Maradona shares his 5 favourite holiday destinations

A National Hero of Argentina, Diego Maradona is one of the greatest legends of soccer. Coming from a humble background, he made his football debut at the age of 16 and scored 34 goals in 91 International appearances. Renowned for his ability to control the ball and score winning goals, he led Argentina National Team to win the 1986 Soccer World Cup. Having joined the National team at the age of 16, the youngest Argentine to do so, he played for them in 4 International Soccer World Cup seasons. He played 490 official club games during his 21-year professional career, scoring 259 goals; for Argentina he played 91 games and scored 34 goals. An Internet poll conducted by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association named Maradona the top player of the 20th century. He was made the head coach of the Argentine National team in 2008. He worked for several other clubs before becoming coach of Mexico’s Dorados de Sinaloa in 2018.

London was Maradona’s favourite city in Europe and he visited the city multiple times for leisure or social engagements. London is a historic city on the banks of Thames river with gorgeous medieval monuments such as the Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and many more. The city has a vibrant art and culture scene with a plethora of art galleries, musical shows and museums that are a major attraction for tourists visiting London. Visitors also love to take a trip to Stonehenge, an architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The majestic castle of Windsor is totally worth a visit too. The largest occupied castle in the World, this 1000 year old historic structure in Berkshire is out of fairy tale. You can take a tour of the castle to admire its amazing interiors, artefacts, paintings and incredible history that is reminiscent of England’s glorious royal heritage.

The capital city of his home country Argentina, Bueno Aires, was close to Maradona’s heart. He loved the city for its vibrancy, architecture and cultural richness. Fondly called the ‘Paris of the South’, this gorgeous city has a host of historical monuments, roadside cafes and restaurants and a fantastic arts & music scene. Its tree lined streets and incredible street art give it a totally different appeal. The architecture of the city is distinctly European, as if you are walking down the lanes of Paris or Vienna. The city has varied flea markets that offer excellent bargains on clothing, food and decorative items. This multi-cultural city has a significant Spanish and Italian influence, though there is a sizeable Polish, English, Jewish and Arab population living here now. Do check out the cemeteries on your visit to Beuno Aires. Resembling massive above ground mausoleums, the sculptures on top of the tombs here are simply out of the world and a visit to these cemeteries is almost akin to visiting a large museum.

Maradona took a holiday in the Maldives with his girlfriend, staying in an idyllic resort in Ari Atoll in South Maldives. Considered one of the most exotic archipelagos on earth, Maldives attracts millions of high end tourists from around the World. It is also one of the most coveted honeymoon destinations for the newlyweds. Its white sand beaches, turquoise blue waters and over water bungalows in luxurious island resorts make it a dreamland for vacationers of all ages. With no dearth of water sports and adventure activities, Maldives is a fantastic place to try out windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking and water skiing. One should definitely go island hopping here in a catamaran cruise or a private yacht. The opportunity to get up close with exotic marine life such as dolphins, turtles and whales is not worth a miss. Maldives is a place that will leave you mesmerized. You’ll leave Maldives wanting to come back again, and again…

Maradona toured the streets and beaches of Cancun twice throughout his 60 years. The first time he did it to earn money and to be able to vacation with his family. In the 1990s, the Garcis brand hired him to do a photo session with the paradisiacal beaches of Cancun in the background. The most popular resort town in Mexico, Cancun is known for its white sandy beaches, blue waters and a plethora of sea side resorts, cafes and bars. It is also a popular destination for university students taking a break during spring. Cancun is a great place to snorkel through coral reefs in the Caribbean waters. One can also visit the Mayan ruins in Tulum, a dreamy experience for lovers of history and culture. An enjoyable excursion in Cancun is taking a catamaran cruise to Isla Mujeres from Cancun. Along the way, one can hop into the water to snorkel at a reef location teeming with vibrantly hued fish. Cancun has an outstanding nightlife and there is no end to partying at its various nightclubs and bars located along the coast.

Cuban leader Fidel Castro offered the football legend Maradona the use of La Pedrera clinic in Cuba to treat his problems, with the Cuban health service renowned throughout the world. Maradona spent four years in Cuba treating his addictions and developed a deep bond with Fidel as well as Cuba. A beautiful island country in the Caribbean, Cuba is popular for its rustic colonial era buildings to its world-beating rum and revolutionary history. It has a large coastline of pristine beaches, lush valleys and majestic mountains. Do check out a cabaret show on your visit to Cuba, a popular dance form that displays the local culture in full bloom. The capital city of Havana is known for its old architecture, classic cars, live music and tasty mojitos. The city has an incredible nightlife and there are nightclubs and salsa bars all over the city to have a really enjoyable time on your trip here.