Almost five years have passed since the death of Diego Armando Maradona at the age of 60.

At first the event was accepted as another sorrowful chapter in the life of a man already marked by tragedy.

In his last days the world saw him walking with difficulty, speaking in a faint voice and appearing a shadow of the player who once thrilled millions.

Yet the trial now under way in Buenos Aires casts new light on the circumstances of his death and suggests it was not merely the result of a body that had grown weak.

Prosecutors allege that Maradona’s death was not inevitable but the outcome of neglect, deception and professional failures.

Seven members of his medical team face charges of causing death with indifference, an offence that carries a penalty of up to 25 years in prison.

The case, described locally as one of the most dramatic in Argentina’s legal history, has drawn hundreds of witnesses and intense attention from supporters worldwide who seek answers to two questions: what happened to Diego Maradona, and could his life have been saved?

In October 2020 Maradona underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain.

Although the operation was declared successful, his physical and mental condition remained fragile.

Doctors recommended home hospitalisation with round-the-clock nursing care and emergency equipment, including a defibrillator and oxygen.

Family members agreed, trusting the care plan.

Testimony now indicates that promises made to the family were not fulfilled.

During the proceedings it emerged that Maradona’s residence in an affluent Buenos Aires suburb lacked a defibrillator, oxygen cylinders, intravenous lines and other basic medical equipment.

According to court statements, no hospital-grade bed was provided.

One witness described the room where he stayed as “messy, neglected and smelling of urine”.

Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari told the defendants that they had watched Maradona die and let him die, calling the alleged failures an abandonment rather than negligence.

To illustrate the point he displayed a photograph of Maradona in his final moments, lying on a bed with a severely swollen abdomen.

“This is how it ended,” Ferrari said.

“He was not a god; he was a man who was abandoned.”

Maradona’s eldest daughter, Dalma, testified in tears that she believed she could still wake her father and did not think the end had come.

She said he had been frightened, weak and in pain in the weeks leading to his death but that medical staff rejected the family’s concerns, telling them they were imagining problems.

Verónica Ojeda, the mother of Maradona’s young son, said the former footballer begged her to take him away, feeling like a prisoner and afraid of his surroundings.

She described the house as dark, dirty and reminiscent of a horror film.

Court testimony included accounts from first responders.

A police officer who reached the scene said no oxygen, intravenous supplies or resuscitation devices were available.

A doctor described Maradona’s body as showing signs of prolonged suffering, stating that his death had been slow and painful over several hours.

One of the most striking disclosures involved WhatsApp messages exchanged between Maradona’s psychiatrist and psychologist.

In the texts the two mocked his family, referring to Ojeda as “stupid” and calling the relatives “completely ignorant”.

Prosecutors said the correspondence demonstrated not only neglect but also blatant disrespect.

Colin Campbell, Maradona’s neighbour and a physician, testified that he was summoned to the house on 25 November 2020.

On arrival he found Maradona unconscious while a nurse attempted resuscitation.

Campbell concluded that the patient had died at least two hours earlier.

A doctor from the emergency ambulance crew reached the same conclusion.

Prosecutors argue that these hours were critical: with skilled intervention Maradona might have survived.

The defence contends that Maradona was a difficult patient with serious underlying conditions and addictions, often refusing treatment.

Lawyers say he was free to make his own decisions and that medical presence in the house was adequate.

Testimony has exposed inconsistencies in the defence narrative, including a bodyguard who initially claimed to have performed resuscitation but later changed his statement before being arrested in court for perjury.

Maradona’s long medical history was presented in detail.

He began using cocaine during his playing career, leading to an exit from Barcelona.

While at Napoli he achieved legendary status, winning two league titles and the 1986 World Cup with Argentina, yet the drug use continued.

He later served a 15-month ban after a positive test and was sent home from the 1994 World Cup for stimulant use.

Post-retirement struggles included substance abuse, obesity, gastric surgery and chronic heart problems.

Repeated attempts at rehabilitation were punctuated by relapses.

Family disputes over Maradona’s image rights also appeared in testimony.

Relatives said the rights were transferred to his sisters and lawyer when he was in a diminished mental state, excluding his children.

The trial is scheduled to run until July 2025 with dozens more witnesses expected.

For many Argentines the proceedings have already provided a stark narrative: Diego Maradona did not die a natural death; he died because he was failed by those entrusted with his care.

Fans continue to gather outside the courthouse holding banners demanding justice.

Inside the courtroom the judges will determine whether the actions, or inactions, of the medical team amount to criminal liability for the death of a figure revered by millions.