99 Facts About Diego Maradona

1. Diego Maradona will undergo an endoscopy at the Clinica Olivos in Buenos Aires, and he is expected to be back on the sidelines for Dorados' first Ascenso MX season clash against Celaya.

2. Diego Maradona has taken another dig at fellow Argentine Lionel Messi, saying the Barcelona stalwart is not cut for a leadership role.

3. Diego Maradona is a retired Argentine professional footballer, who is most famous for his time at Napoli.

4. Diego Maradona is the sporting director of second division club Dorados de Sinaloa, and after the team agonizingly missed out on promotion last season, it was unclear whether Maradona would return.

5. Diego Maradona was admitted to a medical clinic in Buenos Aires with stomach bleeding, according to multiple reports, delaying his return to Mexico for the start of the Mexican soccer season.

6. Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona never seem to have the smoothest of relationships.

7. Diego Maradona sparked fears for his well-being after having to be helped away from his VIP box and assisted by medical staff when Argentina narrowly avoided an early World Cup exit in Russia with a dramatic late goal against Nigeria.

8. Diego Maradona is still considered one of the greatest players ever and inspired Argentina's victory at the 1986 World Cup.

9. Diego Maradona has a history with health issues and was hospitalised with a "near-lethal cocaine overdose" 10 years ago, per Malyon.

10. Diego Maradona has rarely spent a year in any head coach job, yet Morla said the former Argentina and Racing coach would return to Sinaloa after completing routine medical exams in his homeland, where he spent the holiday period.

11. Diego Maradona is the coach of Mexican side Dorados de Sinaloa, but reports state that he has failed to show up to training in recent days as he is depressed.

12. In 2003, Diego Maradona was appointed as technical consultant by Al-Saadi, the third son of Muammer Gaddafi.

13. Diego Maradona went all the way to Tunisa and paid a tribute to his referee hero and presenting a signed Argentine Jersey to him.

14. Diego Maradona admired for their courage, outstanding achievements and noble qualities.

15. Diego Maradona was most famous for his time at Napoli.

16. Diego Maradona was hospitalized for heart problems in 2000 and 2004.

17. Diego Maradona was a consistent target for dirty tricks in his international career.

18. Diego Maradona walked the aisle with his long time sweetheart Claudia Villafane on November 7, 1984.

19. Diego Maradona has done a lot for his clubs, as Messi does, and for the Argentina national team.

20. In 2011 Diego Maradona was hired to coach the United Arab Emirates club Al Wasl.

21. In 2008 Diego Maradona was named head coach of the Argentine national team.

22. Diego Maradona played on South American championship-winning teams in 1987 and 1989.

23. Diego Maradona moved to Boca Juniors in 1981 and immediately helped them gain the championship.

24. Diego Maradona displayed football talent early, and at age eight he joined Las Cebollitas, a boys' team that went on to win 136 consecutive games and a national championship.

25. Diego Maradona was awarded with Golden Ball when he led his team, Argentina during 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

26. Diego Maradona is always called as the Golden Boy or El Pibe de Oro due to his wonderful talent as a football player.

27. Diego Maradona was the representative of Argentina during the international football match.

28. Diego Maradona used a classic number 10 position when he was a football player.

29. In 1995, Diego Maradona played what would be his final pro season with the Boca Juniors in Argentina.

30. Diego Maradona was born in 1961 in the Villa Fiorito slum of Buenos Aires.

31. Diego Maradona made headlines in January 2000, when his cocaine addiction had caused heart problems.

32. On October 29, 1997, Diego Maradona announced his retirement from the balcony of his home in Buenos Aires.

33. Diego Maradona attempted to make a comeback in October 1995, playing with Argentina's Boca Juniors against South Korea in the Olympic Stadium in Seoul.

34. Diego Maradona took that medicine without knowing what was in it.

35. Diego Maradona made his 1994 World Cup debut against Greece in mid-June.

36. In 1994, it became apparent that Diego Maradona had not given up his self-destructive habits.

37. Diego Maradona had chosen to play with the team because he was impressed with its coach, Jorge Solari.

38. Diego Maradona tried to rebound in 1992, signing a deal with Seville in the Spanish League.

39. Diego Maradona was released from his contract with Naples by the International Soccer Federation.

40. Diego Maradona voluntarily started a drug treatment program after his suspension.

41. In 1989, Diego Maradona married Claudia Villafane, his childhood sweetheart and the mother of his two daughters.

42. In 1979, Diego Maradona was named South American Player of the Year after he led Argentina to the Junior World Cup.

43. Diego Maradona became a national sports star playing for Argentina's Boca Juniors at the age of 16.

44. In 1982, Diego Maradona got his chance to play in World Cup competition, but was ejected from the game for kicking a Brazilian player in the groin.

45. Diego Maradona was given his first soccer ball by his cousin, Beto Zarate, on his third birthday.

46. Diego Maradona had shrugged it off, saying, "from the hand of God to the head of Maradona.

47. At the age of 25, Diego Maradona was the central figure of the 1986 World Cup challenge.

48. Diego Maradona is an icon in Argentina, much like Evita Peron.

49. In 2008, Diego Maradona was hired to coach the Argentinean national team.

50. Diego Maradona led club teams to championships in Argentina, Italy and Spain, and famously starred for the Argentinean team that won the 1986 World Cup.

51. Diego Maradona spent two years with Barcelona before joining Napoli for another record transfer fee which is around $10million in 1984.

52. Diego Maradona has shown support for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly on social media while revealing he was subjected to racist chants during his time in Italy.

53. Diego Maradona was always the little guy fighting against the system.

54. In 2018, a documentary film titled Diego Maradona is to be released by Academy Award and BAFTA Award winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia, director of Amy and Senna (on motor racing driver Ayrton Senna).

55. In 2017, Diego Maradona featured as a legendary player in the football video games FIFA 18 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2018.

56. Diego Maradona features in the music video to the 2010 World Cup song "Waka Waka" by Shakira, with footage shown of him celebrating Argentina winning the 1986 World Cup.

57. Diego Maradona has had several online Flash games that are entirely dedicated to his legacy.

58. Diego Maradona was included in many cameos in the Argentine comic book El Cazador de Aventuras.

59. In October 2015, Diego Maradona thanked Queen Elizabeth II and the Houses of Parliament in London for giving him the chance to provide "true justice" as head of an organisation designed to help young children.

60. In December 2007, Diego Maradona presented a signed shirt with a message of support to the people of Iran: it is displayed in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' museum.

61. Diego Maradona has declared his opposition to what he identifies as imperialism, notably during the 2005 Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

62. Diego Maradona was a supporter of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

63. Diego Maradona wrote, "To Fidel Castro and, through him, all the Cuban people.

64. Diego Maradona became friends with Cuban leader Fidel Castro while receiving treatment on the island, with Castro stating, "Diego is a great friend and very noble, too.

65. On 29 March 2007, Diego Maradona was readmitted to a hospital in Buenos Aires.

66. Diego Maradona was obese from the end of his playing career until undergoing gastric bypass surgery in a clinic in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on 6 March 2005.

67. Diego Maradona was in Dubai at the time, and desperately tried to fly back in time to see her, but was too late.

68. Diego Maradona departed this role in 2017 to become the head coach of Fujairah, in the UAE second division, before leaving at the end of the season upon failure to secure promotion at the club.

69. Diego Maradona began his managerial career alongside former Argentinos Juniors midfield teammate Carlos Fren.

70. Diego Maradona set up a goal for Roberto Baggio during the first half of the match, with a chipped through-ball over the defence with the outside of his left foot.

71. On 26 August 2006, it was announced that Diego Maradona was quitting his position in the club Boca Juniors because of disagreements with the AFA, who selected Alfio Basile to be the new coach of the Argentina national team.

72. Diego Maradona gave each of his guests a signed Argentina jersey, which Tyson wore when he arrived in Brazil, Argentina's biggest rivals.

73. On 22 June 2005, it was announced that Diego Maradona would return to former club Boca Juniors as a sports vice president in charge of managing the First Division roster.

74. On 22 March 2010, Diego Maradona was chosen number 1 in The Greatest 10 World Cup players of all time by the London-based newspaper The Times.

75. Diego Maradona has topped a number of fan polls, including a 2002 FIFA poll in which his second goal against England was chosen as the best goal ever scored in a World Cup; he won the most votes in a poll to determine the All-Time Ultimate World Cup Team.

76. In 2000, Diego Maradona published his autobiography Yo Soy El Diego, which became a bestseller in Argentina.

77. Diego Maradona was a dangerous free kick and penalty kick taker.

78. Diego Maradona showed leadership qualities on the field and captained Argentina in their World Cup campaigns of 1986, 1990 and 1994.

79. Diego Maradona captained Argentina again in the 1990 World Cup in Italy to yet another World Cup final.

80. Diego Maradona was coyly evasive, describing it as "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God".

81. Diego Maradona captained the Argentine national team to victory in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, winning the final in Mexico City against West Germany.

82. Diego Maradona played in all five matches without being substituted, scoring twice against Hungary.

83. Diego Maradona played his first World Cup tournament in 1982 in his new country of residence, Spain.

84. Diego Maradona was left off the Argentine squad for the 1978 World Cup on home soil by coach Cesar Luis Menotti who felt he was too young at age 17.

85. Diego Maradona made his full international debut at age 16, against Hungary, on 27 February 1977.

86. Diego Maradona was himself given a testimonial match in November 2001, played between an all-star World XI and the Argentina national team.

87. Diego Maradona arrived in Naples and was presented to the world media as a Napoli player on 5 July 1984, where he was welcomed by 75,000 fans at his presentation at the Stadio San Paolo.

88. Diego Maradona transferred to Napoli in Italy's Serie A for another world record fee, £6.9 million.

89. Diego Maradona signed a contract with Boca Juniors on 20 February 1981.

90. Diego Maradona entered to the pitch wearing the number 16 jersey, and after the game said, "That day I felt I had held the sky in my hands.

91. On 20 October 1976, Diego Maradona made his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors, 10 days before his 16th birthday.

92. Diego Maradona named Brazilian playmaker Rivelino and Manchester United winger George Best among his inspirations growing up.

93. Diego Maradona became a staple of Los Cebollitas, the junior team of Buenos Aires's Argentinos Juniors.

94. At age eight, Diego Maradona was spotted by a talent scout while he was playing in his neighbourhood club Estrella Roja.

95. In September 2018 Diego Maradona was appointed coach of Mexican club Dorados.

96. In May 2018, Diego Maradona was announced as the new chairman of Belarusian club Dynamo Brest.

97. In 2017, Diego Maradona became the coach of Fujairah before leaving at the end of the season.

98. Diego Maradona was in charge of the team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before leaving at the end of the tournament.

99. Diego Maradona played in four FIFA World Cups, including the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where he captained Argentina and led them to victory over West Germany in the final, and won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.