The mystery of Maradona’s heart: the reason he was buried without it and who is guarding it
Five years have passed since the death of the Argentine star, and his heart remains protected under a halo of mystery and security.
The passing of Diego Armando Maradona on November 25, 2020, shook the soccer world - and opened an unsettling chapter. The legendary No. 10 was buried without his heart, which had been removed during forensic examinations - along with other organs such as the liver and kidneys - to determine the cause of death.
That iconic organ remains under police custody. Today, Maradona’s heart is preserved in formaldehyde at the Pathology Department of the Buenos Aires Provincial Police in La Plata. Its weight - 503 grams, nearly double that of a “normal” heart - and the scars from previous micro-infarctions made it a key piece of evidence in the investigation.
#DiegoEterno ♾️
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) November 25, 2025
Solo muere quien es olvidado y a vos, Diego, te recordamos cada día 🩵🤍
🙌 A 5 años del paso a la inmortalidad de Diego Armando #Maradona 🔟 pic.twitter.com/tr1OFaLp8f
A symbol under guard
The symbolic significance of Maradona’s heart led authorities to tighten security. According to judicial reports, there were credible threats from violent groups intending to steal it as a trophy. The risk was deemed serious enough that officials decided not to bury it with the World Cup winner’s body.
Current preservation protocols require the heart to remain under protection for at least ten years before any decision on its final resting place. After that period, it could eventually be interred alongside Maradona’s body, though the family, the courts, and involved institutions will carefully weigh that possibility.
For now, the soccer icon rests at Buenos Aires’ Jardín Bella Vista Cemetery, alongside his parents, in a private grave. His heart, however, has become another symbol of his legend - an organ steeped in myth, guarded with vigilance, and revered as part of the enduring story of Diego Maradona.
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