Twenty years before the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, world has already recognized a football maestro, considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time. The one and only, DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA (born 30 October 1960 in Lanús, Buenos Aires) finished first in an internet vote for the FIFA Player of the Century award; and his magnificent goal in 1986 World Cup – a spectacular 60-metre weave through six England players – is commonly referred to as “THE GOAL OF THE CENTURY”.

Maradona’s Best Goal Ever!

Besides his phenomenal achievement in soccer history, Maradona is always a newsworthy figure because of his controversial life. He has an outspoken manner that brought him odds with journalists and sport executives. Likewise, he used to be a drug addict that often put him in trouble: suspended from football for 15 months, sent home from 1994 World Cup, as well as suffering ill health and weight gain. But that’s not all. He apparently accumulated unpaid taxes of 37 million Euros (23.5 million euros of which was accrued interest on the original debt) during his time playing for S.S.C NAPOLI in 1984 to 1991. The Italy’s highest court has ordered DIEGO MARADONA to pay the debt since 2005, but the current head coach of Argentina national team has not come up with the settlement yet.

Diego Maradona at Napoli FC (1984 - 1991)

The Italy’s financial police have been persistent about getting the money back. In 2005, they seized the fee MARADONA had earned for participating in the Italian version of the television show “Dancing with the Stars”. And recently in September 15th, 2009, when the football living legend checked into a weight-loss clinic in Italy, the Guardia di Finanza (Italian Finance Police) had also confiscated his earring (it was only one, not pair). So far, it is reported that Maradona has paid only 42,000 euros, two Rolex watches – worth around 11,000 Euros, seized when Maradona returned to Naples for a charity match – and an EARRING.

Diego Armando Maradona, head coach of Argentina National Football Team

Argentina National Team’s Coach: Maradona wears Earrings

“The earrings may be a drop in the ocean, but this gives an important signal to honest taxpayers,” said a local politician, Maurizio Fugatti, from the separatist Northern League party.

Diego Armando Maradona has been being regularly seen in public wearing diamond earring. He loves to wear white gold earrings with diamond.

Diego Maradona wears earrings (photo by AP)

Diego Maradona wears sunglasses and earrings

In January 2010, Guardia di Finanza EQUITALIA auctioned Maradona’s earring in the northern city of Bolzano with the proceeds went to Italy’s tax agency. An unidentified woman with a Neapolitan accent purchased the diamond-studded gold earring for 25,000 euros (£22,000 / ($36,000) - five times its asking price. She also gets a copy of the police’s charge sheet with Maradona’s signature. The woman said she was “satisfied” with the purchase, before being ushered into a lift by a bodyguard.

Diego Maradona’s earring on auction
(photo by Reuters)

Maradona’s Earring auctioned and sold; bonus: Police charge sheet and Maradona’s signature
(photo by Getty Images)

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