Football lovers mourn Diego Maradona, the living god of the round ball who died this Wednesday, November 25.
He had just celebrated his 60th birthday.
During an incomparable career, mixing sporting genius and self-destruction, the little guy from the suburbs of Buenos Aires will lead his national team to the firmament and become a legend in Europe, thanks to his Neapolitan exploits.
The drug demon and a tempestuous character favor the decline of his sports career, but Maradona does not say goodbye to commitments.
Football, already, since he took the head of the Argentine selection in 2008, humanitarian and political finally, taking advantage of his aura with the great of this world.
An exceptional life, which Le Parisien invites you to rediscover in a dozen snapshots.
1. Long hair and character already strong, Maradona arrives in 1981 in Buenos Aires, in the team of Boca Juniors.
Bancet / Icon Sport Collection
2. On July 5, 1984, he joined Napoli for 12 million dollars, a world record at the time!
He was greeted as a hero: 70,000 cheering supporters attended his presentation at the San Paolo stadium.
Stefano Montesi / Getty Images
3. During the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the famous “Hand of God” propelled Argentina to the semi-finals of the competition, which it won for the second time in its history.
Getty Images / Bob Thomas Sports Photography
4. Maradona propels Naples into the highest levels of football.
In 1990, the club crushed Juventus 5-1 and won the Italian Supercup.
Brody / Icon Sport
Newsletter - Most of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le Parisien
I'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.
Learn more
5. In 1991, the footballer was arrested for using cocaine.
He receives a 14-month suspended prison sentence.
Rafael WOLLMANN / GAMMA
6. Drug problems hasten the end of the star's career.
After an aborted transfer to OM, Maradona joins Sevilla.
He was selected for the 1994 World Cup in the United States and scored an anthology goal against Greece, his last for the Argentine jersey.
Tony Henshaw / Action Images
7. The retired athlete met Fidel Castro in Havana in 2001. He took the opportunity to present him with a tattoo with his effigy which he had made on his calf.
Stringer / REUTERS
8. Rid of his demons, Maradona was appointed in 2008 coach of the Argentina team.
Lionel Messi paid tribute to his former coach: "Diego is eternal".
Javier SORIANO / AFP
9. Two entwined legends, in 2016. King Pelé paid tribute to the Argentinian: "One day, I hope we can play football together, in heaven".
PATRICK KOVARIK / AFP
10. Very pious, in 2016 he met his compatriot Pope Francis, on the occasion of “United for Peace”, a charity football tournament.
STR / ELAM / AFP
11. Maradona is elated during Argentina's match against Nigeria in the 2018 World Cup. He will be uneasy at the end of the match.
OLGA MALTSEVA / AFP
12. In early November 2020, Maradona underwent surgery for a hematoma in the brain.
He died a few days later.
Diego Maradona press office / AFP