Diego Maradona: Cause of Death, Biography and Career Stats

Few footballers have ever divided opinion quite like Diego Maradona. He was the genius who single-handedly won a World Cup and the flawed man whose life was cut short by the very habits that made him human. This article lays out the medically confirmed cause of his death, his complete career statistics, and the full story behind the legend.

Full Name: Diego Armando Maradona ·
Born: 30 October 1960, Lanús, Argentina ·
Died: 25 November 2020, Tigre, Argentina ·
National Team: Argentina (91 caps, 34 goals) ·
World Cup Wins: 1986 ·
Hand of God Goal: 1986 World Cup vs. England

Eight key facts about Maradona at a glance:

What was Diego Maradona’s cause of death?

Diego Maradona died on 25 November 2020 at his home in Tigre, Argentina. The official autopsy report, cited by Encyclopaedia Britannica, listed the immediate cause as acute pulmonary edema secondary to chronic heart failure. He was 60 years old. The Wikipedia summary notes that he reportedly suffered cardiac arrest in his sleep and that no alcohol or narcotics were found in his body at autopsy.

Confirmed medical reports

• Primary cause: acute pulmonary edema due to chronic heart failure (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• No alcohol or drugs detected in post-mortem tests (Wikipedia)
• A medical board described his post-discharge care as “inadequate, deficient and reckless” (Wikipedia)

Chronicle of his final days

• 2 November 2020: admitted to hospital for anemia, dehydration and depression (Wikipedia)
• 3 November 2020: emergency brain surgery for a subdural hematoma (Wikipedia)
• 6 November 2020: sedated after withdrawal symptoms from alcohol dependency (Wikipedia)
• 12 November 2020: released from hospital (Wikipedia)

The pattern: a rapid decline from a routine admission to heart failure in just three weeks. The implication for his legacy is that his body had finally given out after decades of strain from addiction and health battles.

What is Diego Maradona’s full name and biography?

His full name is Diego Armando Maradona, born on 30 October 1960 in Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica. He grew up in a poor family in Villa Fiorito and showed prodigious talent from a young age.

Early life and birth

• Born to Diego Maradona Sr. and Dalma Salvadora Franco, the fifth of eight children (Wikipedia)
• Started playing for Argentinos Juniors at age 10 (Wikipedia)
• Made his professional debut at age 15 for Argentinos Juniors (Wikipedia)

Rise to fame with Boca Juniors

• Transferred to Boca Juniors in 1981, winning the Argentine Primera División (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Moved to Barcelona in 1982 for a world-record transfer fee (Wikipedia)
• His peak came at Napoli (1984‑1991), where he led the club to its first ever Serie A title in 1987 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

What this means: Maradona’s rise from a Buenos Aires shantytown to global superstardom is as much a story of raw talent as of sheer will. He was the first footballer to make $1 million per year, and the weight of that fame followed him everywhere.

What are Diego Maradona’s career stats and achievements?

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, Maradona played 490 official club games and scored 259 goals across a 21‑year professional career. For Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals. His 1986 World Cup statistics, compiled by ESPN, are staggering: 5 goals, 5 assists, 27 chances created, 30 shots and 53 fouls drawn in the tournament.

Club career statistics

• Boca Juniors (1981‑1982): 40 apps, 28 goals (Wikipedia)
• Barcelona (1982‑1984): 58 apps, 38 goals (Wikipedia)
• Napoli (1984‑1991): 259 apps, 115 goals (Wikipedia)
• Sevilla (1992‑1993): 29 apps, 7 goals (Wikipedia)
• Newell’s Old Boys (1993‑1994): 7 apps, 0 goals (Wikipedia)

International goals and appearances

• Argentina national team: 91 caps, 34 goals (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• World Cup goals: 8 in 21 matches (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994) (Wikipedia)
• 1986 World Cup: 5 goals, 5 assists, Golden Ball winner (ESPN)

Major trophies and honors

• FIFA World Cup (1986) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Serie A champion (1986‑87, 1989‑90) with Napoli (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Coppa Italia (1987) (Wikipedia)
• UEFA Cup (1989) with Napoli (Wikipedia)
• Argentine Primera División (1981) with Boca Juniors (Wikipedia)
• South American Footballer of the Year (1979, 1980, 1986, 1989) (Wikipedia)

The catch: despite his genius, Maradona never won the UEFA Champions League or a Copa América. His legacy is built on a single, transcendent World Cup campaign and the Napoli fairy tale.

What was the Hand of God goal?

The most controversial goal in World Cup history occurred on 22 June 1986 in the quarterfinal between Argentina and England at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Maradona punched the ball over goalkeeper Peter Shilton – an unpenalized handball – and then scored a second, entirely legitimate goal that FIFA later named the “Goal of the Century.” The Athletic (New York Times) describes it as “one of the most disputed moments in World Cup history.”

Context of the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal

• The match was played four years after the Falklands War, adding nationalistic tension (Wikipedia)
• Argentina won 2–1, with Maradona scoring both goals (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• The first goal came in the 51st minute, the “Goal of the Century” in the 55th (Wikipedia)

Controversy and aftermath

• Maradona later said the goal was scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God” (The Athletic)
• No VAR existed in 1986; the referee missed the handball (Wikipedia)
• The goal remains a symbol of Maradona’s cunning and controversy (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Why this matters: the Hand of God goal encapsulates the duality of Maradona – the cheat and the genius, both in the same match. It’s the moment that made him a folk hero in Argentina and a villain in England.

Timeline

Clarity assessment

Confirmed facts

• Cause of death: acute pulmonary edema secondary to chronic heart failure (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Date of death: 25 November 2020 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Full name: Diego Armando Maradona (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Birth date: 30 October 1960 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Argentina caps: 91, goals: 34 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• World Cup 1986 winner (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

What’s unclear

• The specific negligence of his medical team is still being investigated (Wikipedia)
• His net worth at death remains disputed among various sources (no official estate report) (Wikipedia)

Quotes

“Diego Armando Maradona died of an acute pulmonary edema secondary to chronic heart failure.”

– Autopsy report, as cited by Encyclopaedia Britannica

“Maradona is the king of soccer. He was a genius with the ball, a rebel, and a fighter.”

– FIFA Museum (tribute description)

“The post-discharge care was inadequate, deficient and reckless.”

– Medical board report, via Wikipedia

“It was a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”

– Diego Maradona, quoted by The Athletic (New York Times)

Summary

Diego Maradona was a once-in-a-generation talent whose career peaked in 1986 and whose health declined in parallel with his fame. His official cause of death – acute pulmonary edema from chronic heart failure – is a medical fact, but his legacy is anything but clinical. For Argentina, the choice is clear: celebrate the genius while acknowledging the flaws, because the Hand of God can’t be separated from the foot that scored the Goal of the Century.

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For a more comprehensive look at his life, including his early years and lasting impact, you can read this detailed biography and legacy.

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