A fresh trial concerning the tragic death of football legend Diego Maradona is set to begin on Tuesday. The 60-year-old sporting icon passed away from heart failure in November 2020.
This new legal proceeding follows the collapse of the original trial in May 2025, which was derailed after a presiding judge allegedly permitted unauthorised filming inside the courtroom for a documentary.
Allegations of medical negligence
Seven individuals who formed part of Maradona’s medical care team are standing trial for culpable homicide. Prosecutors argue that the defendants acted with potential intent by failing to provide an adequate standard of medical care.
The accused strongly deny these charges but could face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years if found guilty.
At the time of his death, the World Cup winner was recuperating at a residence in Tigre within the Buenos Aires province. He had recently undergone a successful surgical procedure to remove a blood clot on his brain. A preliminary post-mortem examination revealed that his fatal heart failure led to acute pulmonary oedema.
Following an investigation by a specialist medical board, prosecutors allege that the at-home treatment Maradona received was entirely inadequate. The panel concluded that the care was both deficient and reckless, noting that the star would have possessed a significantly higher chance of survival had he been monitored in a proper medical facility.
High-profile defendants and testimonies
Among the seven defendants facing the new panel of judges in San Isidro are Leopoldo Luque, his primary medical consultant, and Agustina Cosachov, his psychiatrist. A former nurse who attended to the footballer, Dahiana Gisela Madrid, will be tried in a separate legal proceeding.
The court anticipates hearing from approximately 100 witnesses before the trial concludes around July. Maradona’s daughters are expected to be among those giving evidence during the extensive hearings.
A complex legacy
The sudden loss of Maradona in 2020 prompted then-President Alberto Fernandez to declare three days of national mourning, famously stating that the nation would miss the sporting hero for a lifetime.
Renowned for his extraordinary talent and his infamous «Hand of God» goal against England in 1986, Maradona enjoyed a stellar playing career with clubs such as Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors. However, his life off the pitch was frequently marred by a severe cocaine addiction that resulted in a 15-month footballing ban in 1991.
Following his retirement as a player in 1997, he transitioned into management. He led the Argentine national squad to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup and later managed domestic teams in the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and his native Argentina.
