The trial concerning the death of Argentine soccer icon Diego Maradona reopens on April 14, 2026, with seven medical professionals facing negligent homicide charges after a previous mistrial.
Argentina is set to reopen the trial regarding the death of legendary soccer player Diego Maradona on April 14, 2026. This new trial comes nearly a year after the previous case collapsed due to a mistrial, with seven members of Maradona’s medical team facing charges of negligent homicide.
Maradona, who passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, suffered a heart attack while recovering from brain surgery to remove a blood clot. His death sent shockwaves throughout Argentina, where he remains an enduring cultural figure, celebrated through murals and tattoos that honor his legacy.
The trial will take place in a court located in San Isidro, near Buenos Aires, where nearly 100 witnesses are expected to testify. The focus will be on the alleged negligence of Maradona’s medical team in the lead-up to his death, particularly regarding the care he received during his recovery.
The medical professionals charged in this case include psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychologist Carlos Angel Diaz, physician Nancy Edith Forlini, nurse Ricardo Almiron, head nurse Mariano Ariel Perroni, and physician Pedro Pablo Di Spagna. An eighth defendant, nurse Dahiana Madrid, will face a separate jury trial, with no date currently set for her proceedings.
The first trial, which commenced in March 2025, was abruptly halted two months in when one of the three judges, Julieta Makintach, resigned. Her resignation followed the emergence of a video showing her being interviewed by a camera crew in the courthouse, a violation of judicial conduct rules.
As the retrial approaches, both prosecutors and defense attorneys will need to reassess their strategies. The initial trial featured a range of evidence, including photographs, videos, audio recordings, and forensic data. Key witnesses, such as Maradona’s children and his former wife, Claudia Villafane, have already provided testimony.
Prosecutors have characterized the home where Maradona was recovering as a “theatre of horror,” alleging that the medical team failed to provide necessary care and broke treatment protocols. In contrast, the defense argues that Maradona’s death was inevitable due to his long-standing health issues, including decades of struggles with cocaine and alcohol addiction.
The negligence charges were brought to light in 2021 after prosecutors appointed a medical board to investigate the circumstances surrounding Maradona’s death. The board concluded that his medical team acted in an “inappropriate, deficient, and reckless” manner.
If convicted, the defendants could face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years, highlighting the serious nature of the charges against them.
According to Reuters, the upcoming trial is expected to draw significant public and media attention, given Maradona’s iconic status in the world of soccer and the ongoing debate surrounding the responsibilities of medical professionals in high-profile cases.