Diego Maradona was an extraordinary footballer, but since hanging up his boots he's continued to make headlines for good, bad and bizarre reasons.

Never shy of sharing his opinion, we've looked at his most famous quotes from the years.

Speaking to Gente magazine back in 1996, Diego recalled his struggles.

“I took drugs during part of my career but not to stimulate myself,” he said. “Those who say cocaine stimulates you don’t know a thing. If you take cocaine to play football, you can’t play. It’s not good for being on the pitch. It’s useless for life. Useless.”

Maradona continued that explanation back in 2006, talking about his early experiences with the drug.

“I tried it in Europe for the first time in 1982,” he said. “I was 22 years old; it was enough for me to feel alive. I tried drugs because there are drugs like that everywhere in football. I used to go to the bathroom with the lights off. Once I was in the bathroom and Dalma suddenly knocked on the door - I was terrified. I was a drug addict, I am a drug addict and I always will be a drug addict in everyone’s eyes. Because drug addicts aren’t forgiven for anything.”

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A rifle aimed at journalists

Journalists have always been a source of conflict for Diego, as seen in 1994, just before his positive test at the US World Cup, when he used a compressed air rifle on reporters at the door of his house. In 2013, he turned to throwing stones and kicking the press. “He started insulting us as we were taking photos,” a photographer told El Mundo. “As we continued, he started looking for stones and threw them at us. He then came up and kicked a colleague.”

On-field fights and altercations with teammates

Another suspension came after a chaotic fight as a Barcelona player. It was during the Copa del Rey final in 1984 when Athletic Club’s Miguel Angel Sola beat him. He was banned for three months, but he set off for Napoli.

Maradona has also had trouble with one of his partners, with police having questioned him for an alleged assault on his girlfriend Rocio Oliva in Madrid. Police were assured that it was just a heated discussion. 

Maradona against everyone

Diego has never bitten his tongue. He’s quick with a sharp response, a number of which have cause controversy.

Messi vs Cristiano

“I’d like Cristiano to be Argentinian, but we had someone very much like him - [Gabriel] Batistuta," Maradona said. "I like Messi much more.”

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