7. Health Problems And Cheating Death
Maradona might have been one of the greatest players of the 1980s but for most of the decade he was playing while addicted to cocaine. He first tried the drug when playing for Barcelona in 1983 but developed a full-blown addiction during his time with Napoli. In 2000 Maradona underwent intensive drug rehabilitation in Cuba but unfortunately he wasn't able to kick the habit and came close to death after a massive heart attack caused by a cocaine overdose in 2004. In an effort to start afresh and also kick an addiction to food that had seen him reach almost 20 stone, he underwent gastric bypass surgery and, after undergoing a liquid diet, was noticeably thinner and healthier by the time of his next public appearance. After they had almost lost their favourite son, Maradona made a triumphant return to Argentinian public life hosting his own talk show, titled The Night Of The Number 10, in August 2005. His first guest? That pesky Pelé. This wasn't the end of Maradona's health problems, he was admitted to hospital in 2007 with hepatitis due to alcohol abuse. He came out the other side having quit drinking, drugs and vindicated his recovery by taking charge of the Argentinian national team in 2008.