La Pelusa: Remembering Diego Maradona

By Christopher Jordan Latiff

Everyone knows who Maradona is. Even if you are not a fan of football (soccer), by now anyone reading this has seen the many memes on the world wide web of Diego Maradona. You would see an older overweight man perhaps dancing, a gif alluding to drug use or some image of being held back while holding at least one middle finger up in a rage. Last month, on Nov. 25, Maradona passed of a heart attack at the age of 60. 

His death brought his country of Argentina to a halt; those who are part of the “church of Maradona” as well as the entire football-loving community. Around the world Diego Armando was and is widely celebrated as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, having controversially won a world cup title in 1986 giving the world the famous “hand of God” image. He also won major titles with teams in South America as well as abroad in Italy for Naples FC. It is now after his death that we can look back on his professional achievements that brought happiness to countless soccer fans and an enduring spirit to the entire country of Argentina.

One of the fastest vehicles to international icon and superstar status is to be a stand out professional athlete. We all know that level of fame comes with immense responsibilities, where being in the public eye comes with great pressure and expectations. After all, most of the world idolizes the game of soccer knowing it is more than a game, it is a sport that breaks barriers. Its power is evident all throughout history, even being played by Allied and German troops alike in WWI’s famous Christmas Truce of 1914.

(via Getty Images)

From a world culture standpoint soccer is as much a powerful tool to bring us together as it is an industry and as an industry it is publicly known for its ethics in business, global humanitarianism, and so much more. Soccer is ingrained in the human spirit all over the world and is a platform, then and now, for players to rise to immense, almost worship level fame. Maradona was no exception.   

Diego's story can be easily dismissed by some as the story of just another rich guy who got caught breaking the law, the soccer player who couldn't control his bad habits, or even more simply, just a bad person. However, a deeper look reveals that the story of Diego is more complicated. It is the story of a boy born into a time, place, and country that catapulted him into fame he was never prepared for, wrestling with the consequences those talents brought him. His only escape or solace to this complicated life? His love for soccer. 

Diego at the age of 15 was already supporting his entire family. He moved them all, including his parents, out of Villa Fiorito which is still known as the poorest part of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Diego grew up in substantial poverty, with no running water or electricity. His only escape from these dire circumstances was a soccer ball. Interestingly enough, Diego was able to build his own world around that ball. “I didn't even like playing with the other kids in pick-up games you know,” Diego says in his documentary “Maradona” directed by Asif Kapadia, “I just wanted to be by myself with the ball. It was just me.” Maradona went on to conquer every obstacle in his way, becoming a pro to chase the illustrious European soccer player’s life. In turn, Diego resigned his privacy to the media and what Maradona did in public became forever written on the wall. “I would play the match on Sunday… We of course would win… then afterward we all went home. I would put my kids to bed, spend some time with my wife, and then meet my friends out. That's when the cocaine would start. That would last until about Wednesday and from then on it was all about clearing my system out to then be able to play the following Sunday.”  

The ’80s may have not been all that too long ago but given the times’ mental health awareness and support, systems were not a normalized resource for people to talk about and given the limited traditional education Diego was ever given did not give mental health awareness and behavioral therapies a front seat in his mind. Diego's own employers, medical team staff colleagues didn't look out for Maradona's mental health. Naples FC and the industry of soccer just wanted Maradona to show up on Sunday physically well enough to last the 90 minutes. Diego was treated with pain-killers to a limit to sustain the pain of his fast paces nightlife and the demands of a professional athletic league. 

It seemed that Diego Maradona possessed two lives. There was Diego, the devoted father, and head of his family. Then there was Maradona, the bulldog on the field, whose wild free spirit did whatever he wanted who broke every rule. Maradona was even linked with a famous investigation that implicated he had ties with the Naples Camorra Mafia, revealing a relationship that began innocently, but that eventually led to Diego’s path down the wrong side of the law.

(Marcos Brindicci/ Getty Images)

To avoid giving away any more spoilers on Asif's masterful biography of Diego, I’ll instead urge you to watch it. It is an incredible follow-up project to Asif's “Senna” film and it is worth a watch. Diego Armando Maradona's story as a soccer player is remarkable no matter who you ask. He brought both smiles and tears of joy. He brought love and hope to many people around the world. Even now his talents inspire people every day to leave it all on the field. 

Now, after his passing, it is easy to join in on the love-hate bandwagon but it is important to remember there is so much to this human’s largely public and distorted image, especially with the monster that is the internet. Like I’ve written in previous pieces, yes, the glitz and glamour of fame can show us the worst in our idols. Fans always push their idols to perfection and perfection is a standard that doesn't exist. Diego was a human blessed with incredible talents yet confronted with adversity, racism, and classism. He lacked a childhood, and it can be argued his isolation and vices formed out of these traumas.  

Diego Armando Maradona was honored with a closed casket showing in the presidential palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was laid to rest next to his mother and father.

Chris is a culture writer for La Tonique.