MORBID details of Diego Maradona's health problems have been revealed – including widespread swelling which doubled the size of his “freakishly deformed” heart.
The legendary Argentina star suffered in agony for 12 hours due to brain clots and breathing difficulties, according to his shocking autopsy.
Autopsy expert Mauricio Cassinelli said in court that the 1986 World Cup winner had “a heart that weighed more than twice its normal size.”
He said Maradona suffered bodily swelling “from head to toe,” and had “four and a half litres of water in his body”.
Seven medical professionals are currently on trial for culpable homicide, which is similar to involuntary manslaughter, after the player and manager's death in 2020.
He died in a dark room aged 60, lying in agony for half a day before suffering a heart attack.
The tragic star experienced dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that causes the heart chambers to enlarge and stretch.
And he suffered from cirrhosis which damaged his liver, as well as myocarditiswhich occurs when the heart becomes inflamed.
Local paper Clarin revealed the horrific details which emerged during the trial.
Chief prosecutor Patricio Ferrari previously said the footballer died in a “house of horror“, and described his care as “reckless and deficient”.
Cassinelli said that his torturous suffering would have been easy to spot for a number of days.
The expert said: “The heart was completely covered in fat and blood clots, which indicate agony.
“This is a patient who had been collecting water over the days; that's not acute.
“This was something that was foreseeable.
“Any doctor examining a patient would find this.
At the time of his tragic passing, Maradona was at home recovering from a brain blood clot surgery in November 2020.
He died two weeks later on November 25 in Dique Lujan, Argentina.
Cassinelli added: “It was a dark, partitioned room, with a bed in the middle of the room and a portable toilet.
“It didn't seem like a suitable place for what we later learned was home hospitalisation.”
Forensic doc Federico Corasaniti also backed up Cassinelli's claim that the Argentina midfielder suffered a slow and gradual death.
He said: “The difficulty he must have had breathing and exchanging gases, and the sounds in his lungs that are audible just by bringing his face close.”
“In my opinion as a doctor, it wasn't a sudden event.”
Diego Maradona's legacy
By Harvey Geh
Diego Maradona, born in 1960, was an Argentine footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
He led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, famously scoring the “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century” against England.
Maradona's club career included stints at Barcelona and Napoli, where he became a legend, winning two Serie A titles and the UEFA Cup.
His incredible dribbling, vision, and flair made him a global icon, inspiring generations of footballers, including Lionel Messi.
Off the pitch, Maradona battled drug addiction and health problems, which often overshadowed his footballing brilliance.
He was banned from the 1994 World Cup after testing positive for ephedrine, marking a dramatic fall from grace.
Despite controversies, he remained beloved in Argentina, with Napoli even renaming their stadium in his honour after his 2020 death.
Maradona had a turbulent career in management, coaching Argentina at the 2010 World Cup but failing to replicate his playing success.
Following his tragic death Maradona’s legacy endures as a flawed genius whose footballing magic will never be forgotten.
Maradona's family have alleged negligence, a cover-up, and derogatory comments from the medical staff who were in charge of his care.
They called the medical team and cover-up a “mafia”.
The player had previously struggled with drug addiction, obesity and alcoholism for decades, and reportedly came close to death in both 2000 and 2004.
But prosecutors now suspect that his death could have been avoided.
Seven of the eight medical professionals who have been charged in the case include Maradona's brain surgeon, psychiatrist and nurses.
They are now standing trial for a charge similar to involuntary manslaughter.
The group deny wrongdoing but could face up to 25 years in prison.
Diego Maradona‘s eldest daughter Dalma shared a video containing audio clips which she says proves serious irregularities in her father's care.
She also revealed that her mother is in fear of the “mafia” who “control everything”.
She has previously said that a “mafia of assassins” caused her dad's death, and that audio recordings prove a lack of medical attention and talks about cover-ups, according to Diario Registrado.
Maradona's cause of death was officially listed as “acute pulmonary edema secondary to exacerbated chronic heart failure”.
