Maradona's net worth down to $500,000

FE SPORTS DESK

Diego Maradona, one of soccer's greatest players, died of a heart attack Wednesday at the age of 60. With a legacy of financial trouble, his net worth was estimated to be as little as $500,000.

The Argentina star left a lasting legacy on the field. "The Hand of God" goal at the 1986 World Cup, which involved him punching the ball into the net, followed minutes later with one of the all-time greatest goals, vaulted the attacking midfielder into sports lore forever. His stardom with Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli made him an international icon.

But sports legends don't always leave behind great wealth.

At the time of his death, however, he only had around $500,000, according to Celebrity Net Worth. This is a far cry from his peak when he could command several millions in salary and sponsorship deals.

Though Maradona was one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet in the early 80s, when he earned millions per year from salaries and endorsements with companies like Hublot, Puma and Coca-Cola, he experienced a number of financial problems later and was in 2012 listed as one of the 10 most financially irresponsible footballers of all time by Bleacher Report.

The highlight of Maradona's financial problems was a long-running dispute with the Italian government over taxes, with a reported €37 million still owed in local taxes as of 2016. Up to €23.5 million of that figure was accrued interest on his original debt.

These numbers can often be very misleading, though Maradona was known to have financial problems.

He reached the peak of his career playing in Napoli during the mid-1980s, overturning decades of influence from the clubs in northern Italy. He was sued by the Serie A club in the early 1990s for tarnishing its reputations following a heavy bout of cocaine use and was also fined $70,000, reports at the time.

Maradona's abrasive reputation hurt his ability to land endorsements, while Brazil legend Pele had little trouble using his image from the glory years in the 1960s and 1970s to secure deals decades after hanging up his cleats.

In 2009, Italian authorities said Maradona, who at the time was coaching the Argentina national team, was heavily in debt from his tenure in Napoli. During treatment in Italy for stress and weight problems, he handed over valuable goods, including a $10,000 pair of earrings, to help settle his debts. Tax police three years earlier where ordered to seize anything of value "within plain sight," the BBC reported.

The Express noted Maradona racked up an estimated $44 million in unpaid taxes, much of which remained unpaid at the time of his death.

His high-spending ways hurt what was otherwise a long career. His club career spanned from 1976 to 1997. He debuted with Argentina in 1977 and ended in 1994.

Maradona's deal with Napoli in 1990 was a big source of his wealth. He reportedly drew a $3 million salary to go along with another $8 million to $10 million in endorsements. Adjusted for inflation, the possible $13 million total from 1990 would be equal to over $26.5 million in November, 2020.

He also managed seven clubs and served as the head coach of Argentina. It's unclear how much Maradona earned as a manager, due to contract specifics. Most of his coaching jobs were brief stints.