Asif Kapadia's Maradona Documentary Slices Through the Myth to Show Us the Man

 Diego Maradona has held cultural sway in Argentina since the 1980s. Illustration: Francisco Navas/The Guardian
Diego Maradona has held cultural sway in Argentina since the 1980s. Illustration: Francisco Navas/The Guardian
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Asif Kapadia's Maradona Documentary Slices Through the Myth to Show Us the Man

 Diego Maradona has held cultural sway in Argentina since the 1980s. Illustration: Francisco Navas/The Guardian
Diego Maradona has held cultural sway in Argentina since the 1980s. Illustration: Francisco Navas/The Guardian

Diego Armando Maradona’s life is a cliché, a rags to riches tragedy. He started as a poor boy with no filter, one whose ruthless drive and innate skill took him to greatness, before a sudden fall. Had he been watching, Andy Warhol would have been enthralled.

Asif Kapadia, who won an Oscar for Amy, another documentary about a scintillating talent who came crashing to earth, is the man behind a new film about Maradona. In the film, titled Maradona, Kapadia slices through the persisting myth of D10S, attempting to free Diego the man from Maradona the legend. After a limited theatrical release, HBO brings the film to US audiences this week.

America missed his legend, catching him at perhaps his lowest low, when he flamed out of the 1994 World Cup after a failed drugs test. In the US, he was a hero to only a few – and I was one of them. As a teenage Argentinian immigrant in the United States in the early 2000s, struggling to reconcile my cultural identity with my new country, I clung to Maradona. He was Platonic Argentinianess, and I found in his legend the answers I sought. His was a greatness to strive for and a perseverance to mimic. His legend held what the teenage me saw as answers about masculinity (be brash, work hard and be a leader) and sportsmanship (forget about it).

Sure, lessons can be found in any world-class athlete, but with Maradona they all came wrapped in an albiceleste bow of patriotism. His success was Argentina’s and by extension mine, decades and thousands of miles away from his heyday. His brilliant goals, his breathtaking skills, his trophies, his literal single-handed demolition of England in 1986 – they were mine too. He validated my reverence for a culture that I was separated from and gave me a love I could share with the only other Argentinian teenager in a neighborhood that was mostly Venezuelan and Colombian.

As a kid, I looked past his drug addiction and involvement with the mafia. Now, the reality of Maradona’s past, which Kapadia skilfuly peels back, is undeniable. Maradona’s present raises even more worrying questions.

Now, after a decade-long absence, Diego (or is it Maradona?) is back in Argentina, to start another chapter. He has taken a job as the manager of embattled Gimnasia y Esgrima, a club languishing near the bottom of the Argentinian Superliga. For Gimnasia supporters, the excitement is real. But despite his insistence that he’s back in Argentina to work (“I am no magician”, he told supporters at his presentation) the motives behind Maradona’s return are opaque. Some argue that it is no coincidence that Maradona is using his fame to bring attention to the club, following the Argentinian tradition of using football as a distraction in times of political instability.

Giselle Fernandez, sister of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the former president and current vice-presidential candidate for Argentina’s opposition party Frente Para Todos, gifted Maradona a rosary carrying a locket. Inside, was a picture of her mother. Maradona is an avowed Kirchnerist and Fernandez is an ardent Gimnasia supporter.

It’s unclear how much business the Fernandez family have tied up in the club – if any – but Noticias, an Argentinian weekly magazine, reported that the club expects to make $3m from sponsorship this season. In the 10 days after the announcement, the club sold 6m pesos ($105,000) worth of jerseys.

The footballer who helped me love my country may be a willing pawn to distract Argentina’s citizens in the critical upcoming elections. Or, perhaps it’s just a club taking the risky bet that he can harvest the same success he had as a player. Kapadia shows us a frightened Maradona. A man who allowed his legend to consume his life, ultimately destroying him. Is Maradona falling into another loop in which he attaches himself to power to feed his need to be loved, leading to his own demise? Does he even realise he is doing this?

Still, there are some lessons from Maradona I hold dear – his perseverance and drive. Other, more negative ones, I’ve cast aside. As time passes Maradona’s myth will continue to change. The only certainty is that the image we have of Maradona is the same as that of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis or any other subject of Warhol’s diptychs: a fiction. We can take the lessons we want – or leave them.

The Guardian Sport



Spanish Minister Says Israeli Cycling Team Should be Expelled from Vuelta after Protest

Riders of the Israel Premier Tech team compete as people holding Palestinian flags try to disrupt the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Riders of the Israel Premier Tech team compete as people holding Palestinian flags try to disrupt the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
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Spanish Minister Says Israeli Cycling Team Should be Expelled from Vuelta after Protest

Riders of the Israel Premier Tech team compete as people holding Palestinian flags try to disrupt the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Riders of the Israel Premier Tech team compete as people holding Palestinian flags try to disrupt the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Spain’s foreign minister says that he would support the expulsion of Israel Premier Tech from the Spanish Vuelta cycling race after the team was targeted by a pro-Palestinian protest that disrupted the event.

Spain’s top diplomat José Manuel Albares said late on Thursday that he would “understand and be in favor” of the Israeli team being removed from the race, while adding that his government doesn’t claim to have the power to do so. He made the statement in response to a question by a journalist on Spain’s national radio RNE.

“We have to send a message to Israel and the Israeli society that Europe and Israel can only have normal relations when human rights are respected,” Albares said.

Wednesday’s protest in the northern city of Bilbao targeted the Israel Premier Tech team while Israel continues its military invasion into Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of civilians in retaliation for the Hamas attacks in October 2023, The AP news reported.

The protest produced chaotic scenes of a crowd pushing against temporary metal barriers along the final kilometers of the course with police and security personnel holding them back. Many protestors carried Palestine flags and pro-Palestine signs.

Race officials called off the stage about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the end of the circular route out of and into Bilbao. There was no stage winner.

Immediately after the incident, Vuelta organizers issued a statement condemning the “events that took place" while also backing the right to peaceful protest.

“La Vuelta respects and defends the right to peaceful demonstration within the context of the event, but cannot tolerate any acts that put at risk the physical safety of the participants or any member of the race caravan,” the statement read.

Vuelta technical director Kiko Garcia, however, appeared to suggest that Israel Premier Tech should consider dropping out or for the UCI, cycling's governing body, to intervene, because there was a risk of more protests if it kept racing.

“At some point someone will have to decide if we protect an international event like the Vuelta, or if we protect a team,” García said.

“Everyone needs to try to find a solution, which for me right now is that the Israeli team realizes that by being here it doesn’t help the safety of everyone else. But we can’t make that decision, the team has to do it," he said.

Israel Premier Tech, however, stated it was not pulling out.

“Any other course of action sets a dangerous precedent in the sport of cycling — not only for Israel Premier Tech, but for all teams,” it said.

García also said that the Vuelta had told the UCI about the possibility of protests against Israel Premier Tech before the race began.

UCI condemned the incident, saying that “cycling in particular, has a role to play in bringing people together and overcoming barriers between them, and should under no circumstances be used as a tool for punishment.”

The Palestinian cause is backed by many Spaniards, including its left-wing government, which recognized a Palestinian state last year.

Thursday’s stage went as planned without any more protests. It was held in the rural Cantabria region.

Former Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard leads the three-week race after 12 stages.

The Grand Tour ends in Madrid on Sept. 14.


John Stones Ruled Out of England Games with Muscle Injury

Manchester City's John Stones, left, and Ruben Dias walk off the pitch after the Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham in Manchester, England, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's John Stones, left, and Ruben Dias walk off the pitch after the Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham in Manchester, England, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
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John Stones Ruled Out of England Games with Muscle Injury

Manchester City's John Stones, left, and Ruben Dias walk off the pitch after the Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham in Manchester, England, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's John Stones, left, and Ruben Dias walk off the pitch after the Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham in Manchester, England, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

John Stones has been ruled out of England's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia with a muscle injury.

The Manchester City defender left the national team training camp on Friday, with head coach Thomas Tuchel saying he could not be risked for the upcoming games, The Associated Press reported.

Stones played in all three of City's Premier League games this season, but Tuchel said he was carrying an injury when reporting for England duty.

“He came with minor issues, muscular issues, to camp and didn’t progress as we thought and hoped he would, so he left camp this morning because we will not take the risk, not against Andorra and also unfortunately not against Serbia,” Tuchel said Friday.

England plays Andorra at Villa Park on Saturday and Serbia in Belgrade on Tuesday.

Tuchel said captain Harry Kane would play against Andorra, insisting he would take no chances as he attempts to secure World Cup qualification.

“It’s World Cup season. We have a condensed period of three camps (until the end of qualifying),” he said. “Competition is on, and that means we will start with the team that we trust and with the best team possible for this game, and then we will manage the second game.”


PSG's Geyoro Joins London City Lionesses for Reported Women's World Record

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - France v Germany - St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland - July 19, 2025  France's Grace Geyoro celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - France v Germany - St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland - July 19, 2025 France's Grace Geyoro celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo
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PSG's Geyoro Joins London City Lionesses for Reported Women's World Record

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - France v Germany - St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland - July 19, 2025  France's Grace Geyoro celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - France v Germany - St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland - July 19, 2025 France's Grace Geyoro celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo

Women's Super League newcomers London City Lionesses have completed the signing of Paris Saint-Germain's Grace Geyoro for a world record fee for a female footballer of £1.43 million ($1.93 million), a source with knowledge of the talks told AFP.

Such a sum would surpass the £1.1 million paid by Orlando Pride to Tigres UANL for Mexico winger Lizbeth Ovalle last month.

"London City are delighted to announce the deadline day signing of Grace Geyoro subject to the completion of the regulatory processes," said a club statement issued on Friday, with the 28-year-old midfielder reported to have signed a four-year contract.

Geyoro has scored 23 goals in 103 appearances for France.

She is the Lionesses' 16th permanent signing in the summer transfer window as they prepare for their first season in the WSL -- the top flight of English women's football -- following their promotion from the second tier.

Among the others to have joined the Lionesses are experienced England forward Nikita Parris, former Manchester United captain Katie Zelem, Barcelona's Jana Fernandez and Lyon's Danielle van de Donk.

The club was founded as an independent breakaway side from London's Millwall Lionesses in 2019 and is the first independent club, with no connection to a men's Premier League side, to be promoted into the WSL.

Their series of high-profile signings have been bankrolled by owner Michele Kang, known for her support of female sports teams, with the US-based businesswoman, also the majority owner of the Washington Spirit and Lyon women's football teams in America and France.

The London City Lionesses begin their WSL season away to capital city rivals Arsenal on Saturday.