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.
The World Cup winner leaves behind a glittering legacy on the pitch from his unforgettable spells with Napoli, Barcelona and the Argentina nationwide workforce.
His place in soccer’s pantheon is just not doubtful however Argentina’s favorite son, who has battled alcohol and drug dependancy 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 referred to as Don Diego, was a manufacturing unit 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 kids – Diego was the oldest – and is called being the most important affect and a relaxing presence on her most well-known little one.
Actually, when Dona Tota died in 2011 it was nationwide information in Argentina, with the nation’s largest newspapers and TV stations operating obituaries.
In accordance with soccer folklore she had needed Diego to grow to be an accountant.
Maradona talks reverently about her in his autobiography, describing how she would skip meals and fake to be sick simply to have the ability to feed her youngsters.
FOOTBALLER BROTHERS
Two of Maradona’s brothers additionally turned skilled footballers, though not with anyplace close to the identical degree of success as Argentina’s No10.
Raul, referred to 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, referred to as El Turco, performed in Spain with Rayo Vallecano and in Austria with Speedy Vienna, earlier than turning into a cult hero with quite a few golf equipment in Japan.
Neither performed at worldwide degree.
FIRST MARRIAGE
Maradona met his wife Claudia Villafane when she was 17 and he 19.
They married after an extended engagement in 1989 and had been wed 25 years, however the pair endured a turbulent relationship over three a long time.
Maradona has two kids 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 kids, daughters Dalma and Giannina, had been Claudia’s, Diego has no less than three different youngsters – with unconfirmed rumours of extra.
In 2016, after practically 30 YEARS of denying paternity, Diego lastly recognised Diego Jr Sinagra as his son.
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 received concerned – Diego refused to just 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 little one, Jana, received to know him by secretly assembly with him at a health club 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 photos with Diego after a household reunion.
Maradona Sr stated: “I am very joyful 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 really like him lots and he is very like me.”
Within the wake of that reunion, extra girls got here ahead with paternity claims in opposition to Maradona.
In March 2019, he accepted paternity of three Cuban kids, 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 received a tattoo of Castro’s face on his leg.
A minimum of three different girls have come ahead claiming Maradona to be the daddy of their kids, however he didn’t publicly verify they had been his earlier than his loss of life.
His youngest little one, Diego Fernando, is simply seven, and was born in 2013.
Maradona had been relationship his mom, Veronica Ojeda, earlier than dumping her when she was 4 months pregnant for Rocio Oliva, 30 years his junior.
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 suppose time would have healed the connection then suppose 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 utterly blacked out by Maradona.
GIRLFRIEND
After splitting from Veronica Ojeda, Maradona received along with Rocio Oliva, who on the time was simply 23 and 30 years youthful.
Rocio, a former skilled footballer herself, has since grow to be an enormous superstar in Argentina and received engaged simply 18 months after they met.
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 observe him to Mexico after he received the job as Dorados supervisor.
Within the wake of Maradona’s hospitalisation earlier this month, an upset Rocio insisted that alcohol dependancy 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 easy. You may maintain 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 drugs, however Diego’s downside is alcohol and it’s well-known.
“Diego continues to be consuming and whoever says he isn’t is a liar. He must be handled for his alcohol dependancy.”
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