Argentine great Diego Maradona is often known as one of the best soccer stars to ever play. Although the former Napoli star was known for his incredible contribution to the game, his image was also maligned for his alleged drug abuse and doping charges. However, besides all that, the player was always known for his big heart.
One such example was when he played a charity match during his initial days at Napoli, even though he was instructed not to, just to collect money for a very young child’s operation.
It was during his time at Napoli after he moved from Barcelona, that Maradona was at the peak of his career, the great Argentinian played a fundraising match in one of the poorest suburbs of Naples to aid a sick child in need of an expensive operation.
At that time a one-year-old child named Luca Quarto, in Naples, was having a very serious health condition and his life was at risk. The boy’s father knew one of Maradona’s teammates back then and he asked him to convince the Argentine to play a charity match to raise funds for the kid’s operation.
In 1984, Maradona played a fundraising match in one of the poorest suburbs of Naples to aid a sick child in need of an expensive operation. pic.twitter.com/X7SIHpQAns
— Old Days Football (@OldDaysFootball) March 15, 2017
Although Diego was ready, his decision to play the charity match didn’t go well with the club. Napoli president Corrado Feralino was reportedly scared of any injury the Argentine might incur if he played the charity game. and was reluctant to allow the star to participate in that game. It was rumored that Maradona agreed to pay the insurance required to let him play against the local amateur club.
However even after all that, the legendary soccer star decided to take part in the match. They played on a muddy field on the outskirts of Naples. He along with his few team-mates from the Italian club warmed up in the local car park, after which they faced the local side. Maradona and Co. thrashed the local side 4-0 in which the prolific attacker himself scored 2 goals.
Diego Maradona reportedly met the boy again in 2002 in a TV interview. Luca was reportedly very grateful to the Argentine soccer legend for his generosity as he mentioned Diego to be like his “second father.” He should the same gesture of being in debt to the player during another interview, where he thanked him for his support.
Acá está el chico al que tenían que operar, Luca Quarto, agradeciendole a #Maradona en un programa de la TV italiana:pic.twitter.com/wvHk9c1nj1 https://t.co/4Zub1NMI19
— La Pelota Siempre al 10 ⭐⭐⭐ (@SiempreAlDiego) October 6, 2021
Luca said, “Diego was great to me and great for my life. I’ve had a different life thanks to him. We needed 20 million liras and Diego brought 15 million. Every now and then I watch that charity match back and I always feel a new emotion. It’s a really beautiful thing and I feel fortunate that I got to meet Diego. He gave me life. He was like a second father.” However, Luca was reportedly arrested back in 2022. He was accused of drug dealing in Bellaria Igea Marina.
Eight healthcare professionals set to face trials over Diego Maradona’s death
Diego Maradona’s demise came as a shock to the whole soccer world during the covid in 2020. The news was followed by quite a few controversial theories that the soccer star’s death might not have been a natural one. Back in April, it was declared that eight healthcare professionals would stand trial as per the Argentine court’s orders.
A medical board gave a report to the prosecutor which stated that the former Barcelona and Napoli legend was in pain for more than 12 hours. But he reportedly didn’t receive adequate treatment. The medical board pointed out that if properly hospitalized, the patient could have been saved. The prosecutors have put charges of homicide by negligence against the members of Maradona’s medical team.
The list of people on the accused medical board includes Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov who are accused of failing in their care for star, psychologist Carlos Díaz, doctors Nancy Forlini and Pedro Di Spagna.
It also includes nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni and nurses Ricardo Almirón and Dahiana Madrid. The date of the proceedings isn’t yet confirmed. But the court is unlikely to begin before next year.
Maradona care ‘deficient and reckless’ before death, medical board report finds https://t.co/BegEOgjxZT pic.twitter.com/3Xehckm8FY
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 1, 2021
Talking about the negligence from the medical personnel’s end, one of Maradona’s daughters, Dalma, wrote on Instagram. She said, “Many times the process is painful and slow, but here we are and we will not stop until justice is done! Each one who stopped doing their job (at someone’s request or because of ineffectiveness) will be judged for that!”
The 1986 World Cup winner passed away due to a heart attack on November 25, 2020. This was just two weeks after he had brain surgery. He was 60. His autopsy also showed that he died of natural causes.
