Diego Armando Maradona is one of the most iconic names in football history. From his rise in Argentina to record-breaking transfers, World Cup glory, off-field scandals, and a legacy that still sparks debate, his life was anything but ordinary. These 10 facts offer a closer look at the moments that defined him as a player, a public figure, and a man.
1. Tattoos of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro
Maradona loved these revolutionary figures so much that he had them tattooed on his body — Che Guevara on his right arm and Fidel Castro on his left leg. His connection to Cuba went beyond admiration; he was personally close to both Fidel and Raúl Castro, and received medical treatment there more than once. In a strange twist of fate, Maradona died on November 25, 2020 — the same date Castro passed away in 2016, and also the anniversary of George Best’s death.
2. Most Fouled Player in World Cup History
During the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Maradona was the main target of every defense Argentina faced — and he paid the price. He was fouled 53 times over the course of the tournament, a record that still stands. In the quarter-final alone, against England at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, he was brought down repeatedly despite scoring two of the most iconic goals in World Cup history. But the worst came before in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, when Italy fouled him 23 times in a single match in Barcelona — still the record for the most fouls suffered by a player in one World Cup game.
3. Maradona Hosted Pelé on His First Talk Show Episode
In 2005, Maradona launched a talk show on Argentine TV called La Noche del 10. For his very first episode, he invited Pelé — a surprising move, considering their well-known rivalry. The two legends kept things friendly, shared stories, and even bounced a ball between them using only their heads — a brief but memorable moment between two of the game’s greatest.
4. Argentina Built a Church in Diego Maradona’s Name
Yes, this actually exists. In 1998, a group of Maradona fans in Rosario, Argentina, founded the Iglesia Maradoniana — the Church of Maradona. It treats his birthday, October 30, as its New Year, and followers track time using “D.D.” (Después de Diego – “After Diego”). So in their calendar, the year 2020 was 60 D.D., marking what would’ve been his 60th birthday. The church reportedly has over 300,000 members worldwide, all united in celebrating Diego as a football divinity.
5. Scored FIFA’s ‘Goal of the Century’
During the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England, just minutes after the infamous Hand of God goal, Maradona scored what many still consider the greatest goal in football history. He picked up the ball in his own half, dribbled past five England players in 11 seconds, and beat goalkeeper Peter Shilton to make it 2–0.
In a 2002 FIFA fan poll, this goal was officially named the “Goal of the Century.” As a tribute, a statue of Maradona capturing that exact moment was installed at the entrance of Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca — the very place where he pulled it off.
6. First Player to Set the World Record Transfer Fee Twice
Diego Maradona’s exceptional talent commanded unprecedented transfer fees during his career. In 1982, FC Barcelona acquired him from Boca Juniors for a then-world record fee of £5 million (approximately €7.3 million). Two years later, in 1984, SSC Napoli surpassed this by signing Maradona from Barcelona for around £6.9 million (about €7.8 million). At the time, these fees were unheard of. Both transfers made headlines across the football world, and in Naples, he paid every cent back.
7. Led Napoli to Their First-Ever Serie A Titles
Before Maradona arrived in 1984, Napoli had never won a Serie A title. Their best finishes were second place in 1968 and 1975, and the only trophies in their cabinet were two Coppa Italia wins. That changed completely with Diego.
He led them to their first Scudetto in 1986–87 — a season they also won the Coppa Italia — and again in 1989–90. Under his leadership, Napoli also lifted their only European trophy: the 1989 UEFA Cup.
After years of ups and downs, including relegations and financial collapse, the club finally won a third Serie A title in 2023 — 33 years after Maradona’s last triumph. Today, his legacy still echoes in Naples, with murals across the city and a stadium that now bears his name.
8. His Career and Health Were Shaped by Drug Addiction
Maradona’s talent was undeniable, but so were his struggles off the pitch. In 1991, he tested positive for cocaine while at Napoli and received a 15-month ban. Three years later, during the 1994 World Cup in the United States, he was sent home after another failed test — this time for ephedrine. A third positive test in 1997, while playing for Boca Juniors, brought his football career to an end.
But the addiction didn’t stop with retirement. Maradona’s post-football years were filled with health scares, including multiple hospitalizations for heart issues, obesity, and complications from substance abuse. He underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2005 and was repeatedly treated in clinics in Cuba and Argentina.
Despite moments of recovery, his health continued to decline. By the time of his death in 2020, his body had endured decades of damage, much of it rooted in his long battle with addiction.
9. Had Five Children with Three Different Women
Maradona officially had five children with three different women — at least, that’s what was publicly confirmed for most of his life. He had two daughters, Dalma and Gianinna, with his ex-wife, Claudia Villafañe. During his time at Napoli, he fathered a son, Diego Jr., with Italian model Cristiana Sinagra, though he didn’t acknowledge him until years later. In 1996, he had a daughter named Jana with Valeria Sabalain, and in 2013, he had a son, Diego Fernando, with Verónica Ojeda.
Later on, Maradona admitted to having several more children, including at least three in Cuba. By the end of his life, he had recognized eight children in total, though some reports claim the real number may be higher.
10. Maradona Shared the FIFA Player of the Century Award with Pelé
In 2000, FIFA decided to name a “Player of the Century” to mark the turn of the millennium. An internet poll was launched, and Maradona ran away with it, winning over 50% of the public vote — more than double Pelé’s count. But FIFA, reportedly uncomfortable with Maradona’s controversial image and wanting to honor both eras of football, added a separate vote by a panel of experts. That panel chose Pelé.
In the end, FIFA gave the award to both players. Maradona accepted it with pride, while Pelé later said, “If he thinks he’s the best player of the century, that’s his problem.”
It was the perfect ending to one of football’s most debated rivalries — two giants, forever linked, forever compared.
