There were two sides to iconic Argentinian soccer player Diego Maradona: the charismatic, fun-loving celebrity Diego, and Maradona, the soccer genius heralded for years as like a God among men.
The new documentary on his life “Diego Maradona” examines that split personality and how the fame of being seen as Godlike can change a humble kid from a poor slum in Buenos Aires.
“Maradona is really a great player, but he’s not psychologically prepared yet,” Pelé says in a clip from the new trailer for the film “With Diego, I would go to the end of the world. With Maradona, I wouldn’t take another step,” another person says in the trailer.
“Diego Maradona” is directed by Asif Kapadia, the Oscar-winning director behind “Senna” and “Amy.” And like those films, his latest on Diego Maradona is told entirely via archival footage constructed from never before seen clips shot by Maradona’s personal cameraman. Unlike the subjects of “Senna” and “Amy” however, Maradona is still very much alive, and Kapadia managed to get an interview with the famous and also press-shy former soccer star.
Kapadia specifically follows Maradona beginning in 1981 when he left Barcelona and was given one of the richest contracts in all of sports by Italian soccer club Napoli. Maradona took the last place club that was on the brink of relegation to a title, and he powered Argentina to a World Cup victory in 1986. We even get a glimpse and some insight into the infamous “Hand of God” goal, in which Maradona scored against England with what appeared to be a punched, handball.
It also follows Maradona up through his struggles with addiction, a scandalous affair that produced a love child and his dependence on the Italian mafia.
HBO is releasing “Diego Maradona,” and it will first play in a limited run in theaters beginning on Sept. 20 before airing on HBO Sports on Oct. 1.
Watch the trailer for the documentary above.