A high-stakes retrial into the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona is set to commence on Tuesday, reigniting a legal battle over the medical care he received before his tragic passing at age 60.
Seven members of Maradona's medical team stand accused of homicide with possible intent, facing potential prison sentences of eight to 25 years if convicted. The charges stem from allegations that they failed to provide adequate medical care while the football icon was recovering from brain surgery at his home in Tigre, Buenos Aires province.
"The treatment he received at his home was deficient and reckless," concluded a panel of medical experts commissioned by prosecutors, adding that Maradona "would have had a better chance of survival" with proper treatment in a medical facility.
The retrial follows the collapse of the initial proceedings in May 2025 after one of the three presiding judges allegedly permitted unauthorized courtroom filming for a documentary. A new judicial panel will now hear testimony from approximately 100 witnesses, including Maradona's daughters, in a trial expected to extend through July.
Investigators have classified the case as culpable homicide—similar to involuntary manslaughter—asserting that the accused were aware of Maradona's critical health condition but failed to take necessary life-saving measures. The preliminary autopsy confirmed that heart failure led to acute pulmonary edema, where fluid accumulates in the lungs.
Among those facing trial are Maradona's primary medical adviser, Leopoldo Luque, and his psychiatrist, Agustina Cosachov. His former nurse, Dahiana Gisela Madrid, will be tried separately.
Maradona's death on November 25, 2020, prompted three days of national mourning declared by then-President Alberto Fernández, who expressed the nation's collective grief: "Thank you for having existed, Diego. We're going to miss you all our lives."
Beyond the courtroom drama, the trial revisits the complex legacy of one of football's most gifted yet troubled figures. Maradona, who represented Argentina in four World Cups and scored 34 international goals—including the infamous "Hand of God" goal against England in 1986—struggled publicly with cocaine addiction during his later career. After retiring from professional football in 1997, he served as Argentina's national team coach from 2008 to 2010 and managed clubs internationally until his death while leading Argentine side Gimnasia y Esgrima.
As the retrial unfolds in San Isidro court, it represents not just a legal proceeding but a continued quest for accountability in the death of a cultural icon whose life and career captivated millions worldwide.