30 October, 1960
Born Lanus Buenos Aires Born Diego Armando Maradona on 30 October 1960 in the poor district of Lanus in Buenos Aires. He is the fifth of eight children born to strict Catholic parents who had come to the city from the countryside in search of work. His father was a factory worker.
1976
Makes domestic debut aged 15 Maradona is quickly spotted as a future football superstar and at the age of 10 had been signed by the famous Buenos Aires club BArgentinos Juniors B. He makes his Btopflight debut B for the senior team in 1976 10 days before his 16th birthday and goes on to take the club to the title that same year. He is nicknamed "Fiorito" which means literally "in bloom" though in later life is known as "Dieguito" by his fans.
27 February, 1977
Youngest player to win a full cap He becomes Argentina's youngest debutant when he wins first cap in a 51 victory over Hungary coming on as a substitute for Leopoldo Luque aged just 16 years and 120 days.
1978
Left out of World Cup squad for being too young
2 June, 1979
Scores first international goal and wins Junior World Cup Maradona captains Argentina to victory in the World Youth Cup in Japan. But after his disappointment at being left out of the World Cup squad the previous year he underlines his promise by scoring his first international goal in the senior side's 31 victory over Scotland. Aged just 18 he is voted BSouth American Player of the Year B an award he will win five more times in his career.
1982
Aged 21 he leaves South America to play in Europe Maradona plays a key part in the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain and enjoys a good tournament until he is sent off in a 31 defeat by archrivals Brazil who send Argentina out. But his performances secure a B£1.875m transfer to Barcelona B. However under manager Cesar Luis Menotti the Argentine coach who left him out of the 1978 World Cup squad he endures two unhappy seasons which are marred by illness and injury.
1984
Joins Napoli where he begins his slide into decadence Joins Italian giants Napoli for £4.68m. A club hated and ridiculed across Italy its new president Corrado Ferlaino succeeds in persuading Maradona to come to the city of Naples. There are more than 80000 fans in the Stadio San Paolo when he arrives by helicopter. He becomes Bthe darling of a proud but battered city B desperate to assert itself through football success and throws himself into its nightlife with gusto particularly its seedier side.
1986
Hand of God lifts Argentina to World Cup victory Lifts the World Cup after a 32 triumph over West Germany and is voted BPlayer of the Tournament B. But the finals are remembered for two goals he scored against England in the semifinal one an obvious handball the other a brilliant solo run. Maradona attributed his controversial opener to the BHand of God B. "The first goal was dubious the second was a bloody miracle" said England manager Bobby Robson. Maradona is later voted European Player of the Year.
1987
Helps Napoli to first Italian title Plays a pivotal role as BNapoli win their firstever Italian league title Bin its 60year history becoming a legend to Neapolitans in the process. The tumultuous street party lasts five days with hundreds of thousands on the streets. But Maradona is finding the pressure tough. "This is a great city" he said "but I can hardly breathe. I want to be free to walk around. I'm a lad like any other."
1990
Hit by paternity writ after World Cup final defeat Leads Napoli to their Bsecond Italian title B having won the Uefa Cup the previous season. Runs up more than B£30000 in fines Bafter missing matches complaining of stress. Cristina Sinagra files a Bpaternity writ Bclaiming Maradona who had married Claudia Villafane the previous year is father to her child. BAngers some Italians B when he calls for Napoli fans to back Argentina against Italy in World Cup semifinal. They win but lose 10 to Germany in an ugly final.
1991
Leaves Italy in disgrace after positive drug test His high life finally catches up with him as he fails a dope test for cocaine and is investigated in connection with Naples vice ring. He leaves the city in disgrace after being Bbanned by Italian football for 15 months B. He returns to Argentina but is arrested for taking cocaine shortly after and ordered by a judge to quit the habit under medical supervision. Does not play football for two years.
1992
Makes comeback when joins Sevilla BJoins Sevilla for £4.68m B under manager Carlos Bilardo who had guided Argentina through the 1986 and 1990 World Cups. Maradona cost Seville the same amount as Naples had paid Barcelona for him seven years earlier but the Spaniards don't get the same dividend. He Bplays only 26 games scoring five goals B before falling out with Bilardo after being substituted. It was Maradona's last appearance in a Seville shirt.
1993
Returns to Argentina after Spanish row Quits Spain after BSeville refuse to pay outstanding wages of £625000 B because he had "not met his obligations to the club". B Signs for Newell's Old Boys B an Argentine team in small city of Rosario nicknamed Los Leprosos the Lepers. 30000 people come to greet him. BLeft out of Argentina squad B but reinstated when they fail to qualify by right for World Cup after a 50 drubbing by Colombia and are forced into a playoff against Australia.
1994
Sent home from World Cup after positive drug test Caps his international return with a goal in 40 win over Greece at the World Cup memorably celebrating by yelling into a nearby camera. Four days later he is Bsent home in disgrace B after testing positive for ephedrine. He is Bbanned for 15 months B and fined about £10000 by Fifa. He never plays for Argentina again. His official international record remains Bplayed 91 scored 34 B. His alltime record is played 678 scored 345 goals.
1996
Books into clinic to cure drug addiction Specialist Dr Ricardo Grimson who has been overseeing Maradona's addictions says the star Bcould die at any moment Bif he doesn't quit. He books into a Swiss clinic. The previous year Maradona had vowed to reform his lifestyle returning to playing action with Boca Juniors in an exhibition match in South Korea after two unsuccessful coaching stints with lowerdivision Argentine clubs and telling a TV documentary he had kicked his bad habits.
1997
Retires aged 37 having failed another dope test after first game of season for Boca Juniors
2000
Collapses with heart problems Admitted to hospital in Uruguay with a severe heart condition after cocaine use. Doctors say the 39yearold has taken so many drugs that his Bheart rate has been reduced to 38 of capacity B. In a Fifa award to mark the turn of the century he is voted the joint best ever footballer with Pele of Brazil.
2002
Moves to Cuba to try and combat addictions An Italian court orders him to pay B£18m in unpaid taxes B and interest dating from his five years playing football for Napoli. Escapes punishment for a scuffle with a photographer but given a Bsuspended threeyear jail sentence B for an incident dating back to 1994 when he shot at journalists injuring four of them. BMoves to Cuba Bwhere he spends most of the next two years undergoing treatment for drug addiction.
2003
Maradona meets the son he always denied was his BMeets his son Diego Armando Jr B also a footballer and playing for Napoli for the first time in 17 years. He had refused to recognise the child as his own until Italian courts confirmed the boy was his son after BDNA tests Bwere carried out in 1993. By now Maradona senior has become Bbadly overweight Band often barely intelligible in television interviews.
19 April, 2004
Rushed to hospital after another collapse Taken ill after watching his former club Boca Juniors play league rivals Nuevo Chicago but left during the second half and is later rushed to a Buenos Aires hospital with breathing difficulties. He is diagnosed with Bhigh blood pressure breathing problems and a lung infection B. His condition is said to be "unstable but not criticial".
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