Diego Maradona Trial Twist: Court Expert Suggests Covid-19

A court expert has suggested Diego Maradona may have died from Covid-19, delivering a stunning twist in the ongoing trial over the football legend's death. The testimony directly challenges the prosecution's case against his medical team.

In the closing stages of the trial in San Isidro, official court expert Dr. Ferrari presented a startling alternative theory. He told the court that Maradona's death on November 25, 2020, could have been caused by the coronavirus. Ferrari criticised the lack of Covid-19 screening during the post-mortem, which was conducted at the height of the global pandemic. "We cannot rule out that he died of Covid," he stated.

The forensic doctor argued the virus could be "fulminant in its virulence," killing a patient in just a few hours. This assessment directly disputes previous expert testimony that claimed Maradona endured a fatal 12-hour agony. Ferrari insisted, "His agony must have been a few minutes long." His view reinforces the defence argument from lead physician Leopoldo Luque, who said Maradona suffered a sudden lung fluid accumulation leading to acute respiratory distress and rapid cardiac arrest.

Ferrari's testimony is a major development for the defence. He is the only official court expert to maintain this Covid-19 theory, providing a vital counterweight as the trial nears its conclusion. The proceedings have already heard from 76 witnesses. Alongside Luque, six other medical practitioners face charges of simple homicide with eventual intent. They are psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, Nancy Forlini, Carlos Diaz, and others named in the case. The new medical theory introduces significant doubt about the cause and timing of Maradona's death, which is central to the prosecution's argument about negligent care.

Separately, a historical quirk explains why Maradona, alongside Pele, never claimed football's most famous individual prize. It wasn't a snub from voters. The original rules for the Ballon d'Or, awarded by France Football, stated only European players at European clubs were eligible. This rule was in place from the award's 1956 inception until 1995. So during their prime years, neither South American genius could win it.

France Football later acknowledged this historical gap. In 1995, they changed the rules to include all players at European clubs, regardless of nationality. Then, in 2016, they issued a one-time set of retrospective awards. Pele was given an honorary Ballon d'Or. Maradona, who died in 2020, was never formally granted one by the magazine in this gesture, a point often noted by fans. His legendary status, built on his 1986 World Cup triumph and club successes, remains untouched by the award's old restrictions.

• Trial Twist: A court expert testified Diego Maradona may have died from a rapid-onset Covid-19 infection, not a lengthy cardiac event.
• Defence Boost: This theory supports the argument of Maradona's personal doctor, Leopoldo Luque, and challenges the prosecution's timeline.
• Historical Rule: Maradona never won a Ballon d'Or because the award was originally restricted to European players at European clubs.
• Legacy Intact: The eligibility rule, changed in 1995, does not diminish his standing as one of football's greatest ever players.