Thousands of fans of football great Diego Maradona will pay tribute to the star on the one-year anniversary of his death, how he died and allegations of past relationships that threaten to tarnish his legacy.
Argentina's world champion, his one-time flowing man and known as 'Pelusa' for 'D10S' - a play on the Spanish word 'God' and its famous no. 10 Jersey - died of cardiac arrest on November 25, 2020 at the age of 60.
Born in a humble neighborhood on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Maradona became an icon to many in Argentina and around the world. He was a cult hero in Napoli, Italy, where he helped an underdog team achieve national and European glory.
The player is immortalized with murals and statues, as well as tattoos in his name.
"Diego has made us feel a lot," 34-year-old Argentine teacher Ezequiel Rossi told Reuters this week.
"It was amazing to see this kid start without anything and suddenly he had everything. He showed us dreams and imagined that we could do great things too."
Maradona's personal life was marked by controversy, drugs and alcohol, multiple children and friendships with powerful leaders, including Venezuelan Hugo Chavez and Cuban Fidel Castro.
This week, a Cuban woman who had an affair with Maradona two decades ago, when she was 16 and about 40, accused him of "stealing her childhood" and raped her once.
Alejandro Starley, a 61-year-old shooting instructor, said: "I can't justify what he did in many areas of his life. So I try to differentiate the player from the people."
The Italian club Napoli, under whose leadership he won the Serie A title in 1987 and 1990, will play three matches in November after the young Maradona in a black and white embroidered shirt. His other two clubs Barcelona and Boca Juniors will compete in a 'Maradona Cup'.
Thursday will be a sad day for many.
His daughter Dalma Maradona recently said on Instagram, "That day is the worst day of my life." "I think this day is much less celebrated, not to honor or remember."
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