A new chapter in the tragic saga surrounding Diego Maradona's death unfolds this Tuesday in Argentina, as a second trial begins to determine potential criminal responsibility. The legal proceedings, which seek justice for the football icon, are restarting over a year after the original trial was dramatically annulled due to a judicial scandal.

Maradona, a man whose genius on the pitch captivated the world, died in November 2020 at age 60 while recovering from brain surgery at a private home. The official cause was heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, just two weeks after his operation. His passing, during the height of the Covid pandemic, prompted an immense outpouring of national grief for the 1986 World Cup champion.

Prosecutors allege his seven-person medical team was grossly negligent during his convalescence, leading to charges of homicide with possible intent. The accused—including doctors, psychologists, and nurses—face potential prison sentences of 8 to 25 years if convicted. The defense, however, contends the legendary player, who had well-documented battles with addiction, died of natural causes, vehemently denying any malicious plot.

The path to this new trial has been fraught. The first proceeding collapsed in May 2025 after a judge was found to have been involved in a documentary about the case, a breach of judicial ethics. Now, with a fresh panel of judges, the court will once more hear from roughly 120 witnesses to decide a case that continues to haunt the football world and seek closure for a nation that adored its flawed hero.