A movie biopic based on the rise and fall of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona is set to be released in cinemas throughout Italy on Friday.
Directed by Marco Risi, Maradona La Mano di Dio, or The Hand of God, the phrase the Argentine used to explain how he scored a controversial goal against England with his hand in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals, takes in different phases of the player's life including his drug problems.
Risi said that he wanted to show the humanity of a player regarded as one of the all-time greats, but who has battled drugs and ill health.
"Of course he took cocaine but he wasn't a member of government," said Risi. "Maradona was a genius who basically thoughout his life only harmed himself," added Risi, who discribed the goal scored against England as "an artistic gesture".
Regarded as one of the world's greatest-ever footballers, Maradona shares FIFA's title of the 20th century's best player with Brazil's Pele after a sparkling career with Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli.
He amassed a fortune during his years in football but his life off the pitch has been checkered by embarrassing episodes since his retirement at 37, with scandals covering the gamut of marital infidelity, cocaine use and tax evasion.
Maradona, 46, helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup and led Italian side Napoli to their only two league titles in 1987 and 1990.
Set to be released in more than a hundred cinemas throughout Italy, the film will also be shown at the
Cannes Film Festival in May.
When he was young
Three years ago
Maradona movie set for Italian release 
