as the best objective in the past files of the World Cup. He accepted the ball in his own half, swivelled throughout, and with 11 contacts ran more than half the distance of the paddock, dribbling past five English outfield players (Peter Beardsley, Steve Hodge, Peter Reid, Terry Butcher, and Terry Fenwick) and goalkeeper Peter Shilton. This objective was balloted "Goal of the Century" in a 2002 online survey carried out by FIFA. Right after the objective happened, it left the TV commentator "sobbing in joy", and apologizing for his outburst.

Maradona chased this with two more goals in the semi-final in resistance to Belgium, embracing another virtuoso dribbling show clearly for the second goal. In the terminal, the fighting against West German boundary endeavoured to encompass him by double-marking, but he all the matching encountered the space to give the terminal go beyond to Jorge Burruchaga for the victorious goal. Argentina vanquish West Germany 3–2 in front of 115,000 spectators at the Azteca Stadium and Maradona raised the World Cup trophy, assuring that he would be recollected as one of the best labels in football history. In a tribute to him, the Azteca Stadium agencies assembled a sculpture of him counting the "goal of the century" and left it at the way in of the stadium.

1990 World Cup

Maradona captained Argentina over in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. An lower limb damage changed his complete recital, and he was much less overriding than four years earlier. Argentina was virtually abolished in the first around, only qualifying in third location from their group. In the around of 16 correspond in resistance to Brazil, Claudio Caniggia counted the only objective after being set up by Maradona.

In the quarter terminal, Argentina faced Yugoslavia, the correspond final outlook 0–0 after 120 minutes, and Argentina proceeding on retribution hits, in spite of Maradona missing one of the retributions in the shootout with a frail shot at the centre of the goal. The semifinal in resistance to the manager country Italy was in addition answered on retributions after a 1–1 draw; this time, Maradona was winning with his effort, daringly positioning the ball at accurately the matching site as his missed retribution in the earlier round. In the terminal, Argentina lost 1–0 to West Germany, the only objective being a retribution by Andreas Brehme in the 85th minute after a notorious rank on Rudi Völler.
1994 World Cup

At the 1994 FIFA World Cup Maradona acted in only two recreational activities, counting one objective in resistance to Greece, before being conveyed household after bungling a prescription doctors investigate for ephedrine doping. In his autobiography, Maradona disputed that the investigate effect was due to his private trainer giving him the power drink Rip Fuel. His allegation was that the U.S. variety, dissimilar the Argentine one, encompassed the chemical and that, having run out of his Argentine dosage, his trainer unwittingly paid for the U.S. formula. FIFA expelled him from USA '94 and Argentina were subsequently abolished in the second round. Maradona has in addition singly alleged that he had an accord with FIFA, on which the governing body reneged, to sanction him to use the prescription doctors for burden forfeit before the struggle in rank to be competent to play. According to Maradona, this was in order that the World Cup would not mislay prestige because of his absence. This claim has not ever been proven.

Playing style

Maradona playing for Argentinos Juniors in 1980
See also: Creole football

Maradona had a compact physique and could withstand bodily insist well. His tough legs and small center of gravity granted him an superiority in short sprints. His bodily might were demonstrated by his two goals in resistance to Belgium in the 1986 World Cup. Maradona was a strategist and a assembly competitor, as well as highly practical with the ball. He could supervise himself effectually in constricted spaces, and would captivate guards only to promptly dash out of the melee (as in the second 1986 objective in resistance to England), or give an give support to a free teammate. Being short, but tough, he could retain the ball long adequate with a guard on his back to hold back for a colleague establishing a run or to find a gap for a speedy shot.

One of Maradona's trademark progresses was dribbling full-speed on the right wing, and on arriving at the opponent's objective line, bringing ahead very correct passes to his teammates. Another trademark was the Rabona, a reverse-cross go beyond shot behind the leg that keeps all the weight. This maneuver commanded to numerous assists, for instance the strong pass over for Ramón Díaz's header in the 1980 congenial in resistance to Switzerland. He was in addition a hazardous free hit taker.

Maradona was predominantly left-footed, often employing his left leg even when the ball was positioned more suitably for a right-footed connection. His first objective in resistance to Belgium in the 1986 World Cup semi-final is a worthy pointer of such; he had run into the indoors right narrow pathway to accept a go beyond but let the ball tour through to his left leg, demanding more practical ability. During his run past numerous England players in the earlier around for the "Goal of the Century", he didn't use his right leg one time, in spite of paying out the total motion on the right-hand boundary of the pitch. In the 1990 World Cup second around fasten in resistance to Brazil, he did use his right leg to set up the victorious objective for Caniggia due to two Brazilian markers impelling him into a location that made use of his left leg less practical.
Retirement and honours

Hounded for years by the press, Maradona one time blasted a compressed-air firearm at reporters who he alleged were invading his privacy. This quotation from first colleague Jorge Valdano summarizes the emotions of many:
“ He is a person more population like to emulate, a notorious diagram, loved, loathed, who blendes many upheaval, principally in Argentina... Stressing his private life is a mistake. Maradona has no looks indoors the lob, but he has turned his life into a present, and is now residing a private ordeal that should not be imitated.

In 2000, Maradona issued his autobiography Yo Soy El Diego ("I am The Diego"), which became an instant bestseller[21] in his household country. Two years afterwards, Maradona bestowed the Cuban royalties of his journal to "the Cuban population and Fidel.

FIFA carried out a buff survey on the Internet in 2000, to select in a survey the FIFA Player of the Century. Maradona closed apex of the survey with 53.6% of the vote. Subsequently, even so, and divergent to the primary statement of how the reward would be resolved, FIFA selected a "Football Family" group in charge of football skilled population that balloted to reward Pelé the title. Maradona dissented at the change in process, and resolved he would not appear at the commemoration if Pelé returned him. Eventually, two rewards were made, one to each of the pair. Maradona agreed to his trophy, but left the commemoration without waiting to observe Pelé accept his accolade. It should be referred that Pelé and several FIFA representatives deplored the survey for some methodological shortcomings, most particularly, for the 'recency effect'. In a split study carried out by the IFFHS, Maradona left 5th best competitor of the one 100, behind person countryman Alfredo Di Stefano.
Maradona at the Soccer Aid congenial correspond in 2006, after suffer forfeit weight

In 2001, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) requested FIFA for authorization to withdraw the jersey number 10 for Maradona. FIFA did not give the appeal, even though Argentine representatives have upheld that FIFA hinted that it would.

Maradona has won other buff surveys, embracing a 2002 FIFA survey in which his second objective in resistance to England was picked as the best objective ever counted in a World Cup; he in addition won the most votes in a survey to ascertain the All-Time Ultimate World Cup Team.

Argentinos Juniors labelled its stadium after Maradona on 26 December 2003.

On 22 June 2005, it was advertised that Maradona would revisit to Boca Juniors as a sports vice head in accuse of supervising the First Division roster (after a betraying 2004–05 time of the year, which coincided with Boca's centenary).His bond commenced 1 August 2005, and one of his first recommendations confirmed to be very effective: he was the one who resolved to lease Alfio Basile as the new coach. With Maradona fostering a close bond with the players, Boca went on to win the 2005 Apertura label, the 2006 Clausura label, the 2005 Copa Sudamericana and the 2005 Recopa Sudamericana.

On 15 August 2005, Maradona made his debut as manager of a talk-variety present on Argentine TV, La Noche del 10 ("The Night of the no. 10"). His principle tenant on unclasping after dark was Pelé; the two had a congenial short two-way chat, presenting no signals of past differences. However, the present in addition embraced a cartoon villain with a clear bodily resemblance to Pelé. In resultant evenings, he commanded the gradings on all functions but one. Most tenants were drawn from the worlds of football and present enterprise, embracing Zidane, Ronaldo and Hernán Crespo, but in addition embraced discussions with other significant personalities for instance Fidel Castro and Mike Tyson.

On 26 August 2006, it was advertised that Maradona was quitting his location in the group Boca Juniors because of disagreements with the AFA, who picked Basile to be the new trainer of the Argentina countrywide football team.

The award-winning Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica made a documentary about Maradona's life, authorised Maradona.

In May 2006, Maradona accepted to join UK's Soccer Aid (a program to hoist wealth for Unicef). In September 2006, Maradona, in his renowned sky-blue and white number 10, was the officer in accuse for Argentina in a three-day World Cup of Indoor Football tournament in Spain.

Also in 2006, Diego Maradona was selected as a Goodwill Ambassador of IIMSAM the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition

On 22 March 2010, Maradona was picked number 1 in The Greatest 10 World Cup players of all time by The Times,[30] a London supported newspaper.

Managerial career

Club management

He endeavoured to work as a trainer near first Argentinos Juniors midfield assembly buddy Carlos Fren. The couple commanded Mandiyú of Corrientes (1994) and Racing Club (1995), but with little success.
International management

After the resignation of Argentina countrywide football assembly trainer Alfio Basile in 2008, Diego Maradona straight away recommended his candidacy for the vacant role. According to numerous press basis, his greatest contenders embraced Diego Simeone, Carlos Bianchi, Miguel Ángel Russo and Sergio Batista.

On October 29, 2008, AFA person in accuse Julio Grondona substantiated that Maradona would be the head trainer of the countrywide boundary from December 2008. On 19 November 2008, Diego Maradona supervised Argentina for the first time when Argentina acted in resistance to Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow which Argentina won 1–0.

After victorious his first three equates in accuse of the countrywide assembly, he oversaw a 6–1 overcome to Bolivia, equalling the team's least ever margin of defeat. With two equates outstanding in the condition tournament for the 2010 World Cup, Argentina was in fifth position and faced the prospect of bungling to be eligible, but win in the last two equates sheltered condition for the finals.

After Argentina's condition, Maradona employed abusive terminology at the inhabit post-game press group debate, telling components of the broadcasting to "suck it and retain on taking in it". FIFA replied with a two month outlaw on all footballing pursuit, which expired on January 15, 2010, and a CHF 25,000 fine, with a caution as to his future conduct. Argentina had one congenial correspond planned as long as the interval of the outlaw, at household to the Czech Republic on December 15, but this was subsequently cancelled.

At the World Cup finals in June 2010, Argentina commenced by victorious 1–0 in resistance to Nigeria, and then overcame South Korea by 4–1, with a hat-trick from Gonzalo Higuain.[36][37] In the terminal correspond of the gathering stage Argentina won 2–0 in resistance to Greece to win their the gathering and move frontwards to a second around assembly with Mexico. After overcoming Mexico 3–1, Argentina was in turn routed by Germany, 4–0 in the quarter finals to depart out of the competition.[39] Argentina was positioned 5th in the tournament. After the overcome to Germany Maradona accommodated that he was deeming his future as Argentina trainer, "I may move out tomorrow," he said. On 15 July 2010, the Argentine Football Association said that he would be proposed a new 4 year deal that would retain him in accuse through to the summer of 2014 when Brazil steps the World Cup, even so on 27 July the AFA advertised that its board had unanimously resolved not to transform his contract. Afterwards on 29 July 2010, Maradona alleged that AFA head Julio Grondona and chief director of countrywide assemblies Carlos Bilardo had "lied to" and "betrayed" and effectually discharged him from the role. Saying "they desired me to carry on, but seven of my personnel should not depart on, if he advised me that, it denoted he did not like me to retain working".

Personal life
Family

His parents are Diego Maradona Snr and Dalma Salvadore Franco. His male parent is of Mestizo extraction. His maternal great-grandfather Mateo Kariolić was born in Korčula, Dalmatia, today's Croatia (possibly then in the Austrian Empire), and emigrated to Argentina, where Maradona's grandmother Salvadora was born.[citation needed] Salvadora labelled her girl child Dalma after the Croatian territory, after who Maradona labelled his eldest daughter.

Maradona wedded long-time fiancée Claudia Villafañe on November 7, 1989 in Buenos Aires, after the birth of their daughters, Dalma Nerea (born on April 2, 1987) and Giannina Dinorah (born on May 16, 1989), by who he became a grandfather in 2009. In his autobiography, Maradona admits he was not perpetually very consistent to Claudia, even though he cites to her as the love of his life.

Maradona and Villafañe split up in 2004. Daughter Dalma has since contended that the split up was the best result for all, as her parents waited on congenial terms. They traveled concurrently to Napoli for a succession of homages in June 2005 and were observed concurrently on more other functions, embracing the Argentina equates as long as 2006 FIFA World Cup.

During the split up proceedings, Maradona accommodated he was the male parent of Diego Sinagra (born in Naples on September 20, 1986). The Italian courtyards had now so led in 1993, after Maradona turned down to undergo DNA investigates for confirming or negating his paternity. Diego Jr. joined Maradona for the first time in May 2003 after tricking his way on a golf course in Italy where Maradona was playing.

After the split up, Claudia embarked on a line of work as a theatre maker, and Dalma is looking for an simulating career; she has articulated her wish for to appear at the Actor's Studio in Los Angeles.

His less old girl child, Giannina, is now engrossed to Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Agüero, with who she has a teenager, Benjamin, born in Madrid on 19 February 2009. His teenager Diego Sinagra is a footballer in Italy .
Drug mishandling and fitness issues
Maradona after advancing weight

From the mid-1980s until 2004 Diego Maradona was fanatical to cocaine. He purportedly commenced employing the prescription doctors in Barcelona in 1983.[52] By the time he was playing for Napoli he had a standard addiction, which commenced to obstruct with his skills to play football.

Over the years subsequent his retirement his fitness earnestly deteriorated. On January 4, 2000, while vacationing in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Maradona had to be dashed to the calamity room of a restricted clinic. In a press group debate, healers said that it was identified heart brawn severe impairment due to "an implicit fitness issue". It was afterwards famous that locates of cocaine were encountered in his life-force and Maradona had to clarify the contributing elements to the police. After this he left Argentina and went to Cuba in rank to chase a prescription doctors rehab plan.

On 18 April 2004, healers stated that Maradona had tolerated a greatest myocardial infarction subsequent a cocaine overdose; he was accommodated to intensive care in a Buenos Aires hospital. Scores of buff collected throughout the clinic. He was taken off the respirator on 23 April and waited in intensive nurture numerous days before being set free on 29 April. He attempted to revisit to Cuba, where he had paid out most of his time in the years primary up to the heart assault, but his family resisted, having filed a judicial request to physical exercise his lawful guardianship.

Maradona had a leaning to to put on burden, and tolerated more and more from heaviness from the end of his playing line of work until undergoing gastric bypass surgery in a clinic in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia on 6 March 2005. His surgeon said that Maradona would fallow a liquefied diet for three months in rank to revisit back his regular weight.[55] When Maradona recommenced public appearances before long afterward, he shown clearly a particularly leaner figure.

On 29 March 2007, Maradona was readmitted to a infirmary in Buenos Aires. He was treated for hepatitis and upshots of drink mishandling, and was liberated on 11 April, but re-admitted two days later. In the subsequent days there were unfailing rumors about his fitness, embracing three deceitful allegations of his death in a month. After convey to a psychiatric clinic concentrating in alcohol-related troubles, he was set free on May 7.

On 8 May 2007, Maradona seemed on Argentine TV and said that he had leave imbibing and had not employed prescription medicines in two and a half years.

Political views

Only in fresh years, Maradona has shown compassion to left-wing ideologies. Before that he had been vocal in his support of neoliberal Argentina President Carlos Menem, and principally of his Harvard University-educated economist Domingo Cavallo. He became acquaintances with Cuban chief Fidel Castro while accepting therapy on the island. He in addition has a portrait of Fidel Castro tattooed on his left leg and one of Fidel's second in lead, person Argentine Che Guevara on his right arm. In his autobiography 'El Diego' he dedicated the journal to numerous population and gatherings of population embracing Fidel Castro, he drafted "To Fidel Castro and, through him, all the Cuban people".

Maradona is in addition a fan of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. In 2005 he stayed at Venezuela with the precise intention of assembly Chávez, who accepted him in Miraflores. After this assembly Maradona alleged that he had draw close with the intention of assembly a "great man" ("un grande" in Spanish) but he had joined alternatively a gigantic man ("un gigante" in Spanish, implication he was more than great).

"I trust in Chávez, I am Chavista. Everything Fidel does, everything Chávez does, for me is the best.

He has resolved his resistance to what he acknowledges as imperialism, particularly as long as the 2005 Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, Argentina. There he dissented George W. Bush's existence in Argentina, wearing a T-shirt tagged "STOP BUSH" and citing to Bush as "human garbage".

In August 2007, Maradona went farther, establishing an facade on Chávez's once a week TV present and saying: "I loathe everything that draws close from the United States. I loathe it with all my strength."

In December 2007, Maradona submitted a noted garment with a communication of support to the population of Iran: it is to be shown clearly in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' museum.

Financial problems

In March 2009 Italian representatives advertised that Maradona still was indebted the Italian government 37 million euros in taxes; 23.5 million euros of which was accumulated onvolvement on his primary debt. They stated that hence far, Maradona has paid only 42,000 euros, two luxury watches and a set of earrings.

In admired culture
Religious show clearly of Maradona in Naples

The American broadsheet The Houston Chronicle drafted about Maradona:

To appreciate the gargantuan sheltered Maradona casts over his soccer-mad homeland, one has to conjure up the athleticism of Michael Jordan, the power of Babe Ruth — and the human fallibility of Mike Tyson. Lump them concurrently in a solitary barrel-chested man with shaggy pitch black hair and you have El Diego, idol to the millions who call him D10S, a mashup of his playing number and the Spanish remark for God.

In Argentina, Maradona is considerer a icon, a “Sport hero”. He is idolized, accepting the label of “God”. About this idolatry that survives in Argentina over Maradona, his first colleague Jorge Valdano said: "At the time that Maradona withdrew from energetic football, left traumatized Argentina. Maradona was more than just a many footballer. It was a extraordinary recompense element for a nation that in a small number years inhabited numerous soldiers dictatorships and public hindrance of all kinds". Valdano adjoined that "Maradona proposed to the Argentines way out of their collective hindrance, and that's why population love him. There is a divine figure."

Ever since 1986, it is universal for Argentines overseas to learn Maradona's label as a token of appreciation, even in distant places. The Tartan Army chorus a variety of the Hokey Cokey in award of the Hand of God objective in resistance to England. In Argentina, Maradona is often chatted about in time spans retained for legends. In the Argentine picture El Hijo de la Novia ("Son of the Bride"), celebrity who impersonates a Catholic minister declares to a bar patron: "they idolized him and then crucified him". When a acquaintance scolds him for taking the prank too far, the false minister retorts: "But I was chatting about Maradona". He's the subject of the picture El Camino de San Diego, though he himself only becomes noticeable in archive footage.

Maradona was embraced in more cameos in the Argentine comic journal El Cazador de Aventuras. After the finishing of it, the authors commenced a new short-lived comic journal titled "El Die", employing Maradona as the principle character.

In Rosario, Argentina, local inhabitants directed the "Church of Maradona". The "Religion of Maradona" ("Religión Maradoniana" is Spanish) has the matching format as the Catholic religion. He is deliberated the supreme god. Christmas is congratulated on the day of birth of Diego, October 30. Maradona's 43rd day of birth in 2003 graded the start of the Year 43 D.D. – "Después de Diego" or After Diego – for its start 200 members. Tens of thousands more have become components by the church's agent world large web site.

Many Argentine artisans played recitals in tribute to Diego, like: Maradó by "El Potro" Rodrigo, Maradona by Andrés Calamaro, Para siempre Diego (Diego forever) by Ratones Paranoicos, Para verte gambetear (For observing you dribble) by La Guardia Hereje, Francotirador (Sniper) by Attaque 77, Dale Diez (C'mon Diez) by Julio Lacarra, Maradona blues by Charly García, Santa Maradona (Saint Maradona) by Mano Negra, Si yo fuera Maradona (If I Were Maradona) by Manu Chao, amid others. And more pictures, like: Maradona, la mano de Dios (Maradona, the Hand of God) , El Camino de San Diego (Saint Diego's Road) , Amando a Maradona (Loving Maradona), amid others.

A TV commercial for Brazilian pliable drink Guaraná Antarctica represented Maradona as a component of the Brazilian countrywide football assembly, embracing wearing the yellow jersey and chorus the Brazilian countrywide anthem with Brazilian caps Kaká and Ronaldo. Later on in the economic he wakes up understanding it was a nightmare after having under the effect too much of the Brazilian pliable drink. This engendered some debate in the Argentine broadcasting after its distribute (although the economic was not assumed to air on the Argentine market, buff could observe it by internet). Maradona responded that he has no obstacle in wearing the Brazilian countrywide squad jersey, but that he would turn down to wear the garment of River Plate, Boca Juniors' conventional rival