Diego Maradona Timeline

Diego Maradona 61

1960 Diego Maradona born in Lanús, Buenos Aires Diego Armando Maradona is born in the Lanús district of Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina, the fifth of eight children of Diego Maradona Sr. and Dalma Salvadora Franco ("Doña Tota"). The family soon moves to the Villa Fiorito shantytown — one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires — where Diego grows up without running water or reliable electricity.
1963 Receives first football as a gift At age three, a cousin gives Maradona his first football. He immediately sleeps with it, eats with it, and refuses to be parted from it — a moment his family later describes as the instant they understood something extraordinary was present.
1967 Joins youth team Estrella Roja Aged six, Maradona begins playing organised football with the neighbourhood club Estrella Roja. His skill already surpasses that of boys several years older, and the local streets of Villa Fiorito become the stage for the first performances of what will become the greatest individual career in football history.
1969 Joins Argentinos Juniors youth academy At nine years old, Maradona is spotted and recruited by the Argentinos Juniors youth academy — Los Cebollitas (The Little Onions). His father accompanies him to practice and watches as his son juggles the ball without dropping it while scouts count to more than 1,000.
1970 – 1974 Los Cebollitas — 136-game unbeaten streak Maradona leads Los Cebollitas on an extraordinary 136-game unbeaten run, captivating Argentina. He performs ball-juggling tricks at halftime of the Argentinos Juniors first team matches, and the crowds stay to watch the child more than the senior players.
1972 First television appearance aged 11 Maradona makes his first television appearance at age eleven as a ball-juggling novelty act on a popular Argentine sports show. His control and confidence in front of the camera announce a performer as comfortable under lights as on the pitch.
1975 Moves to Buenos Aires city with family The Maradona family moves from Villa Fiorito to a slightly better apartment in Buenos Aires proper, the first in a series of moves enabled by the money his talent is beginning to attract.
1976 Professional debut for Argentinos Juniors Ten days before his sixteenth birthday, Maradona makes his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors in the Primera División against Talleres — at the time the youngest player ever to debut in the Argentine top flight.
1976 Scores first professional goal Two weeks after his debut, Maradona scores his first professional goal against San Lorenzo, beginning a senior scoring record that eventually reaches 259 goals in 490 official club matches.
1977 Full international debut for Argentina At sixteen, Maradona makes his full senior international debut for Argentina against Hungary — one of the youngest players to represent the senior national team.
1978 Omitted from Argentina World Cup squad In one of the most controversial selections in football history, coach César Luis Menotti omits the seventeen-year-old Maradona from his World Cup squad despite him being Argentina's finest young talent. Argentina win on home soil. Maradona is devastated — and motivated.
1979 Wins World Youth Championship as captain Maradona captains Argentina at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Japan, wins the Golden Ball as the best player in the tournament, and leads Argentina to the title — confirming the world's best young player was left out of the senior World Cup the previous year.
1980 Named South American Youth Player of the Year Maradona is named South American Youth Player of the Year, adding to a growing collection of individual honours that reflect his total dominance of his age group across the continent.
1981 Wins Argentine Primera División with Boca In his single complete season at Boca Juniors, Maradona is the decisive factor in winning the national championship — fulfilling one of his most personal footballing ambitions.
1981 Signs with Boca Juniors Maradona signs with Boca Juniors — his dream club and the club of the Argentine working class — for a then-national transfer record. He wins the Argentine Primera División title with Boca in his debut season.
1982 World Cup debut in Spain — ends in red card Maradona plays his first senior World Cup in Spain, demonstrating extraordinary ability but finishing in disgrace when he is sent off for a crude foul on Brazil's Batista in a match Argentina lose. The disappointment sharpens his hunger.
1982 Joins FC Barcelona for world record fee Maradona joins FC Barcelona for approximately $7.6 million — a world record transfer fee — making him the most expensive player in the world for the first time, at just 21 years old.
1983 Copa del Rey final brawl After Barcelona defeat Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final at the Bernabéu, a mass brawl erupts involving players from both teams. Maradona, provoked by months of violent attention, is a central figure in the melee — one of Spanish football's most notorious incidents.
1983 Hepatitis sidelines him for months in Barcelona A severe hepatitis infection keeps Maradona out of action for months during his first full season at Barcelona, frustrating his attempts to dominate La Liga.
1983 Wins Copa del Rey with Barcelona Despite injuries and illness, Maradona wins the Copa del Rey with Barcelona — his most significant trophy at the club.
1983 Goikoetxea tackle fractures his ankle In a match against Athletic Bilbao, Andoni Goikoetxea executes one of the most brutal tackles in football history, fracturing Maradona's ankle. The tackle requires surgery, ends his season, and reportedly prompts Goikoetxea to frame and display the boot he used.
1984 Signs with Napoli for second world transfer record Maradona is sold to SSC Napoli for approximately $10.5 million — again a world record. Arriving in Naples, an estimated 75,000 fans greet him at the Stadio San Paolo. A city that felt scorned by northern Italy now has the greatest player in the world.
1985 Napoli finish third in Serie A In his first full season, Maradona leads Napoli to third in Serie A — already their best result in recent memory — scoring 14 goals and raising an entire city's expectations to fever pitch.
1986 The Goal of the Century Four minutes after the Hand of God, Maradona collects the ball in his own half and dribbles past five England outfield players and goalkeeper Peter Shilton before scoring. The run covers approximately 60 metres in just over ten seconds. It is later voted the Goal of the Century in a FIFA poll. Both goals — the most controversial and the most celebrated in World Cup history — come in a single match, six minutes apart.
1986 The Hand of God In the World Cup quarter-final against England, Maradona punches the ball into the net with his left hand. The referee misses the offence and awards the goal. Afterwards Maradona says the goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God" — one of the most brazen and celebrated post-match deflections in sporting history.
1986 World Cup winner — Golden Ball Argentina defeat West Germany 3-2 in the final at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Maradona lifts the World Cup as captain and wins the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player — one of the most dominant individual performances in World Cup history, with five goals and five assists in the tournament. He is 25 years old.
1987 Diego Jr. Sinagra born — paternity denied During his time in Naples, Maradona has an affair with Italian model Cristiana Sinagra. Their son Diego Armando Maradona Junior is born. Maradona denies paternity for years, refusing DNA tests. Italian courts rule him the father in 1993; he only officially acknowledges Diego Jr. in the 2010s.
1987 Napoli win their first Serie A title Maradona leads Napoli to their first ever Serie A championship — a seismic achievement for a club from the impoverished south that had never threatened northern Italy's dominance. Naples erupts in celebrations that last for days and become part of Italian sporting mythology.
1988 Napoli win the UEFA Cup Maradona leads Napoli to their first major European trophy — the UEFA Cup — completing a transformation of the club from also-rans to continental winners. The relationship between Maradona and the city of Naples transcends football.
1989 Daughters Dalma and Giannina born By 1989, Maradona and Claudia have two daughters: Dalma Nerea (born 1987) and Giannina Dinorah (born 1989), both of whom grow up in the spotlight and later become celebrated public figures in Argentina.
1989 Marries Claudia Villafane Maradona marries his childhood sweetheart Claudia Villafañe, whom he met in Villa Fiorito as a teenager, in a lavish ceremony in Buenos Aires. Their daughters Dalma (born 1987) and Giannina (born 1989) are already born. The wedding is one of the most watched events in Argentine television history.
1990 Napoli win second Serie A title Maradona leads Napoli to a second Serie A championship — the pinnacle of the club's history and the conclusion of football's most extraordinary partnership between player and city.
1990 World Cup final — defeat in Rome, tears on pitch Argentina reach the 1990 World Cup final in Italy but lose 1-0 to West Germany in a brutal, controversial match in Rome. Italian fans who had worshipped Maradona at Napoli boo him throughout as the enemy. He weeps at the final whistle. Despite reaching a second final, the tournament is defined by bitterness.
1991 Tests positive for cocaine — 15-month ban Italian authorities administer a drug test that reveals cocaine use. Maradona receives a 15-month ban, effectively ending his time at Napoli. He leaves Italy having brought the city everything it dreamed of, but departs in personal and professional disgrace.
1992 – 1993 Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys After his ban, Maradona signs with Sevilla in Spain, where he is a diminished but still charismatic presence. He returns to Argentina and joins Newell's Old Boys but plays infrequently amid continuing personal problems.
1993 Italian court rules Maradona father of Diego Jr. After years of denial and refusing DNA testing, an Italian court rules Maradona is the biological father of Diego Junior. The ruling does not immediately prompt official acknowledgement from Maradona — that takes two more decades.
1994 Career for Argentina ends — 91 caps, 34 goals The 1994 World Cup expulsion ends Maradona's international career. He finishes with 91 caps and 34 goals for Argentina — statistics that in any other context would define a magnificent international career.
1994 Ejected from World Cup — ephedrine positive At the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Maradona scores a stunning goal against Greece and appears physically transformed. Days later he is expelled from the tournament after testing positive for the stimulant ephedrine — a family of substances he claims was in a diet supplement. He never plays in a World Cup again.
1995 – 1997 Returns to Boca Juniors; retires Maradona makes a sentimental final return to Boca Juniors, playing sporadically amid continuing personal problems. His final professional appearance is on 25 October 1997.
1997 Final professional match Maradona plays his final professional game for Boca Juniors, ending a club career of 21 years, 490 official matches and 259 goals. He is 36 years old.
2000 Publishes autobiography "Yo Soy El Diego" Maradona publishes Yo Soy El Diego ("I Am The Diego"), which becomes a bestseller in Argentina. He donates the Cuban royalties to "the Cuban people and Fidel" — a gesture reflecting the friendship with Fidel Castro that defines his later public life.
2000 – 2004 Rehabilitation in Cuba; friendship with Castro Maradona travels to Cuba for cocaine addiction treatment. He forms a deep friendship with President Fidel Castro, gets tattoos of Castro on his leg and Che Guevara on his arm, and describes Cuba as the country that saved his life.
2000 Named FIFA co-Player of the 20th Century At the FIFA World gala in Rome, Maradona is named joint FIFA Player of the 20th Century alongside Pelé. The jury votes largely for Pelé; the public internet vote goes overwhelmingly for Maradona. It is the perfect expression of their complex rivalry.
2004 Divorces Claudia Villafane Maradona and Claudia Villafañe divorce after 15 years of marriage and more than two decades together, their union unable to survive the cumulative strain of his addictions and infidelities.
2004 Near-fatal heart attack In March 2004, Maradona suffers a serious heart attack linked to cocaine use and is admitted to intensive care. His condition is described as critical — "between life and death." His family keeps vigil. He survives.
2005 Gastric bypass surgery in Colombia Maradona undergoes gastric bypass surgery in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, to address the severe obesity that has developed through years of inactivity and poor health. The surgery is a success and he loses significant weight.
2005 Hosts television chat show "La Noche del 10" Maradona hosts La Noche del 10 ("The Night of the 10") on Argentine television. His first guest is Pelé. The show generates huge ratings and demonstrates that even in retirement, Maradona is the most compelling television personality in Argentine sport.
2006 World Cup in Germany — iconic presence in stands Maradona refuses to attend the opening ceremony (he will not share a stage with Pelé) but his presence in the stands throughout the 2006 World Cup generates as much coverage as the matches themselves. His face becomes one of the defining images of the tournament.
2008 Appointed Argentina national team manager Despite no formal coaching qualifications and limited experience, Maradona is appointed Argentina head coach. The public support is overwhelming. The football community is deeply sceptical.
2009 Argentina barely qualify — "keep sucking" press conference Argentina struggle catastrophically in qualifying, losing 6-1 to Bolivia (their worst ever result). They qualify on the final day. At his post-qualification press conference, Maradona delivers a 10-minute profane rant directed at every journalist who doubted him. FIFA ban him from the touchline for two months.
2010 Argentina reach World Cup quarter-final in South Africa Maradona's Argentina — built around Lionel Messi — play attacking, joyful football, reaching the quarter-final before being routed 4-0 by Germany. Maradona's coaching — all touchline emotion and unconditional belief — divides experts but captivates fans.
2010 Sacked as Argentina national team coach Following the quarter-final exit in South Africa, Maradona parts company with the national team. The job he desperately wanted ends in disappointment, as almost every chapter of his life eventually does.
2013 Son Diego Fernando born Maradona's son Diego Fernando is born from his relationship with former model Verónica Ojeda. He is Maradona's youngest acknowledged child.
2014 Meets Pope Francis at the Vatican In September 2014, Maradona meets Pope Francis — a fellow Argentine — at the Vatican, at a charity match for peace. The image of the two most famous Argentines of the 21st century embracing becomes one of the most shared photographs of the year.
2016 Officially recognises Diego Jr. and Jana Decades after their births, Maradona publicly and officially recognises Diego Armando Maradona Junior (born 1986 in Naples) and Jana Maradona (born 1995 to Valeria Sabalain) as his children. He declares himself the legal father of eight children in total.
2018 – 2019 Coaches Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico In one of his most effective coaching stints, Maradona manages Mexican second-division club Dorados de Sinaloa, achieving genuine results and becoming a genuine hero in Sinaloa state — bringing focus and wins to a struggling club.
2019 Appointed coach of Gimnasia de La Plata Maradona returns to Argentina for what will be his final managerial appointment, taking charge of Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata amid enormous fanfare. His mere appointment transforms the club's atmosphere and fills their stadium.
2020 Emergency brain surgery for blood clot On 2 November 2020, Maradona is admitted to hospital after complaining of fatigue and depression. Doctors discover a blood clot on the brain. He undergoes emergency surgery on 4 November, appears to recover, and is discharged on 12 November to recuperate at home under medical supervision.
2020 Diego Maradona dies of heart attack aged 60 Maradona dies of acute pulmonary oedema secondary to chronic heart failure at his home in Dique Luján, a suburb of Buenos Aires, on 25 November 2020. He is 60 years old. Within hours, millions of fans gather across Argentina and the world's greatest footballers, managers and heads of state pay tribute.
2020 State funeral — hundreds of thousands mourn Maradona's body lies in state at the Casa Rosada — Argentina's presidential palace — for 24 hours. Hundreds of thousands queue through the night. Riots break out as the crowds surge. He is buried at the Jardín Bella Vista cemetery alongside his parents. Argentina declares three days of national mourning.
2021 – 2023 Doctors charged with negligent homicide Eight members of Maradona's medical team are charged with negligent homicide following an investigation concluding he received dangerously inadequate care between his brain surgery and his death. The trial becomes one of the most closely watched legal proceedings in Argentine history.