Maradona: Downfall

Heroes & Humans of Football

By his late-20s, superstar footballer Maradona had it all: copious wealth and record-breaking transfer fees, a rockstar lifestyle, and a glittering presence at the World Cup. So what soured?

This is the tragic tale of Diego Maradona, from his late 20s until his death in 2020 at just 60 years old. This is the story of Maradona’s decades-long decline, from being (briefly) hated in Italy and failing drug tests on the international stage to unsuccessful tenures as a football manager.

Simon and Mehreen chronicle Maradona’s later years, including sought-after peace in the United Arab Emirates and constant returns to his country of Argentina. They reflect on Maradona’s legacy among the greats, and Simon gives his own insights into meeting Maradona—the polite man who often seemed a ‘performing seal’.

Above all, this episode covers Maradona’s intrinsic links to Argentina—the country that both revered and celebrated him but may also have been the cause of his demise. The episode paints a picture of Maradona as a resistance hero, a victim of racism, and a person who lived under the pressures of both extreme fame and famine.

This is the second part of a two-part podcast. Listen to ‘Maradona: From the slum to world champion’ before this one.

Time stamps:

1:44: The Napoli ‘cult’ starts to sour

6:57: The most hated man in Italy (briefly)

9:07: World Cups and failed drug tests

16:54: Simon meets Maradona

20:58: The ‘little man’ worldview of Argentinian politics and race

30:41: Maradona becomes the Argentine football manager

36:42: Move to the UAE—peace at last

43:25: Back in Argentina, and fatal heart attack

49:09: Maradona’s legacy

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