Diego Maradona will be operated on Tuesday evening in Buenos Aires for a subdural hematoma, the Argentine legend’s doctor has confirmed.
Maradona had been hospitalized for anemia and dehydration since Monday evening, although the 60-year-old’s condition had improved, his personal doctor had said earlier Tuesday.
Maradona, who won the 1986 World Cup with Argentina and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, coaches the local club Gimnasia y Esgrima.
He initially self-isolated after one of his bodyguards showed symptoms of the coronavirus, the country’s state news agency Telam reported last Tuesday.
The local coaching club of Maradona, Gimnasia y Esgrima
He last appeared in public on his 60th birthday last Friday before his team’s league game against Patronato.
He was given a plaque and cake to celebrate the occasion, but he didn’t stay to watch the game and witnesses said he looked uncomfortable and weak.
The former Napoli, Barcelona and Boca Juniors player has seen frequent hospitalizations over the years, often due to the flamboyant lifestyle that has accompanied and followed his career as a player.
The former Napoli striker was also hospitalized with internal gastric bleeding in January 2019.
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Mauricio Pochettino remembers sharing a room with Diego Maradona and how his charismatic personality reminds him of former PSG teammate Ronaldinho.
He also fell ill at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he passed out in an executive box during the game between Argentina and Nigeria.
Maradona was hospitalized in 2004 with severe heart and breathing problems related to cocaine use. He later underwent drug rehabilitation in Cuba and Argentina before a stomach clamp helped him lose weight in 2005.
In 2007, he checked into a clinic in Buenos Aires to try to overcome alcohol abuse problems.
