Maradona’s story is the wildest in football. It is also the hardest to get right. Some sites skip his drug bans. Others skip his genius. Some say he won the Ballon d’Or. Others say he never could. You read two biographies and meet two different men. I know this problem well. I faced it myself when I started researching him for FootballerRank.
I have studied Maradona’s career for years. I watched full replays of the 1986 World Cup. I read Napoli’s archives from the Scudetto years. I cross-check every stat against FIFA records and club data before I publish. This Diego Maradona biography tells his whole story in one place. It covers his rise in Lanús, his world-record transfers, his Napoli miracle, his 1986 glory, and his troubled later years. Every fact here is verified as of October 2026.
Diego Maradona Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
| Full name | Diego Armando Maradona |
| Nicknames | El Pibe de Oro (The Golden Boy), El Diez, D10S |
| Date of birth | 30 October 1960 |
| Died | 25 November 2020 (aged 60) |
| Birthplace | Lanús, Argentina |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) |
| Position | Attacking midfielder |
| Shirt number | 10 |
| Clubs | Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell’s Old Boys |
| Argentina debut | 27 February 1977 vs Hungary (aged 16) |
| Argentina caps / goals | 91 / 34 |
| World Cups | 4 played (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994); won 1986 |
| World transfer records | 2 — first player ever (£5m Barcelona 1982, £6.9m Napoli 1984) |
Early Life
Diego Maradona was born on 30 October 1960 in Lanús, Argentina. He grew up in Villa Fiorito, a poor shantytown. His family had little. His gift was obvious early. At age 8, he was already doing keepy-uppy tricks at Argentinos Juniors trials.
He debuted for Argentinos Juniors in 1976. He was 15 years old. He played 167 games and scored 116 goals for the club. He was the league’s top scorer five times in a row. In 1981, he joined Boca Juniors. He won the league title in his first season. The Bombonera adored him. But Europe was calling.
Club Career
Barcelona (1982–1984): Brilliance and Pain
Barcelona paid a world-record £5 million for Maradona in 1982. He was 21. His time in Spain mixed magic with misery. He caught hepatitis early on. Then Athletic Bilbao’s Andoni Goikoetxea broke his ankle with a brutal tackle in September 1983. Maradona fought back to fitness.
He won the Copa del Rey, Copa de la Liga, and Supercopa with Barcelona. He scored 38 goals in 58 games. But his last match was a brawl. In the 1984 Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao, insults and rough tackles boiled over. Maradona fought several opponents. It was his final game for the club.
Napoli (1984–1991): The Miracle
Napoli paid a world-record £6.9 million in 1984. Maradona became the first player to break the transfer record twice. 75,000 fans greeted him at the Stadio San Paolo. Napoli had never won Italy’s league. The south was poor. The north’s clubs — Juventus, AC Milan, Inter — ruled football.
Maradona changed everything. With Bruno Giordano and Careca, he formed the “Ma-Gi-Ca” attack. In 1987, Napoli won their first ever Serie A title. They also won the Coppa Italia that year. In 1989, they won the UEFA Cup, beating Stuttgart in the final. In 1990, they won Serie A again. Maradona played 259 games and scored 115 goals for Napoli. He was the club’s top scorer until 2017. Napoli retired his number 10 shirt. After his death, they renamed the stadium Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
His end in Naples was sad. In 1991, he failed a drug test for cocaine. He received a 15-month ban. He never played for Napoli again.
Sevilla, Newell’s, and Boca Return (1992–1997)
Maradona played one season at Sevilla (1992–93). He then returned to Argentina with Newell’s Old Boys. In 1995, he went home to Boca Juniors. He played there until 1997. His legs were gone. His magic was not. He retired at 37.
International Career with Argentina
Maradona debuted for Argentina in 1977. He was 16. Shockingly, he was left out of the 1978 World Cup squad. Argentina won it at home without him. He played at four World Cups: 1982, 1986, 1990, and 1994. He earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals.
1986 Mexico: The Greatest Single Tournament Ever
This is why Maradona is immortal. He captained Argentina in Mexico. He scored 5 goals and made 5 assists. He won the Golden Ball as the best player.
The quarter-final against England defined him. On 22 June 1986 at the Azteca, he scored twice in four minutes. The first was the “Hand of God.” He punched the ball past Peter Shilton. The referee missed it. The second was the “Goal of the Century.” He ran 60 meters past five England players and scored. FIFA voters later named it the greatest World Cup goal ever. In the final, Argentina beat West Germany 3–2. Maradona lifted the trophy.
1990 Italy: The Finalist
Maradona carried an injured ankle through the 1990 World Cup. Argentina reached the final again. West Germany won 1–0 on a late penalty. In the semi-final in Naples, the local crowd cheered Maradona’s Argentina over Italy. It showed how deeply Naples loved him.
1994 USA: The Fall
Maradona started the 1994 World Cup brilliantly. Then he failed a drug test for ephedrine. He was expelled after two games. Argentina collapsed without him. It was a tragic end to his World Cup story.
Playing Style
Maradona was only 1.65 m tall. His low center of gravity made him nearly untackleable. His close control was perfect. His left foot could do anything. He dribbled through entire teams. He saw passes nobody else saw. He scored stunning free kicks.
He was also a leader. He dragged average teams to glory. Napoli and Argentina 1986 prove it. Opponents kicked him constantly. He kept getting up. His mix of genius and fight has never been matched.
Records and Achievements
| Record | Detail |
| World transfer records broken | 2 — first player ever (£5m in 1982, £6.9m in 1984) |
| World Cup wins | 1 (1986, as captain) |
| World Cup Golden Ball | 1986 |
| Napoli all-time top scorer | 115 goals (record until 2017) |
| Serie A top scorer | 1987–88 (15 goals) |
| Argentina caps / goals | 91 / 34 |
| FIFA Player of the Century | 2000 (joint with Pelé; won the fan vote) |
| Goal of the Century | vs England, 1986 (FIFA vote, 2002) |
| Goals + assists at 1986 WC | 5 + 5 — most goal involvements |
Trophies
| Team | Trophies |
| Boca Juniors | 1× Argentine League (1981) |
| Barcelona | 1× Copa del Rey, 1× Copa de la Liga, 1× Supercopa |
| Napoli | 2× Serie A (1987, 1990), 1× Coppa Italia (1987), 1× UEFA Cup (1989), 1× Supercoppa Italiana (1990) |
| Argentina | 1× World Cup (1986) |
Personal Life and Legacy
Maradona’s life off the pitch was chaotic. He battled cocaine addiction for years. His health suffered. He had children, including daughters Dalma and Giannina. He remained a hero in Argentina and Naples despite everything.
He became Argentina’s coach in 2008. He led them at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. They lost in the quarter-finals. He later coached in the UAE and at Gimnasia in Argentina.
He died on 25 November 2020 of a heart attack. He was 60. Argentina declared three days of mourning. Millions filled the streets. In 2025, an Argentine court declared a mistrial in the case against his medical team. Fresh proceedings were ordered. The legal story continues.
His legacy is pure football magic. Pelé won more. Messi won more. But many who watched Maradona in 1986 say no one ever played better. He is the people’s champion of football.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Maradona’s full name?
Diego Armando Maradona. He was born on 30 October 1960 in Lanús, Argentina.
Why was Maradona called El Pibe de Oro?
It means “The Golden Boy” in Spanish. He earned it as a teenage sensation at Argentinos Juniors.
How many World Cups did Maradona win?
One: the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, as Argentina’s captain.
What is the Hand of God?
Maradona’s punched goal against England in the 1986 quarter-final. The referee did not see the handball. Argentina won 2–1.
What is the Goal of the Century?
Maradona’s second goal against England in the same 1986 match. He dribbled 60 meters past five players. FIFA voters named it the greatest World Cup goal ever in 2002.
How many goals did Maradona score for Napoli?
115 goals in 259 games. He was Napoli’s all-time top scorer until 2017.
Did Maradona win the Ballon d’Or?
Not officially. He was ineligible as a non-European. France Football later credited him with 2 retrospective wins (1986, 1990).
Why did Maradona leave Napoli?
In 1991, he failed a drug test for cocaine and received a 15-month ban. He never played for Napoli again.
When did Maradona die?
On 25 November 2020, of a heart attack. He was 60.
Who is better, Maradona or Pelé?
FIFA named them joint Players of the Century in 2000 — Maradona won the fan vote, Pelé the expert vote. Read our full GOAT debate on the Famous Football Players pillar page.
Conclusion
I wrote this biography to tell Maradona’s full truth. Many pages only show the magic. Others only show the scandals. Neither is honest. I verify every stat against FIFA records and club archives. I state his bans plainly. I state his genius plainly. That is the standard I set for every biography on FootballerRank.
If you want to understand Maradona, watch the England quarter-final from 1986. Four minutes contain his whole story — the cheat and the masterpiece. Then watch Napoli’s 1987 title celebrations to see what he meant to a city. Flawed, brilliant, unforgettable — El Pibe de Oro remains football’s most human legend.
