How Football Icon Diego Maradona Became A Global Religious Figure

A graphic of Diego Maradona created by the Maradonian Church.

BUENOS AIRES — Time stopped abruptly for many when Diego Maradona died Nov. 25. For Alejandro Verón (52), a founding member of the Maradonian Church, it is still hard to comprehend his idol’s passing. “Diego did not die, and he will never die for us. On the contrary, he is more alive than ever,” he told Religion Unplugged. 

The Argentine football superstar impacted millions of lives, although he left a controversial legacy behind - mostly outside the pitch. Maradona was born into poverty in the slums of Buenos Aires and reached the top of global sports glory. He’s a symbol of humbleness, talent and personal growth, an example that football can be a way out of an underprivileged life. “Salvation,” as Maradona once described it. He also gained devotees.

“For Argentines, football is a religion,” Verón  said. “And, if each religion has its god, the god of football is Diego.”

A mural near Argentinos Juniors' stadium in Buenos Aires, where Diego Maradona debuted as a professional football player in 1976. Photo by James Gatica Matheson.

The extraordinary happiness he brought to many Argentinian homes during their most challenging times explains the level of devotion that he received. “El Diego” became a figure of hope.

“He was someone who would make you smile when there were only two loaves on the table to share among four or five people in the family,” Verón said. “We Argentines have had a terrible time. We did not have work, we did not have money, but we stood in front of the television, and Diego was there to support us.”  

In the early hours of Nov. 30 more than 20 years ago, a friend wished Verón “Merry Christmas.” At first, it did not make sense. Then it clicked. For a small group of fans in Rosario, a city 200 miles north of Buenos Aires, Diego Maradona’s birthday could only mean Christmas. A couple of years later, and among several others, they founded the Maradonian Church.

“Some describe us with words like ‘idolatry’ or ‘fanatics,’” Verón said. “We do consider ourselves fanatics, but we try to be ‘rational fanatics.’ We believe in two gods, one of the heart, and the other of reason. One is Christ, and the other is Diego.”

An altar on the doorstep of the house where Maradona lived in the ‘70s in the Buenos Aires neighborhood "La Paternal." Today there is a museum there in his honor. Photo by James Gatica Matheson.

Verón is a sports journalist, university lecturer and carpenter. He identifies himself as a Roman Catholic. He worked for 20 years with Catholic charities, attended a Catholic school and clarifies that they are not making fun of Christianity or any other religion. The Maradonian Church respects all religious communities, including people who believe in nothing, he said.  

“We are not a sect; we did not ask Maradona for work, we did not ask people for tithe,” Verón said. “There are Catholic priests who, when they understood the essence of the Maradonian Church, have said laughing, ‘This is fantastic, it is not a mockery of anyone, this is a tribute.’ We follow Diego, the player, and we emphasize that.”

Maradona has fans in every corner of the globe where his name was ever cried. “We did the kickoff, but there are thousands and thousands of people, not only in Argentina but around the world,” Verón said. “Now that this came out [Maradona’s passing], do you realize how many people think Diego was the best of all? He had worldwide recognition, from the Pope to heads of states, all newspapers put Diego on the cover.”

In a statement, the Vatican said that the Pope - who is a fan - “recalls with affection the times [he and Maradona] met in recent years and remembers him in prayer.” Then, Argentina's President Alberto Fernández tweeted: "You took us to the top of the world, and you made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of them all." And Leonel Messi said: "Diego leaves us, but he doesn't leave us... because he's eternal." 

A drawing of Maradona with a rosary outside Boca Juniors' stadium in Buenos Aires, the last club he played for until he retired in 1998. Photo by James Gatica Matheson.

Probably, the most iconic event that everyone will treasure about Maradona dates back to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. On June 22 (now commemorated as Easter by the Maradonian Church), Maradona captained the Argentina national team against England. The match featured two of the most remembered goals in World Cup history, popularly known as the “Goal of the Century” and the “Hand of God.” The majesty of his second goal and the notoriety of his first led to the French newspaper L'Équipe, describing Maradona as "half-angel, half-devil."

However, for those then 30 million Argentines watching on television, the Azteca Stadium scoring was more meaningful than the pass to the semifinals. “Diego was the one who projected power, who tried, in some way, to take revenge. Not even 10 goals from Maradona are going to return to life a single soldier fallen in the Malvinas (the Falklands War - a military conflict between Argentina and the UK in 1982). However, he was the one who avenged on behalf of us,” Verón remembered vividly. That day his legend was cemented.

After triumphing with Barcelona FC in Spain, Napoli in Italy, Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario and back at his beloved Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, Maradona had also lived chaotic years. Those troubled decades involved drug consumption, mafia deals and alcoholism, which caused him health problems for the rest of his life. He died at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack and having had successful brain surgery earlier in November. 

Alejandro Verón (right) with Diego Maradona (left) in 2003. Photo courtesy of Verón.

Verón attended the private funeral at the Argentinian Government Palace Casa Rosada with Maradona’s family and closest friends. There, he met Dalma, Diego’s eldest daughter: “She hugged us, we cried together, and told us, ‘My dad loved you all. You rest assured that you honored him in life. Please, do not stop with this.’" 

The Maradonian Church keeps adding followers on Facebook, excited to attend the next event as soon as the pandemic is over.

 “Such is the power of the Maradona icon that even his death of natural causes most likely brought on by decades of substance abuse still feels like a kind of martyrdom,” wrote The Guardian’s Uki Goñi.

It seems to many that the next generation is already hooked. Verón’s 14-year-old son did not see Maradona play, and idolizes Lionel Messi.

“Now he listens to me speaking about Diego on TV. And for a week, he cannot believe the things he reads and sees about Diego. He told me: ‘Daddy, now I understand why you love him so much.’ That is beautiful,” said Verón.

Maradona was a man who transcended the sport to become something much more than a football star, besides whatever else he did. “Who am I to judge? May God judge him at some point. I'm not going to judge him for that. Let him do what he wants with his life. Because for what he did for mine, I can only say thanks,” Verón said.

James Gatica Matheson is an international correspondent native of Chile, now based in Buenos Aires. He’s a 2019 fellow of The Media Project. Follow him on Twitter @JamesGMatheson.