Date announced for Diego Maradona’s death trial

A court in Argentina has scheduled December 22, 2026 to deliver its verdict in the trial of seven healthcare professionals accused of negligence in the death of football legend Diego Maradona in 2020.

The decision date was announced on Thursday after six months of hearings in a case that has drawn significant public attention in Argentina, where Maradona remains one of the country’s most celebrated sporting icons.

The trial concluded with brief statements from Maradona’s daughter, Dalma Maradona, and some of the defendants, who face allegations relating to the medical care provided to the former Argentina captain before his death.

Dalma, speaking with emotion, said she hoped her father would receive justice, stressing that he deserved the same treatment as anyone else under the law.

“I hope my father receives the justice he deserves… like anyone else,” she said.

Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal doctor and the main defendant in the case, maintained his innocence as the proceedings came to a close.

“I am innocent,” Luque declared.

Circumstances surrounding Maradona’s death

Maradona died aged 60 on November 25, 2020, after suffering heart failure accompanied by pulmonary oedema, a condition involving fluid accumulation in the lungs.

The football legend, who had a history of substance abuse, was found dead in his bed at a rented residence in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, where he was recovering from minor neurosurgery.

His death plunged Argentina into mourning during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting widespread tributes to a player widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history.

The case has centred on whether the decision to allow Maradona to recover at a private residence rather than remain in a hospital amounted to negligent medical care.

Prosecutors have argued that the arrangements for his recovery were inadequate, raising questions about the level of medical supervision he received in the days leading up to his death.

Prosecution seeks prison sentences

During the trial, prosecutors requested prison sentences ranging from four to 12 years for six of the seven defendants, with the maximum 12-year term sought for Luque.

The prosecution’s case relied partly on allegations that Maradona’s caregivers failed to respond appropriately to signs of his deteriorating health.

Several medical experts who testified during the proceedings said Maradona had displayed warning signs, including oedema, tachycardia and difficulty breathing, before his death.

Prosecutors also pointed to the reported absence of essential medical equipment at the residence, including a hospital bed and defibrillator, as well as concerns about the availability of an ambulance in an emergency.

They argued that these circumstances raised serious questions about whether the healthcare professionals fulfilled their responsibilities to the former footballer.

Doctor’s defence rejects negligence claims

Luque’s defence team rejected the prosecution’s argument that Maradona’s death was foreseeable and described the doctor as a scapegoat.

Throughout the trial, Luque was among the most outspoken defendants, repeatedly challenging claims that implicated him in the circumstances surrounding the footballer’s death.

His lawyers presented audio recordings, scientific articles and a video of Maradona’s autopsy in support of their defence, a move that reportedly angered the footballer’s daughters.

Luque argued that he was being targeted because he had maintained close contact with Maradona.

“It’s easy to attack me because I’m the one who had the most contact with Maradona,” he said in court, adding that the footballer would have been the only person to defend him.

“I cared deeply for him, I loved him, he was my idol and my friend,” Luque said.

The court’s December 22 ruling will determine the outcome of the case against the healthcare professionals accused of negligence in the circumstances leading to Maradona’s death.