FOOTBALL legend Diego Maradona died on Wednesday afternoon after struggling a coronary heart assault at his house in Argentina.
His death, aged 60, comes two weeks after surgical procedure following a bleed on the mind.
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The World Cup winner leaves behind a glittering legacy on the pitch from his unforgettable spells with Napoli, Barcelona and the Argentina nationwide crew.
His place in soccer’s pantheon will not be doubtful however Argentina’s favorite son, who has battled alcohol and drug habit and weight problems, leaves behind a sophisticated private and familial legacy.
PARENTS
Born to a religious Catholic household, Maradona grew up in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown simply south of capital Buenos Aries.
His father, affectionately often known as Don Diego, was a manufacturing facility employee who as soon as refused to let his son attend trials for Argentinos Juniors as a result of there was not sufficient cash within the sport.
His mom, Dona Tota, was a homemaker who raised eight youngsters – Diego was the oldest – and is named being the largest affect and a relaxing presence on her most well-known baby.
In truth, when Dona Tota died in 2011 it was nationwide information in Argentina, with the nation’s largest newspapers and TV stations working obituaries.
In accordance with soccer folklore she had wished Diego to change into an accountant.
Maradona talks reverently about her in his autobiography, describing how she would skip meals and fake to be unwell simply to have the ability to feed her youngsters.
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FOOTBALLER BROTHERS
Two of Maradona’s brothers additionally turned skilled footballers, though not with wherever close to the identical stage of success as Argentina’s No10.
Raul, often known as Lalo, had a short stint with Boca Juniors and Spanish membership Granada earlier than spending a lot of his profession within the US.
Hugo, often known as El Turco, performed in Spain with Rayo Vallecano and in Austria with Speedy Vienna, earlier than changing into a cult hero with quite a few golf equipment in Japan.
Neither performed at worldwide stage.
FIRST MARRIAGE
Maradona met his wife Claudia Villafane when she was 17 and he 19.
They married after an extended engagement in 1989 and have been wed 25 years, however the pair endured a turbulent relationship over three a long time.
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Maradona has two youngsters with Claudia, who has been a movie producer, actuality TV star and actress in her profession.
Nevertheless, their marriage was fraught with rumours of Diego’s infidelity.
The couple divorced in 2004, however continued to be seen collectively within the years that adopted, together with on the 2006 World Cup.
The pair then drifted aside however made extra headlines collectively in 2018, when Maradona sued Claudia for allegedly stealing his cash and utilizing it to purchase flats in Florida.
CHILDREN & LOVE CHILDREN
Whereas two of his youngsters, daughters Dalma and Giannina, have been Claudia’s, Diego has a minimum of three different youngsters – with unconfirmed rumours of extra.
In 2016, after almost 30 YEARS of denying paternity, Diego lastly recognised Diego Jr Sinagra as his son.
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He had been born in September 1986 after Diego’s affair with mannequin Cristina Sinagra whereas he performed for Napoli.
Regardless of years of campaigning from his mum – and even rumours that the Pope had bought concerned – Diego refused to simply accept he was the daddy, regardless of an Italian courtroom proclaiming him as the daddy as early as 1995.
He lastly had a change of coronary heart after one other love baby, Jana, bought to know him by secretly assembly with him at a fitness center he attended in Buenos Aires.
Maradona had fathered Jana, now a lingerie model, after a short fling with nightclub employee Valeria Sabalain whereas nonetheless married to Claudia Villafane.
Diego Jr, who had a profession as a decrease league footballer in Italy, publicly posed for footage with Diego after a household reunion.
Maradona Sr stated: “I am very completely satisfied as a result of I have been reunited with my son.
“I have been reunited with him as I used to be reunited with Jana.
“I like him loads and he is very like me.”
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Within the wake of that reunion, extra ladies got here ahead with paternity claims in opposition to Maradona.
In March 2019, he accepted paternity of three Cuban youngsters, reportedly from two moms, though their identities stay a secret.
Maradona had spent many months in Havana between 2000 and 2005 whereas present process remedy for a cocaine behavior, even befriending then-President Fidel Castro throughout his time within the nation.
Maradona later bought a tattoo of Castro’s face on his leg.
At the very least three different ladies have come ahead claiming Maradona to be the daddy of their youngsters, however he didn’t publicly affirm they have been his earlier than his demise.
His youngest baby, Diego Fernando, is simply seven, and was born in 2013.
Maradona had been courting his mom, Veronica Ojeda, earlier than dumping her when she was 4 months pregnant for Rocio Oliva, 30 years his junior.
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FALL OUT WITH AGUERO
Manchester Metropolis legend Sergio Aguero was married to Maradona’s daughter Giannina for 4 years from 2009 to 2013.
Nevertheless, the connection ended on bitter phrases with Maradona branding the striker – who’s the daddy of his grandson Benjamin – “a wimp”quickly after.
In the event you assume time would have healed the connection then assume once more.
His lawyer shared a picture of Maradona from his house in 2018 and eagle-eyed folks on social media noticed an image of Aguero hanging on the wall.
However Aguero’s face had been fully blacked out by Maradona.
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GIRLFRIEND
After splitting from Veronica Ojeda, Maradona bought along with Rocio Oliva, who on the time was simply 23 and 30 years youthful.
Rocio, a former skilled footballer herself, has since change into an enormous celeb in Argentina and bought engaged simply 18 months after they met.
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Nevertheless, they by no means married and cut up up in 2018 after a sequence of blazing rows.
The principle sticking level is believed to be her reluctance to comply with him to Mexico after he bought the job as Dorados supervisor.
Within the wake of Maradona’s hospitalisation earlier this month, an upset Rocio insisted that alcohol habit was the reason for his issues.
She stated: “On September 9 he was admitted for a similar purpose however this time spherical he was in a worse situation than earlier than.
“What’s occurring right here is straightforward. You possibly can preserve him in hospital three or 4 days and get him higher by hydrating him and giving him nutritional vitamins however that’s not the answer.
“Diego takes sleeping capsules, however Diego’s drawback is alcohol and it’s well-known.
“Diego remains to be consuming and whoever says he isn’t is a liar. He must be handled for his alcohol habit.”
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