Diego Maradona: Legend or cheat? From Hand of God to cocaine battles, everything you need to know

There are not many faces more recognisable in the history of sport than that of Diego Armando Maradona.

The Argentinean superstar is one of the most divisive characters of all time. Whether you love, hate, adore, despise or admire him, one thing is for sure- he is difficult to ignore.

What is undeniable is that the now-59-year-old was the greatest talent of his generation and one of the best footballers to have ever played the game.

And while his fellow compatriot Lionel Messi can arguably match him for ability on the pitch, he leads a far quieter life off it than 'El Pibe de Oro' ever did.

Maradona has been involved in more controversies than even the most high-profile Hollywood stars- from cheating scandals and drugs abuse to brushes with the Mafia and financial problems, he has seen it all.

So let's take a look back at the history of the man many in Argentina consider to be a God- because, frankly, there has rarely been a dull moment in his extraordinary life.

Here's everything you need to know about the life and times of Diego Maradona.

Relationships and family

Maradona's early years weren't easy.

The fifth child of Diego Maradona Senior and Dalma Salvadora Franco, he was born into poverty and raised in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. He's one of eight siblings.

He married long-term girlfriend Claudia Villafane in 1984 and they had two daughters, Dalma and Gianinna. In his autobiography, he admitted cheating on 'the love of his life'.

The pair divorced in 2004, but have remained friends. During the divorce proceedings, it emerged that Maradona had a secret lovechild from a brief affair.

He admitted he was the father of Diego Sinagra, born in 1986. Diego Junior met his dad for the first time in 2003 and is now a footballer playing in Italy.

Maradona has another son called Diego and a daughter called Jana. In total he has five children.

His youngest daughter Gianinna was married to Manchester City and Argentina striker Sergio Aguero but the couple divorced after separating in 2012. Maradona has called him a "wimp".

Aguero and Gianinna's son Benjamin is Maradona's grandson.

Maradona has been in a relationship with 28-year-old Rocio Olivia, a former professional footballer, since 2012. They got engaged in 2014.

Finances

According to TheRichest, Maradona's net worth is estimated to be $100,000 (£75,000).

In 2010, while manager of Argentina, he earned a salary of $944,120 (£717, 701).

However, in 2013 he was served with a £33million tax bill by Italian authorities. It related to debts stemming from alleged unpaid taxes during the 1980s.

He's said to have repaid £37,000 and handed over two luxury watches and a set of earrings so far.

Hand of God

In 1986, Maradona pretty much singlehandedly won the World Cup for Argentina

But he cheated along the way. Worse still, it was against England.

During the quarter-final, he jumped into a challenge with Three Lions goalkeeper Peter Shilton.

The little forward appeared to reach the ball first with his head, knocking the ball into the goal.

Replays showed he had in fact punched it past the hapless goalie.

The goal, which sealed a crushing 2-1 victory for Argentina, was dubbed the 'Hand of God.

Drug addiction and health problems

Maradona fought a 20-year addiction cocaine, using the Class A drug from the mid 1980s until 2004.

He was a regular user of the drug while at Napoli, where he enjoyed the best form of his career.

The little magician was banned for 15 months in 1991 after failing a dope test while playing for Napoli.

After hanging up his boots in 1997, he piled on weight to the point of being obese.

In 2005, he underwent gastric bypass surgery.

Two years later, he was treated for hepatitis and alcohol-related illness at a hospital in Buenos Aires.

When he was readmitted two days after being discharged, there were three false reports he had died.

He was eventually transferred to a psychiatric unit specialising in alcohol-related issues. On leaving hospital, Maradona said he had quit drinking and had not used drugs in two-and-a-half years.

Expelled from the World Cup

Maradona was called up by Argentina for the 1994 World Cup after seeing out his doping ban

He didn’t last long, though.

After playing just two games he was sent home after testing positive for ephedrine.

In his autobiography, he claimed he'd ingested the stimulant in the power drink Rip Fuel, given to him by his personal trainer.

He has also claimed that he had an agreement with FIFA, which allowed him to use the drug to help him lose weight.

Politics

Maradona developed left-wing ideals that saw him cultivate a friendship with Fidel Castro (whose head is also tattooed on Diego’s left leg, next to Che Guevara on the right).

He has also come out in support of former Venezulean President Hugo Chavez and is a staunch opponent of American imperialism.

An outspoken critic of George W Bush, in 2005 he protested against the then US President’s visit to Argentina by wearing a T-shirt bearing the legend ‘STOP BUSH’. He described him as human garbage.

Two years later, Maradona said: "I hate everything that comes from the United States. I hate it with all my strength”, before presenting a signed shirt to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In October 2015, Maradona thanked the Queen and British politicians in London for giving him the chance to provide "true justice" as head of an organisation designed to help young children.

He later accept their nomination for him to become Latin American director for the non-governmental organisation Football for Unity.

What others have said about him

Michel Platini: "Diego was capable of things no one else could match. The things I could do with a football, he could do with an orange."

Lionel Messi: "Even if I played for a million years, I'd never come close to Maradona. Not that I'd want to anyway. He's the greatest there's ever been."

Gary Lineker: "When Diego scored that second goal against us, I felt like applauding. I'd never felt like that before, but it's true... and not just because it was such an important game.

"It was impossible to score such a beautiful goal. He's the greatest player of all time, by a long way. A genuine phenomenon."

Peter Shilton: "I’ve never wanted to meet him since the Hand of God, because I felt he should have apologised.

“I’ve got a love for football and you have to conduct yourself well but he has gone the other way by blaming the Falklands War, he said he hates the English and that’s the side I don’t like.”