Diego Maradona bloated, bedridden and resigned before death, says masseur | Football News
Seven Healthcare Professionals on Trial for Negligence in Maradona’s Death
Published: August 7, 2026
Seven healthcare professionals have been on trial in Argentina since mid-April, facing allegations of potential negligence related to the death of football legend Diego Maradona in 2020.
During the proceedings, Nicolas Taffarel, Maradona’s masseur, revealed that the football icon was bedridden and suffering from edema in his final days. Taffarel stated that Maradona appeared resigned to his fate, expressing a lack of desire to eat or maintain personal hygiene. “He wouldn’t get out of bed; he didn’t want to eat, didn’t want to wash, didn’t want to look after his personal hygiene,” Taffarel testified on Thursday.
In court, audio recordings were presented in which Taffarel urged Maradona’s medical team to increase their presence and visit him daily. “I reported the issues I observed with him, but I saw no concrete action or swift resolution,” he said, visibly emotional as he recounted his experiences.
Taffarel described Maradona as “bloated” with swollen legs and noted that while doctors reassured him that the symptoms were temporary, they did not improve. “When you’re anxious, you put your trust in them; you tell yourself it will pass, that everything will sort itself out. But it didn’t pass,” he added.
The day before Maradona’s death, Taffarel attempted to persuade him to drink mate, a traditional herbal beverage. He recounted their interaction, stating that Maradona responded, “I don’t want anything, Taffita, that’s it,” a phrase which has been interpreted to convey resignation.
Maradona died alone in bed on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, just two weeks after undergoing surgery.
The defendants in the current trial, who face up to 25 years in prison, deny any wrongdoing. Many cite their specific areas of expertise and assert that their roles did not directly contribute to the clinical causes of Maradona’s death. The trial is expected to continue beyond August.
