Diego Armando Maradona was born in 1960 in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the fifth of eight children in a poor household. He joined Argentinos Juniors at fifteen and exploded into professional football with a low center of gravity, explosive acceleration, and left foot that seemed to operate independently of defenders' logic. By twenty he had moved to Boca Juniors and then to Barcelona, though illness and brutal marking in Spain sent him searching for a club that built its identity around him.

Napoli answered. From 1984 to 1991 Maradona transformed a provincial southern Italian side into Serie A champions, carrying a city that felt marginalized by the richer north. His pinnacle arrived at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico: the controversial 'Hand of God' goal against England followed minutes later by a solo run voted the greatest World Cup goal ever, then the final defeat of West Germany. Argentina worshipped him; murals in Naples still treat him as patron saint.

Genius on the pitch collided with cocaine addiction, weight battles, and tangled dealings with clubs, media, and politics. After coaching stints and health crises, Maradona died in November 2020 in Tigre, prompting national mourning and a funeral that resembled a state ceremony. FIFA and fans alike rank him among the two or three greatest players in history.

1. 1976

   Professional Debut

   Made his first-team appearance for Argentinos Juniors at age fifteen.

2. 1984

   Transfer to Napoli

   Joined SSC Napoli for a world-record fee and became the city's sporting idol.

3. 1986

   World Cup Glory

   Lifted the trophy in Mexico after masterful performances throughout the tournament.

4. 1991

   Napoli Departure

   Left Italy amid scandal and failed drug tests, ending his greatest club chapter.

5. 2020

   Death in Tigre

   Died of heart failure at sixty; Argentina declared three days of national mourning.