Biography of Diego Maradona

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-12 17:37

In Argentina, there was a joke among ordinary people that "God will take Maradona when he wants to play football with him." Apparently, this day has come. On November 25, 2020, Diego went to the match with the Almighty. Who is this person who is worshiped in Argentina almost as the Creator? His biography, personal life, family, cause of death.

Biography and the beginning of Diego Armando Maradona's football career

It is not surprising that it was in Argentina, where football is, in fact, the second unofficial faith, that the boy Diego was born. It happened on October 30, 1960. The boy became the 5th child in the family of Diego Maradona and his wife Dalma Franco. Before that, only girls were born to them.

The first boy was given the name of his father. Later, 3 more children appeared in the family. Maradona's large family lived in poverty; as a child, the children helped their mother, a housewife, to make clay pots to sell in the market.

In a poor suburb of the Argentine capital Lanus, the main entertainment of the yard children is football. At the age of 3, a ball became a gift from his father for his son, Diego “rooted” to it, even slept with him in his arms. A real leather ball, which became a mascot for the future star, was presented to him by his cousin at the age of 7.

The father gave his son the first lessons in possession of the ball. Although he worked two jobs, he still paid a lot of attention to his son. Considering that Diego was left-handed, he taught him to pass with his left foot, hit the ball against the wall, showed the first dribbles.

We must pay tribute to the boy's hard work - he trained with a frenzy. Later he played for the yard teams. At the age of 8, he was noticed by specialists who recruited children. Then he was taken to the junior team "Los Sebalitos" (translated as "Onion").

Even then, experts noticed a kind of Diego technique. His coach called Diego a “tumbler doll” for his stability on the field, as he was difficult to knock down. The boy first became famous after playing with the River Plate team, at that time they were champions in his age group.

The score of the match is 7: 1 in favor of Lukovichka. Of the 7 goals scored against River Plate, 5 belonged to Diego. Thus began the career of the future idol of millions, a football genius.

Personal life of the "golden boy"

About his personal life, the illegitimate children of the football star are literally legendary, although he was officially married only once. But even before his illness, like mushrooms after rain, illegitimate "heirs" began to appear. This irritated the hot-tempered Maradona, and in his hearts he promised to give the money to charity or a nurse.

Diego introduced his parents to his future wife Claudia Villafagnier when he was 17 and she was 19, but the wedding took place when his second daughter was born (in 1989). The first was born a year before the official marriage.

Even the wedding testifies to Diego's character: the wedding ceremony took place at the Luna Park stadium in the capital. According to rough estimates, the invitees were about 1,500, and at least $ 2,000,000 was spent. The couple lived together for about 10 years - Maradona left the family for another woman. Officially, the divorce took place 25 years later.

Claudia's life with Diego was not easy, he was a big fan of women. Without looking back at his wife, he regularly started novels. Judging by the appearance of his wife and his last love, the failed wife of Rocio Oliva, Diego preferred white-skinned blondes.

The girl is 30 years younger than Maradona. Their controversial romance lasted 7 years, during which they either converged or diverged. To the delight of the public and journalists, young people made statements publicly, with mutual impartial accusations.

Oliva even sued Diego, demanding compensation "for the best years of life spent" (50 million pounds). In turn, Maradona accused her of stealing the necklace, treason. They say that the footballer offered Oliva his hand several times, but each time the wedding was thwarted.

Diego's children

Even he himself did not know how many children the loving Maradona had. Officially recognized by him 5:

1. From a single marriage (with Claudia) two daughters: Dalma, Giannina.
2. From Italian Christiana Sinagra from Naples - the illegitimate son of Diego (the footballer recognized his son after 29 years).
3. In 1996, the girl Yana was born, who through the court, on the basis of a DNA test, was recognized as the daughter of Maradona.
4. In 2013, a boy, Diego Fernando, was born, his mother is a teacher Veronica Ojedo.

But after visiting Cuba, where Diego was undergoing drug addiction treatment, it became known about at least 3 more children. He learned about them when he came to Cuba in connection with the death of Fidel Castro, who was his friend. As a result, Claudia Villafanier could not stand it when the heirs began to "pour in" from all sides, filed a lawsuit against Maradona to protect her dignity.

Sports career, ups, scandals, failures

Perhaps, if not for addictions such as drugs, alcohol, Diego would have achieved unattainable heights in his football career. But it was up to him to decide, his life was his life, and he was what he was.

Timeline of a football career:

1. 1976-1981. He was a member of the Argentine team Argentinos. He was not 16 years old when he first entered the field. He worked for 5 seasons, scored 116 goals. Left the club because he was paid less than the top players. The talented football player was immediately bought by another club.
2. 1981-1982. Played for the Boca Juniors club. Participated in 40 matches, scored 28 goals. Already gained fame, they began to invite him to world famous clubs.
3. 1982-1984. Famous Spanish club Barcelona. Participated in 58 games, scored 38 goals. During this period, he was haunted by failures. He was treated for hepatitis for three months, and for six months he was recovering from an ankle fracture. He left because of a disagreement with the coach.
4. 1984-1991. The heyday of Diego Maradona's football career. Largely thanks to his brilliant performance, the Italian club Napoli has reached such heights that it could only dream of before. They won Italian Cups, including the Super Cup, and became UEFA champions. Neapolitans adore Maradona, including the fact that he did not leave the club. Turned down the super-lucrative offer of Milan, which came from President Silvio Berlusconi. Left Napoli as a result of a positive doping test. Drugs were found in his blood. Disqualified for 15 months.
5. 1992-1993. Spanish "Sevilla". After 15 months, he left the club due to a scandal with a coach.
6. 1995-1997. He played in the Argentine club "Boca Juniors", took to the field in 30 meetings. Although he was no longer young, he still delighted the fans with brilliant goals and postings. There was a doping scandal again, followed by a disqualification.

Then Maradona was injured. Shortly before his birthday (37 years old), he decided to leave active football.

Playing for the Argentina national team

Participated in the World Cup for Argentina (1977-1994). In 1986 he was the captain of the team when the World Cup was held in Mexico. Argentina became the champion. He was one of the youngest footballers of the national team, got into it at the age of 16. He entered the field in 91 matches, scored 34 goals.

1986 was a triumphant year for Maradona. Fans all over the world will remember the quarterfinal match with England. Maradona, due to his relatively small stature in the jump, did not reach the ball and slightly touched it with his hand, scoring a goal, and he was counted, later called the "Hand of God".

I remember this fight and the famous dribbling of Diego, when he bypassed five Englishmen and again scored the ball into the goal. You can write a lot about the phenomenal technique of Maradona, it has already become a classic for training football players.

On the field, he felt like a fish in water, this is his element. He felt, saw the field, instantly orientated himself. Along with the great Pele Maradona, he was recognized as the best player of the 20th century.

Outcomes

The genius of football was a peculiar, extraordinary person. Various contradictory qualities were mixed in it: disinterestedness and love for money, luxury, kindness, a desire to help the disadvantaged and a desire to live in wealth. Many did not like him for his explosive character, and were partly envious. A legendary man, a scandalous man, he remained beloved by millions of football fans.

The official cause of death is heart attack as a result of surgery. Maradona pulled football teams to the first places, scored goals unforgettable in virtuosity. At the same time, he was known as a drug addict, brawler, womanizer. How it all came together in one person is difficult to understand. All the answers are in the rich and interesting biography of Diego Maradona - the "star boy" who became a football genius.