Nicolas Taffarel, Diego Maradona's masseur, told a court that Maradona was bedridden, swollen with edema and appeared resigned in the days before his death in November 2020. Taffarel said he warned the medical team to visit "every day" and that his concerns prompted no swift action. Seven healthcare professionals are on trial since mid-April over alleged negligence; they deny responsibility and face up to 25 years if convicted. Maradona died on November 25, 2020, aged 60, of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, two weeks after surgery.
Maradona 'Bloated, Bedridden and Resigned' in Final Days, Masseur Tells Negligence Trial
Argentina football legend Diego Maradona died in 2020 (Luis ROBAYO)
Diego Maradona spent his final days bedridden, suffering from severe edema and appearing resigned to his fate, his longtime masseur, Nicolas Taffarel, told a court during the trial examining the circumstances of the football legend's death in November 2020.
Key Testimony From the Masseur
Taffarel described a stark decline in Maradona's condition: "He wouldn't get out of bed, he didn't want to eat, he didn't want to wash, he didn't want to look after his personal hygiene." He said Maradona was visibly swollen, with fluid retention in his legs and abdomen.
"I reported the issues I observed with him, but I saw no concrete action or swift resolution," Taffarel told the courtroom, becoming emotional as he recalled the star's state.
The masseur said he repeatedly urged the medical team to be more present and to visit "every day," and an audio message he recorded urging daily checks was played in court.
Background of the Trial
Seven healthcare professionals have been on trial in Argentina since mid-April, accused of negligence that may have contributed to Maradona's death. The defendants deny responsibility and argue their roles were limited and tied to specific specialisms that did not directly cause the clinical events leading to death. If convicted, they face up to 25 years in prison.
Taffarel recounted trying to rouse Maradona on November 24, 2020—the day before his death—offering him mate and hearing the ambiguous reply "ya esta," which can be read as either "it's all right" or "it's over." Maradona died alone in bed on November 25, 2020, aged 60. Authorities recorded the cause of death as heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, two weeks after he had undergone surgery.
What Witnesses Say
During his testimony Taffarel said doctors told him to calm down and assured him symptoms would pass. "When you're anxious, you put your trust in them," he said. "You tell yourself it will pass, that everything will sort itself out. But it didn't pass."
The trial is ongoing and could extend beyond August as courts continue to hear witness statements and expert opinions on the medical care Maradona received in the weeks before his death.
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