June 29, 1986
In 1986, soccer superstar Diego Maradona, then Argentina's team captain, brandishes the World Cup after leading his team to victory over West Germany.
AFP/Getty Images
April 26, 1991
By 1991, Maradona's star had fallen amid tales of drug abuse. Here police remove Maradona, center, from a Buenos Aires apartment after arresting him for possession of a half-kilo of cocaine.
Daniel Luna-AFP/Getty Images
Oct. 10, 1995
In his first stint with the Boca Juniors of Buenos Aires, Maradona goes after the ball as an unidentified member of Colon de Santa Fe looks on.
Daniel Luna-AFP/Getty Images
Jan. 18, 2000
In 2000, Maradona went to Cuba to receive treatment for his cocaine habit, two weeks after he was admitted to a Uruguayan private clinic after collapsing due to a drug overdose. Here, he and his wife ,Claudia Villafane, enter the Psychiatric Hospital of Havana shortly after their arrival in the Cuban capital.
Adalberto Roque-AFP/Getty Images
Jan. 25, 2000
Unidentified friends restrain Maradona as he tries to attack a photographer in the parking lot of a Havana supermarket. Maradona demanded that he and his family be left alone by members of the media who followed them to Cuba while he underwent drug rehabilitation.
Adalberto Roque-AFP/Getty Images
Jan. 13, 2004
Maradona greets supporters in front of a hotel in Athens during a two-day private visit to Greece. By 2004, his health problems included obesity.
Fayez Nureldine-AFP/Getty Images
March 6, 2004
Maradona signs autographs during the inauguration of the Club Aurora Football School in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Maradona was in charge of the school's opening.
Aizar Raldes-AFP/Getty Images
Sept. 8, 2004
Maradona leaves a psychiatric clinic in Buenos Aires where his family forced him to undergo drug rehabilitation for four months in 2004, after he suffered a major heart attack following a cocaine overdose.
Reuters
Sept. 19, 2004
Maradona confirmed on an Argentinian TV program that he would to travel to Cuba to continue treatment for his cocaine addiction.
Ali Burafi-AFP/Getty Images
Sept. 20, 2004
Maradona arrives at Jose Marti airport in Havana, where he would undergo treatment for his addiction to cocaine.
Adalberto Roque-AFP/Getty Images
Feb. 27, 2005
Maradona waves to Boca Junior fans during a soccer match against Olimpo in Buenos Aires. After playing for Boca Juniors in 1981-82, he returned as a sports vice president in 2005.
Ali Burafi-AFP/Getty Images
April 1, 2005
Maradona, center, holds a ball during the inauguration ceremony of the 11th Under-17 Soccer South American Championship in Venezuela.
Fernando Llano-AP
Feb. 16, 2005
Maradona greets fans in Cartagena, Colombia, before having his stomach stapled by Colombian doctors to reduce his ballooning waistline.
Eliana Aponte-Reuters
Aug. 25, 2005
Maradona, newly svelte after his stomach-stapling surgery, waves at the audience prior to his appearance on the talk show "Mucho Lucho" in Santiago, Chile.
Martin Bernetti-AFP/Getty Images
Oct. 1, 2005
In 2005, Maradona appeared on the Italian version of "Dancing With the Stars" with Italian dancer Angela Panico, in Rome.
Tiziana Fabi-AFP/Getty Images
May 27, 2006
Maradona played for the Rest of the World team during the 2006 Soccer Aid football match, which pitted an England team against the Rest of World team in aid of UNICEF. Here, Maradona takes the ball past Jonathan Wilkes of England.
Matthew Lewis-Getty Images
July 4, 2006
Maradona watches the action from a commentary position during the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Semi-final match between Germany and Italy.
Clive Mason-Getty Images
April 22, 2008
Diego Maradona celebrates with his daughter Dalma after Boca Juniors defeated Venezuela's UA Maracaibo in their Libertadores Cup football match, at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires.
Juan Mabromata-AFP/Getty Images
May 21, 2008
Maradona, an outspoken admirer of Fidel Castro, and his daughter Dalma arrive at the premier if "Che" at the Cannes film festival.
Sean Gallup-Getty Images
March 24, 2009
Maradona, who became Argentina's soccer team coach in late 2008, directs a training session in Buenos Aires.
Eduardo Di Baia-AP
Gallery Credits:
Producer, Photo Editor Stephen Cook
Text Editor Liz Heron
