90min

Diego Maradona Has Successful Surgery on Blood Clot in Brain

By Jamie Spencer

Diego Maradona has been treated for a brain blood clot
Diego Maradona has been treated for a brain blood clot / STAFF/Getty Images
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Argentina legend Diego Maradona has undergone successful surgery on a blood clot in his brain, having been admitted to hospital in La Plata for initial tests and observation earlier this week.

Fans were relieved to learn that his arrival at the Ipensa clinic was not related to coronavirus, but it was of concern that the 1986 World Cup winner had been feeling unwell for some time.

Maradona 'coped well' with the surgery
Maradona 'coped well' with the surgery / Jam Media/Getty Images

Maradona turned 60 on Friday and has previously suffered from a number of health problems related to drug and alcohol abuse, as well as obesity. In 2019, he was treated in hospital for internal bleeding in his stomach caused by a hernia.

Maradona was transferred to the Olivos clinic, also in La Plata, for the procedure to treat the clot. The surgery was performed by Dr Leopoldo Luque, who ironically shares the name of one of his former Argentina teammates, and it was confirmed that the living legend ‘coped well’.

Luque was able to successfully drain and clear the clot, much to the joy of dedicated fans who flocked to the outside of the hospital to chant Maradona’s name.

Fans gather outside the hospital where Maradona underwent surgery
Fans gather outside the hospital where Maradona underwent surgery / Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images

Maradona remains one of the greatest footballers of all time. He famously led Argentina to world Cup glory in 1986 in one of the most dominant performances by a single player in any team sport and later also played in the 1990 final.

He became an icon during his time at Napoli, helping the club win two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup during a turbulent spell that ended in disgrace in 1992 following a 15-month drug ban.

Maradona had earlier played for Barcelona, as well as Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors, while he later turned out for Sevilla, Newell’s Old Boys and had a final spell at Boca before retiring in 1997. Bizarrely, he had been close to joining Sheffield United as a 17-year-old in 1978.

Health problems dominated the years immediately after Maradona’s retirement from playing, but after giving up drugs and drink he later went on to be appointed Argentina coach in 2008 and led the team at the 2010 World Cup.

Diego Maradona was the best player in the world in the 1980s
Diego Maradona was the best player in the world in the 1980s / Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

Further coaching gigs have come in the UAE and Mexico – the latter is the subject of a Netflix mini- series (Maradona in Mexico), while he is currently in charge at top flight Argentine club Gimnasia.

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