Masseur Testifies to Maradona’s Decline as Negligence Trial Continues
Nicolas Taffarel tells court that warnings about swelling and refusal to eat were ignored by medical team
Nicolas Taffarel, the personal masseur of Diego Maradona, testified at a trial in Argentina that the football legend was bedridden, bloated and resigned in his final days before his death in 2020. Taffarel stated he alerted Maradona’s medical team to the player's deteriorating condition, including edema and refusal to eat or maintain hygiene, but claimed no concrete action was taken.
Seven healthcare professionals are on trial for alleged negligence, facing up to 25 years in prison, though they deny responsibility. Maradona died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema at age 60.
Taffarel described Maradona’s final interactions, noting that on November 24, 2020 (the day before his death), the player refused to drink mate and gave ambiguous responses when asked about his state, saying “ya esta” (which can mean “it’s all right” or “it’s over”).
The masseur recounted being told by doctors to “calm down” and trust that symptoms like swelling would pass, a reassurance he stated did not materialise. Taffarel testified that he felt anxious and placed trust in the medical team, but observed no change in Maradona’s condition despite his reports.
The trial audio included messages where Taffarel expressed his concerns to the medical team, which were played in court.
Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, alone in his bed. The official causes of death were heart failure and acute pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs), occurring two weeks after he underwent surgery.
The seven healthcare professionals on trial cite their limited roles and specialisms as grounds for their defence, arguing there was no direct link to the clinical causes of death. The trial into the circumstances of Maradona’s death has been ongoing since mid-April.
