Photo by Flickr, CC by 2.0
As the football world continues to honour the memory of its Golden Boy, what better way to celebrate Diego’s legacy than by revisiting his story through the lens of filmmakers who tried to bottle that brilliance?
Every flick, feint, and finish in modern football is captured in ultra-high definition, replayed from multiple angles, and analysed in real time. But football wasn’t always this closely documented. For many of the game’s legends, their greatest moments live only in grainy footage—or in the fading memories of those lucky enough to witness them live.
Diego Maradona, the mercurial Argentinian who came from the streets of Villa Fiorito to conquer the world, is arguably the greatest footballer to have ever graced the pitch. Not every one of his 259 goals was filmed—but those that were still shimmer. The mazy runs, the inch-perfect passes, the madness and magic—it all lives on, immortalised in old footage and revived through documentaries that try, valiantly, to pin down a man who often felt more legend than flesh.
Here are six of the best Diego Maradona documentaries you need to see.
1. Hero: The Official Film of the 1986 World Cup
Where better to start than the tournament which cemented Maradona’s legendary status forever? ‘Hero’ is aptly titled, since there is no question that Diego is the star of this particular show. Narrated by Oscar-winner Michael Caine, the movie takes us through one of the best World Cups in recent memory, which was of course to prove successful for Argentina and their diminutive number 10.
Where to watch: YouTube & Amazon.
2. Diego Maradona
Director Asif Kapadia is responsible for the tremendous biographical documentaries ‘Senna’ and ‘Amy’ – about racing driver Ayrton Senna and singer Amy Winehouse – the latter of which won an Oscar for best documentary.
Turning his lens to Diego Maradona, the director focuses mainly on the turbulent years which the Argentine spent in Napoli. The documentary provides a startling insight into the pressures imposed upon the boy from the barrios, and the amount of footage made available to Kapadia makes for an engrossing watch.
Where to watch: Amazon & Apple.
3. Maradona in Mexico
This seven-part documentary series from Netflix takes a look at Maradona’s latter-day Mexican adventures, when he took over as coach of second-division club Dorados de Sinaloa. This obscure club made headlines around the globe when they managed to lure the Argentine superstar to the city of Culiacan in northwestern Mexico.
We didn’t know it at the time, but this was to be Diego’s last official role in professional football. The series follows the highs and lows of a turbulent year, with ‘Maradona’s magnetism and mania’ (The Guardian) on full eye-popping display.
Where to watch: Netflix.
4. Loving Maradona
This documentary takes us through the life of Maradona, in Diego’s own words. Clearly a labour of love by director Javier Martin Vazquez, this 2007 film still provides some revealing images including Maradona’s time in Cuba as well as some incredible on-pitch highlights.
Where to watch: fuboTV
5. Maradona by Kusturica
Emir Kusturica is an award-winning film-maker, another drawn towards the Argentine superstar like a moth to a flame. This is an homage to late-period Diego, and a documentary where the footballer shares centre-stage with the director. Perhaps not the greatest film on our list, but fans of Maradona will still find plenty to enjoy here.
Where to watch: YouTube & Amazon.
6. Diego: The Last Goodbye
More than just a documentary, this is a tribute to a titan. Mixing raw recollections of Maradona’s final days with emotional tributes, it features interviews with everyone from Jorge Burruchaga to Mauricio Pochettino and Ernesto Bialo, each offering personal insight into a man who transcended football to become a cultural icon in Argentina and beyond.
Where to watch: HBO Max.
Check out our list of the 100 best sports movies and documentaries to find more top viewing selections.
