A new trial regarding the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona began in Argentina on Tuesday.
Seven members of the late player's medical team face charges of negligent homicide. The proceedings aim to determine if the team was responsible for his death in November 2020.
Maradona died at age 60 while recovering from brain surgery at a private residence in the northern Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre. According to Al Jazeera, the cause of death was heart failure and acute pulmonary edema.
This legal battle restarts a year after the first trial collapsed. That previous proceeding ended in May 2025 after a judge, Julieta Makintach, was impeached for breaching judicial rules by participating in a documentary filmed within the court.
The legal battle
Prosecutors allege the medical team's management of Maradona's convalescence was "grossly negligent." The defendants face potential prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.
The defense maintains that Maradona, who struggled with long-term cocaine and alcohol addictions, died of natural causes. They have specifically denied the charges of "simple homicide with eventual intent" regarding his treatment.
France24 reported that the new trial follows a period of legal instability after the previous case was annulled. The court expects to hear testimony from approximately 120 witnesses.
Maradona's death in 2020 triggered massive mourning across Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 1986 World Cup champion remains a global icon, famously known for his "Hand of God" goal against England.
The trial is expected to continue through July.
